Training Camp Update: Saturday Scrimmage
Day 6 of the Flyers training camp at the Skate Zone in Voorhees will see head coach Alain Vigneault and staff hold two scrimmages -- the first runs from 10:15 a.m to 10:45 and the second from 11 a.m. to 11:30. Originally, the plan was to keep all line combinations the same for the first three days of practice and then to experiment with some different looks for Friday's session after an off-day on Thursday.
However, Friday's split-group and combined group practice saw all the same lines and defense pairs maintained from the first three days of on-ice work. As Vigneault laid out earlier in the week, the team began to incorporate more systems work into the mix on Day 5. The combined groups did a high-tempo five-on-five segment near the end of the practice day.
The continuation of the same combinations suggests that, at least for right now, Scott Laughton is the third-line center (rather than playing on left wing), Derek Grant is the 4th line center, Joel arabee is the second-line left wing, and Nate Thompson is the team's 13th forward. Additionally, Robert Hà¤gg remains on left defense on the third pairing with Shayne Gostisbehere (who is battling back from his second knee surgery of the season) as the number 7 defenseman on the depth chart and Mark Friedman eighth.
This, of course, is still subject to change over the course of the next few weeks before the puck drops on Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals on Aug. 11.
Friday's Combined Group Lines
Claude Giroux - Sean Couturier - Jakub Voracek Joel Farabee - Kevin Hayes - Travis Konecny James van Riemsdyk - Scott Laughton -Nicolas Aube-Kubel Michael Raffl - Derek Grant - Tyler Pitlick Connor Bunnaman - Nate Thompson - Carsen Twarynski Andy Andreoff - Morgan Frost - German Rubtsov
Ivan Provorov - Matt Niskanen Travis Sanheim - Phil Myers Robert Hà¤gg - Justin Braun Shayne Gostisbehere - Mark Friedman Egor Zamula - Andy Welinski Tyler Wotherspoon - Nate Prosser
Carter Hart Brian Elliott Alex Lyon Kirill Ustimenko
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MIKE YEO: DAY 5 TRANSCRIPT
How do you like Joel Farabee out there? Is he the leader for the second line left wing position?
I think what AV is saying is that we are going to use this time as much as we can to evaluate everyone and to make those decisions. He’s obviously a very strong candidate to be there and that’s why he started there on Day 1.
All along, the plan was to make sure we don’t get stuck with trying the one thing and not giving other guys the opportunity. All along the plan has been to give someone like himself a couple days, a couple sessions up there. We were planning after tomorrow’s scrimmage to make some lineup changes. I am assuming right now that plan will stay the same.
From what you saw out there, was one group whether it was forwards or the defense ahead of another?
There were certainly guys, I would say, looked very strong right now. As us as a coaching staff commenting off the ice, none of us really knew, obviously we’ve never experienced anything like this. We didn’t really know how the players were going to come in. I would say probably we can base off this is coming in after an offseason training.
In my opinion, and talking to the other coaches, we feel that the players are ahead of where they were and would be in a typical training camp, which is a good sign. I think that the pace is there, the execution, the puck movement. I feel like obviously there is a ways to go, but we are definitely pleased with where the guys are at so far.
Where is Shayne Gostisbehere compared to where he was during the season? What are his chances of cracking the Top 6?
I made a point of going to see him after practice and making sure he knows that we are recognizing the work that he is putting in. Obviously he’s in a difficult situation. It’s been a difficult year for him between the injuries and the success of the team while he was out making it tough for him to get back in.
He looked really good to me right now. His competitive level is very, very high. With that, I think it’s putting his skill in a position for him to have success. He’s a guy that we are looking at very closely.
First of all, if you want to have any success in the playoffs, you need depth. Whether its injuries or its adjustments, we’re going to need a number of players to come in and contribute. I have a really good feeling that Ghost is going to be ready. He’s going to be one of those guys.
Obviously, he wasn’t a big part of long run that we were going on in the end, but he could be a big part of a long run that we go on in the playoffs. Both with his skating ability and his puck moving ability, the importance of special teams in playoffs, I have a feeling that Ghost is going to be ready to go.
How quickly have you noticed the chemistry return with the defense during this camp? How long do you think it will take to get back the continuity and rhythm you had before the season was interrupted?
I think the pairings look good. They are all working well together. You’ve got Provy and Nisky. Both those guys have obviously taken very good of themselves during the break. They’re leading the way right now with the intensity and purpose that they are doing every drill with. I think Sanny has looked outstanding all camp and that was the best Phil Myers has looked today. With Hagger and Brauner, those guys just go out and they compete and work and defend. They look very sharp right now.
