Sanheim: "I think I have come a long way"

Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim spoke via video conference on Tuesday with members of the local media. He discussed his feeling that the team has only scratched the surface of its capabilities after a breakthrough regular season last year and coming within one victory of a spot in the Eastern Conference Final. He also said that, despite the fact he's played three NHL seasons and four years overall as a pro, he feels like he has more to learn at the top level.

For Sanheim, it's never been a question of talent, work ethic or desire; rather, it's a quest for greater consistency in execution. Even during the postseason last year, he had some rather lofty highs during the round robin and portions of the Montreal series but those were followed by a very uneven performance in the second round against the New York Islanders with some rather rough patches along the way.

All in all, though, Sanheim's 2019-20 season was a success. He showed further improvement in his two-way game. He also, for the first time in his NHL career, became a regular on the penalty kill. He may or may not see further expansion of his offensive duties but he is evolving into more of a complete player after entering the pro ranks several years ago known more for his offensive abilities than his off-puck effectiveness. His gap control is much better now. He plays with more poise. There are still the flashes of offensive prowess, but he picks his spots better now than he did in his early pro days.

All that's needed now is a little more consistency. This is what will determine whether Sanheim (and/or Phil Myers) are capable of helping the Flyers move on quickly from the early retirement of Matt Niskanen. Some defensemen unlock that consistency around the stage of their careers where Sanheim is now. Others, such as two-stint 1990s Flyers defenseman Karl Dykhuis, continue to ride a roller coaster where they sometimes play at a very high level and sometimes struggle to bounce right back after there's some adversity.

The mental side of the game, even more than the technical side, is often the biggest hurdle to clear for players at the highest-pressure positions: goaltending (where most mistakes end up in the net) and defense (where mistakes often result in scoring chances or goals against) The quick bounceback after a costly miscue is a clear line of demarcation in the hierarchy leaguewide. Sanheim has taken some big steps, to where he's unquestionably a top-four caliber defenseman. The question is whether he can take the next consistency step to become a bonafide top-two or top-three. The same goes for Myers.

To his credit, Sanheim is level-headed and self-aware of the areas where's he made big improvements and the areas that still need to get a little better. The video conference transcript below is courtesy of the Flyers' Brian Smith.

What did you gain from going through the playoffs in Toronto, going through the round robin, winning a playoff round, and going against the Islanders?

I’d say a lot of us hadn’t really had a taste. A few guys got it a few years back when we played Pittsburgh. Me personally, I didn’t have much. Played a few games against Pittsburgh with limited ice time. This was kind of my first time. I think just how every shift, every detail of every play that you make matters in games like that. Just the consistency level that you need for every play, every game. It’s something going into this season that I want to take in and try to add to my game. Just be precise in what I’m doing and work hard to be able to make that right play every night, whether it’s a Monday or we’re in the playoffs. It doesn’t matter. I need to bring it. I think that can lead to more playoff success.

What was your offseason regiment like? How often were you able to get on the ice and did you work on anything specifically, whether it be strength or any on ice type of work?

I actually took some time off after the playoffs. I think it was a long season with having a break, trying to train and work hard to get back into shape for camp, and then with the playoffs and a little bit of a run there. The body was definitely beaten up a bit. Took some time off and then right after that, I got right into it. The first go-around in March when the season went on pause, I ended up building a gym at my house.

Probably the best thing I could have done was able to work out every day. For on ice, it was hard at times. Manitoba went through phases of shutdown and code red. I did the best I could. I was working with a skills coach with Ryan Pulock, who plays for the Islanders. Me and him kind of worked with each other with a skills coach to better our game. Just little things that D-men have to work on, whether it’s breakouts, puck plays, wielding with the puck, seeing the ice or making the right decisions. I felt I got better over the course of the break. Looking forward to the upcoming season.

Can you talk about the loss of Matt Niskanen on this team and the necessity of a young guy like yourself and Phil Myers to step up and fill the void, especially with an organization having young defensemen who are going to need vets to kind of lead the way for them?

I think Nisky was a big part of our team last season. Someone who we were going to be leaning on this season. Obviously it sucks that he’s not coming back. But it was his decision. I wish him nothing but the best in retirement. That was a big loss for us. Guys have got to step up. There’s a lot of young guys that want to take that step. We’re going to have to do it together. It’s not going to be one guy that takes on his full role because he meant so much to our team. Me personally, I’m going to try to take that step forward that I am looking forward.

