Quick Hits: August 6, 2021
1) The Offseason Inventory series continues today on PhiladelphiaFlyers.com with a look at some of the team's rookie hopefuls for the 2021-22 season: forwards Morgan Frost, Wade Allison, Tanner Laczynski and defensemen Cam York and Egor Zamula. We also discuss slide-rule eligible teenagers Tysor Foerster and Zayde Wisdom.
Over the long haul, perhaps the most ideal development would be if Frost stakes down a regular NHL spot. Given that he has only played four-plus periods of competitive hockey since March 2020, I think it's wise to temper expectations heading into training camp. See if he's added a little strength to his frame. See if he can make plays at the NHL pace and display the same all-around game improvements he showed in last year's abbreviated training camp.
I am of the belief that Laczynski is an NHL-ready player with the versatility to move around the lineup as needed and the ability to adapt to either a fourth-line role or play a decent two-way game and chip in a few points, too, if he's moved up into the top nine at some point. However, since Laczynski started (core muscle tear) and ended the 2020-21 season (hip injury) with injuries that required surgery, it's hard to pencil him into an NHL roster spot a month-plus ahead of training camp.
Of all the Flyers' rookie hopefuls, I think that Allison currently has the best chance at opening the season in the NHL starting lineup. He, too, will have to stay healthy because he's lost significant time to injuries in his still-young career. However, Allison did not seem out of place at all during his 14-game stint (four goals, three assists) with the parent team in 2020-21. Allison brings elements that the Flyers lacked last season and did not add during the offseason: a power forward style, a shoot-first mentality and a heavy shot behind it, a tenacious forechecker and an injection of enthusiastic energy.
Eventually, I'd personally like to see Frost (assuming he stays at center for the long haul) play on a line with Allison and a left winger who wins a lot of puck battles and plays a two-way game. Scott Laughton would fit that bill as would Oskar Lindblom if the latter can get back to the level of performance he showed in the second half of the 2018-19 and first half the 2019-20 seasons before his Ewing Sarcoma diagnosis.
I think such a trio could eventually develop good chemistry to round out a top nine; Frost teeing up scoring chances for Allison's booming shots, Frost finding some operating room from the space created by his wingers, the line creating puck pressure and forcing turnovers, the left winger being the defensive conscience and hustling up some goals, too.
2) Back on May 5, the Flyers signed 2017 sixth-round pick Olle Lycksell to a two-year entry-level contract. More recently, the Flyers loaned Lycksell to SHL team Và¤xjö Lakers HC for the 2021-22 season. A versatile and speedy but undersized forward who can play either wing or center, Lycksell posted nine goals and 21 points in each of the last seasons with Linköping (51 GP in 2019-20) and Fà¤rjestad (46 GP in 2020-21).
Lycksell, who will turn 22 on Aug. 24, is too old for his entry-level contract to slide to the SHL this season. As such, the first year of the two-year deal will be burned in 2021-22.
3) After back-to-back seasons in which the pandemic scuttled the Calder Cup playoffs, the American Hockey League has announced the expansion of the postseason format for the 2021-22 season. There will now be five rounds, with an odd number (23) of teams participating. The first round will be a best-of-three, the second and third rounds will be best-of-five, and the Conference and Calder Cup finals will be best-of-seven.
In each of the AHL’s four divisions, all but two teams will qualify for postseason play in 2022, creating a playoff field of six teams in the Atlantic Division, five in the North Division, five in the Central Division and seven in the Pacific Division. Teams will be ranked by points percentage in the regular-season standings. The top two teams in the Atlantic Division, the top three teams in each of the North and Central Divisions, and the first-place team in the Pacific Division receive byes into the best-of-five divisional semifinals.
4) LAKings Insider features a profile article on Mike O'Connell, who recently left the organization after 15 seasons to become a senior advisor to Chuck Fletcher on hockey operations and player development.
O'Connell has worn many different hats in the NHL: longtime player (860 regular season games played from the mid-70s to 1990), NHL assistant coach and head coach, NHL assistant general manager (Bruins, under Harry Sinden) and head general manager (Bruins, 2000-01 to 2005-06), director of player development (Kings) and senior advisor to the GM. All totaled, he's spent the last 44 years in the NHL or AHL.
The article, written by Zach Dooley, has some very interesting insights and recollections from O'Connell and is well worth the read: click here.
5) Today in Flyers History: Aug. 6, 2020
A multi-goal performance by the Philadelphia Flyers' second line, including three assists by center Kevin Hayes, lifted the team to a 3-1 round-robin victory over the Washington Capitals Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Thursday. With the win, the Flyers (2-0-0 in the round-robin) have clinched at least the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. They will play Tama Bay on Saturday for the top seed.
Scott Laughton (2nd goal of the postseason) scored the lone goal by either team in the first period. Travis Sanheim (1st) added to the lead in the second period with a 4-on-4 goal. Laughton (3rd) tallied again at 8:37 but Travis Boyd scored a deflection goal to cut the gap to 3-1 just 12 seconds later.
The Flyers played smothering defense in this game. Brian Elliott went long stretches without seeing a shot but stepped up as needed in making 16 saves on 17 shots. Braden Holtby had little chance on any of the Flyers' goals, and stopped 18 of 21 in a losing cause.