Then you’ve got Ghost. Friedman’s a guy that I didn’t know a lot about last year. He got some opportunities and he really impressed us. Obviously the new contract is a sign of that. His skating ability, his hockey sense, and his competitiveness shows us he’s a guys that could play. We really like the depth. We really like the way all the guys are working together right now. The more that this goes along, obviously the more of that is going to as well.
We’re purposely going to add more 5-on-5 drills, more 5-on-5 scrimmages as we are moving along here to help prepare the group. They’ll also develop that chemistry and cohesiveness within the pairings and linemates as well.
I’m sure Egor Zamula is a long shot to play meaningful games. What do you like about him?
There’s a lot to like about him. If you like really big defenseman who are smart, can skate and can move the puck, then you are probably going to enjoy watching him play. First of all, he’s a great kid. He’s got great energy every time he comes to the rink. I’m a big stickler on details.
If a defenseman is going back to retrieve a puck in practice, even though you have no pressure, you have to do things in practice the way you would expect to do them in a game. You have to have the little details, like the shoulder check. You have to have the right habits in the neutral zone, even though you might be doing a drill 5-on-0, so when you get into the game, you don’t have time to think, you can react and do things properly. His habits are outstanding. His practice habits are outstanding and that shows me that’s he’s a very coachable kid. With that, he’s got natural ability.
His skating for a big man, he makes it look easy. Probably more than anything, what has really impressed me is his poise with the puck. Under pressure, the subtle plays that he makes, how he doesn’t panic. Obviously we know the importance if you can play this game with the puck on stick, if you can have an exit out of your zone with control, allowing you to develop speed through the neutral zone, you have a better chance of gaining the offensive zone with control. He’s the type of player that’s going to help you get to that game.
You mentioned Sanheim and Myers. This is the first time they will have a big role on the team. What are you and the coaching staff doing to help them prepare them for the playoff run?
That’s a big part of why we’re playing as much 5-on-5 as we are and what we’ll continue to ramp up as things are going along. A lot of their preparation really was during the course of the year, playing against the top lines. If you look back at when we were having success, obviously you look at our lineup and you’re going to see Provy’s and Nisky’s names first on the depth chart on defense.
But if you go back to when we were winning a lot of games, obviously we were using Provy and Nisky in those roles, but there was a lot of times where we’re playing against Washington and Ovechkin’s on the ice and Myers and Sanheim are going head to head against those guys. Same thing against Toronto and against Auston Matthews. Not only did we not hide those guys, but we purposely matched them against the best lines in the league.
A because they have that ability and B because we wanted them to grow.
Really, the only way to do it is by just doing it. I would say the same holds true for the playoffs. We can tell them what to expect, we can work with them, do drills, all that kind of stuff but obviously it’s a different intensity level and it’s a different pace when you get to that playoff hockey. Both guys are composed. Both guys are great skaters and both guys have size. I really don’t expect it to be much of a factor for those guys.
Again, there’s only so much you can do without actually getting out there and having to deal with it. I really do feel comfortable that the experience that they got this year is going to go a long way towards helping them be successful in the playoffs.
What do you see as Nate Thompson’s role in playoffs? And what do you think made the penalty kill click this year?
First on Thompson. He looks really good. He was a great addition for us, both him and Grant coming in. Without Nolan this year there was a bit of a void at the center ice position, and both those guys come in and really solidified the center ice position, but both have strong identities as a player. With Thomer, you think about playoff hockey and you always need players that have roles, players that have identities, and obviously we have a number of players that are competing for spots.
If you’re playing a certain position or against a certain team and you really believe you need a fourth line where you’ve got a centerman you can count on to win face-offs, you can start in your own zone, who can play in defensive situations. You don’t have to try and hide them. Good penalty killer, and also the physicality. I’ve always been a big believer that physicality plays a bigger role in the playoffs when you are going head to head in a best of seven series. He brings those things. Obviously those will be the decisions we have to make as a staff. As far as the PK, just really impressed with the way the guys bought in this year. A, always need great goaltending, we got that from whoever was between the pipes for us, whether it was Moose or Carter. That’s going to give you the opportunity to develop confidence in the things that you are doing. The players really bought in. We wanted to bring in an aggressive style, but really focused on very, very small details.
Coupled that with the fact that we added some great personnel, whether it was Nisky, Brauner, or the two centermen that I mentioned. Then we got some young kids that are really starting to develop in that role as well. The guys have bought in. They are really paying attention to the details and ultimately what it comes down to is you have to have that pride, that willingness that if you have to block a shot you’re going to block a shot, you’re going to pay any price to get that puck down the ice.
Your name might not show up on the scoresheet at the end of the night, but you really have to take pride in that. That’s what the guys have done a great job of.
SEAN COUTURIER: DAY 5 TRANSCRIPT
Where do you see the team right now? How close do you think of being game ready?
We don’t have to go through the adaptation of having a new coaching staff, new systems and all that. I think we might be a little more ahead than we were last training camp in September. I think we still have a lot of work to do, catching up to speed and execution. Practices have been good. We got to keep pushing our pace. Get back to some playoff-level hockey.
You’ve been with your usual linemates of G and Jake so far. How quickly does the chemistry start to re-emerge?
I think it takes time to kind of get back on the same page, but we’re three smart players that know each other enough to know what we need to do to be successful. We know our strengths. We try to use them as much as we can and use each other as much as possible.
I think it’s more just a question of finding our execution again. I think the chemistry’s there, it’s been there for a while. It’s just getting back on the same page and executing and finishing plays.
How important to you are the round robin games? Is your focus more on Game 1 of the playoffs or are you focusing on the higher seed of the round robin?
I think once we get going in the round robin we’re going to try to win every game, just in the nature of being a pro athlete. At the same time like you said you can practice all you want, skate all you want, feel great, but once you get into a game it’s different. The timing is different, the plays are different and the game shape is different. We’ll have one exhibition game to kind of get up to pace. Sometimes it takes a few games, sometimes it takes a few periods, it all depends on players and the situation. We’re going to have to be sharp from the start of that first exhibition game and try to get into game shape as quick as possible.
Are scrimmages and inter-squad games another step to getting into game shape?
Yeah, I think so. Once you get into game situations, timing, like I said, you can skate all you want, skate fast. When you come down on a goalie and have all day to shoot it’s a little easier than in a game, you got to pick your spots and almost has to become automatic in game situations. It’s nice to get a few scrimmages, some 5-on-5 drills where you kind of get a feel a little bit of the game. It’s something we’ll have to take seriously and build on that.
They are going to announce the finalist for the Selke Trophy on Monday. How much of an honor is it to be named a finalist? How much of a role model is a guy like Patrice Bergeron that you are compared to?
He’s definitely a great role model for any young player or any young guys trying to learn the game to play the right way. He does all the little things right, barely makes any mistakes, plays the right way and he’s responsible. He’s definitely a player that any young guy can look up to and learn from. It was no different for me coming into the league. He was already established and a solid player. I definitely looked up to guys like him, Kopitar, Toews, Jordan Staal. Those guys are really reliable and play the game the right way. It’s definitely an honor to be mentioned in the same conversation as those guys.
You were a first round pick and entered the NHL at 18 years old, similar to Nolan Patrick. How important was it to be patient yourself? How important is it to have patience with younger players?
I think every player coming into the league is put in different situations, whether you’re a first round pick or fifth, sixth, seventh round pick, you’ve been invited. You go through some up and downs as a young player, I think it’s a part of learning, part of adapting to the NHL. Most players when you come out of junior and you’re drafted you’re a dominant offensive player and then you come to the NHL, it’s the best of the best.
You have to adapt and find your game, but it’s no different for any player. Some guys it takes a little longer than others. I think it’s important to be strong mentally and know yourself. Trust your skills. You know what you can do. I think Nolan still has a really bright future. He’s a really skilled player. We can’t wait to have him back with us.
You’ve been around Joel Farabee all season. How has he grown throughout the season? How does he look out there during this training camp?
He’s looked great. He’s another young guy who’s developed all year, went through some up and downs, but he stayed with it, learned from his struggles, and it just made him a better player. The league is getting younger and younger so you see their improvement every year. Right now, you see him and it feels like he took another step forward. It’s good for our team. He’s another player that’s a big part of the future of our team and he can already have an impact right now. We’re definitely counting on him.
Is there any comparison to the 2016 World Cup with the months off, a short training camp and then playing meaningful game to what you are going into here?
I think it’s a different situation right now. That was a tournament. It was a round robin and you need to win two out of three games I believe to make it through to the semis and finals. It was a shorter tournament. It’s a different style of play whereas right now we’re going through playoffs. Obviously there’s the play in round.
Obviously, it’s not going to be like usual with all the surroundings and the restrictions surrounding the game. Once we play the game, it’s the same formula. It’s going to be different than the World Cup for sure. You are comparing playoffs, four rounds of playoffs compared to a short week of round robin games right into semis and finals. I think it’s different.
Is the group as a whole in a better shape than you thought they were going to be after a few months off?
It’s a fair statement. I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I’ve been taking it seriously and trying to stay in the best shape possible. Take advantage of the break if we would come back and make sure I was ready, healthy and feeling 100 percent. I think guys showed up in good shape. They’re looking good out there. The pace is picking up every day and the execution also. It’s something we can build on and hopefully we can keep going here the last five or six days before we get to Toronto.
IVAN PROVOROV: DAY 5 TRANSCRIPT
Do you think being able to skate a lot during the break gave you an advantage over some of the guys that were not able to skate?
I wouldn’t say it gave me an advantage. I guess maybe a little bit from the guys that weren’t able to skate for a long time. But I think pretty much everyone’s been able to skate since June either home or here. Everyone did their best to come to camp prepared. I think everyone’s done a great job of that.
How quickly does chemistry get rekindled? Is it like you start back from square one or pick up where you left off?
Honestly we picked up right where we left off. Nisky is a tremendous player. It’s easy to play with him. I think from the very first skate we got right back to the same level we were playing at all year. Honestly, it wasn’t a problem at all.
How motivated were you coming into this season with the new contract and wanting to rebound after last season?
Honestly, I was just very excited. We had a bunch of changes over the summer. New coaching staff, added some great players. I was excited to come back and get the season started. I knew we had big potential to be a really good team. We’ve proved that during the regular season. Now we have to prove it during the playoffs.
You have known Shayne for a while now and know his struggles with injuries and trying to get back. How does he look? Does he look like the guy from the beginning of the season?
We’ve been skating in two different groups, but the time that I’ve had the opportunity to watch the practice and the other group I think he’s looked great. I didn’t notice anything. He was moving the puck and moving himself good, and it seems like he’s ready.
What has Mike Yeo brought as an assistant coach and defensive coach that is new to you?
Just his ability to communicate with everyone and talk it over. If something doesn’t go well during the game, he stays calm and makes the right decisions. When we need to adjust something, he does that right away. When things are going well he lets us play and lets us to our thing. I think this has been a great change so far. Just lets us play to our strengths also, play aggressive, move the puck, skate with the puck. I think he’s done a great job and it’s been really helping us.
What has this been like for you? How strange is it to be playing the summer? How ready do you feel for playoffs?
It’s definitely a unique situation, stopping in the middle of March and then waiting four months and starting skating again. It’s definitely unique. Nothing like this has happened before. I think everyone is just excited to get back to see each other and finish what we started. We are growing as a team as the season went on. When the season stopped, we were playing our best hockey. We just wanted to get back and kind of get back to the same level. Hopefully play the same way in the playoffs and do some damage.
JOEL FARABEE: DAY 5 TRANSCRIPT
How is your confidence level right now in camp and going into the playoffs?
I was here for most of Phase 2 so I’ve been able to skate a lot. I think the biggest thing right now is just trying to get that chemistry going again. Feeling pretty good playing with TK and Haysey. They are definitely two really good linemates. Hopefully we have a good camp and have a good couple of exhibition games. We’ll go from there.
With this being the longest season for you so far, did you feel a bit drained when the pause happened? If so, did the pause let you recoup?
Right before the pause I think I was actually feeling pretty good. The most tired I was was probably around the west coast trip, if I remember correctly. I think right around there is where I felt the most tired and the most kind of burned out.
Just talking with Oz and Dan and even Nyree, eating and stuff like that. I think I’ve got it figured out how to keep my energy going through a full season. Through playoffs here I’m better prepared and even into next year, I’ll have a pretty good idea of what I need to do.
Where do you feel you've grown and feel more of an NHL player now compared to the beginning of the season?
As of right now I think it’s just my confidence. I kind of know where guys are going to be, what kind of play needs to made. I think once I figured out our systems and everything like that, I was able to get into a good rhythm. I think the pause definitely helped too, kind of a reset button. Now it’s we know the systems, we know what we need to do, and it’s just about executing. I think I feel pretty confident in myself, just making small plays, making the right plays. It’s going to be big in playoffs and you’ve got to play smart to win games.
How hard was it not to feel down a bit when you were sent down in late February and had to work your your way back up to the NHL roster? It happened quickly.
Obviously, you want to stay up as long as you can. You want to be in that push for the playoffs. Nate and Derek are great players and they helped the team. I am a big believer that guys that are playing the best deserve to play. At the time, I was out, and that’s just how it goes sometimes. I was able to go to Lehigh, play a game and get my hands back.
Obviously, with JVR going down, I was able to come back up. We have such good depth here. I think anyone can play. We have such a good roster. I think that’s really big for us heading into playoffs. We have a lot of good depth, lot of good young guys. I think we will be pretty prepared once we get to Toronto.
How much more comfortable did you feel down the stretch?
Like I said before, I kind of found that rhythm in my game. I was confident in making plays. I wasn’t getting rid of the puck too quick. I think a lot of it just getting the practice time in and getting the puck touches. Just being prepared heading into games. I‘m pretty confident right now in my game and I’m ready to resume play here.
It seemed like you had a lot of scoring chances down the stretch. Is that just a case of bearing down a little more and finishing those chances?
I think it’s a good thing I’m getting those chances. I want to finish the opportunity and be able to put points up. Heading into the playoffs, just bearing down more, trying to get the puck in the back of the net. We need goals to win games. Its opportunity I have to score. I have to believe in myself that I can do it.
How do you weigh the loss of the momentum with the rest that you guys got heading into the playoffs?
It was pretty clear we were on a good run there right at the end. At the end of the day, everyone had a pause. Everyone’s not played in however many months it’s been. We were all on the same page here and it’s going to be whatever team can get back into it the quickest is probably going to win. I think having a good camp, we’ve been skating pretty hard the last few days, getting into it. Guys are going to be prepared and we’re going to be ready as a team once the games start.
With no fans, are you guys planning on breaking out some new celebrations?
We haven’t really thought about that. We’re just having fun out there. That’s the biggest thing, getting back into it. Obviously we’re trying to win the Stanley Cup but at the end of the day this is the best part of the year. We’re trying to enjoy it. I think we are just taking it day by day and it’s not going to be too loud when guys score. Hopefully we’ll have some good cellys. I probably won’t be doing too much of the scoring. Hopefully TK, Hayesy and those guys have some good ones.
How strange will it be to not play in front of fans? Will you have to be more self-motivated?
At the end of the day, I think it’s just going to be about preparation. No fans. You’re going to have to create your own energy. The team that does that the best is going to have the best chance to win. I think we will be prepared. We’re not too worried about the no fans. It’s hockey at the end of the day. We are going to play to the best of our ability and we’ll go from there. NATE THOMPSON: DAY 5 TRANSCRIPT
Where do you think the team is at physically and in terms of execution through four days of practice at this point?
I think it’s pretty good. I’ve been pretty impressed. I think the pace, how sharp guys are right now. I think after four days, it’s pretty promising. Guys are looking pretty good. I think guys definitely took care of themselves and were prepared to come back.
How did the guys keep you and Derek Grant part of the group?
We felt part of the group right away. It’s a tight nit group here. I could feel that, Granter could feel that when we got here. It was kind of a seamless transition when we got here. When the break happened, team chat and guys were FaceTiming, it kind of felt like we’d been here the whole year. That’s a testament to the guys and the group they have to make us feel welcome right away.
How beneficial can your playoff experience be, not only for you but for the younger guys as well?
I think it could help. I was in a similar situation. I played my first playoff game with Tampa and we ended up going to the Conference Final. I don’t think you get experience without getting the experience. I think just helping guys mentally, knowing that it’s a fun time of the year. It’s the best time of the year to play in the playoffs. Older guys helped me when I was going through it for the first time. I can do the same hopefully.
What’s your mentality going into this camp, fighting for playing time?
It’s the same thing. It never changes for me. It’s never changed for every team I’ve ever been on. I’m always fighting for playing time. That’s just how it goes. That’s what it’s been my whole career. That’s what it’s been every year, every camp I’ve gone to. A similar thing happened to me when I was in Montreal, I was fighting for a spot. To be honest that’s kind of what’s kept me in the league for so long. I think having to know that you can’t get comfortable, it pushes me. I think it’s a good thing. You want competition, you want guys playing for spots. It makes the team better.
How much of an advantage is to have an exhibition game and the round robin games compared to an exhibition game and diving into a best-of-five series?
I don’t’ know how much of an advantage it is. I think we have an advantage we have the bye into the first round and we’re safe in that aspect. Every team, every game is going to be crucial. You don’t have time to feel out the first couple games. You have to hit the ground running. Make sure you’re going from 0 to 100 real quick. Guys have to make sure they are ready, game ready every time they play.