Where have you seen Phil Myers grow, whether on the ice or off the ice? Where have some of his biggest areas of growth?

I think it’s similar to what I went through. It’s different when you have that next step up. Some things are may work at the level below but doesn’t work here. You got to adjust and make changes to your game. I think Phil’s done a great job since he’s gotten here. He’s only gotten better and he’s going to continue to get better. He’s awesome to play with. I enjoy playing with him. He makes me a better player. I like to think we work well together. Hopefully that continues.

Do you see yourself now as a NHL veteran, being in your fourth year in the league?

Sure doesn’t feel that way. It feels like I just got into the league. I’m still learning my way. There are still mistakes that happen out there that I need to clean up. I think I have come a long way. I’ve started to see my game develop and grow into sort of someone that I want to be. Like I said, I still got to take that next step. I think I’ve done a nice job of continuing to grow my game and develop. Going forward, if there’s guys that need my help or support along the way, I will obviously do my best to help out.

Have you been in touch with Nolan Patrick? How does he look? How is he doing?

Yeah, obviously I’ve been in touch with Patty a lot. He actually was up in the Brandon [Manitoba] area, lives a couple houses down from where I live. Saw him a lot. We were working out a lot together and training together. He’s been awesome. His skillset is next level. We knew that since the day he got drafted. It’s awesome seeing him back out there skating. Looking forward to playing with him again.

Would you prefer if you and Phil Myers stuck together as a pairing? How difficult would it be if you had another defensive partner this year?

I’m not sure what the game plan is. Obviously we will know more in the next week or so as we get into training camp. Like I said earlier, me and Phil work well together. I enjoy playing with him. If we play together, that’s awesome. Hopefully we can continue to grow. If we’re separated and have to work with other guys, I think we’ll both continue to develop and get better and make our partners better as well. Either way, it doesn’t matter to me personally. Phil’s been awesome to work with and I enjoy playing with him.

What is it about Phil Myers that makes it so easy to play with?

I think just how he plays the game. He can play on both sides of the puck. He wants to get better every day, whether it’s after practice. As soon as I am shooting pucks, he comes over, ‘Hey, what are we doing? What are we doing to get better?’ I enjoy guys that love communicating and getting better every day. That’s what I’m there for. That’s how he’s easy to play with because we can communicate on and off the ice and work with each other. That’s how you get better as a tandem and as a partner. I think that’s what’s made it so easy.

Was there anything that stuck out to you about the postseason when you looked back on the film that you were able to identify as a struggle during the postseason?

Obviously, there’s some things you want to improve on and get better at. I think for us, it was we played well against Montreal and even in the round robin. I thought we were getting better and playing well. Even in part of the Islanders series, I think there was times we were playing awesome and great. I don’t want to say that the series alone was terrible. But, obviously, there’s an area we need to get better at.

Being a young pairing, I think the Islanders did a great job of coming at us hard, being physical and hard on the forecheck, especially the bigger forwards. Some adjustments that need to be made going forward is being able to handle that pressure and a forecheck with the bigger bodies, how to move them and play against. Teams have that. Teams are starting to play that way. You want to get better, especially in the postseason. You see that all the time, a lot of big bodies, big players. Have to be able to handle that. Hopefully we can improve on some of those mistakes that we made.

WJC: Day 5 Roundup, Day 6 Preview

Flyers 2019 second-round pick Bobby Brink was named Player of the Game for Team USA on Tuesday as he scored a pair of second period goals that turned a scoreless game into a 3-0 lead on the way to a 7-0 victory over the Czech Republic. The first was a rebound, the latter a re-direct. On both goals, Brink battled to get to the "greasy area" near the net and got rewarded for it.

Team USA captain Cam York, who was the Americans' Player of the Game in the tourney-opening 5-3 loss to Russia on Christmas Day, collected assists on three straight goals for the Americans during their four-goal blitz in route to the seven-goal margin of victory over the Czechs.



Team USA resumes action tomorrow against Sweden. First, the Swedes (featuring Flyers 2019 second-round pick Emil Andrae) will put their 54-game preliminary round winning streak on the line against Russia later today.

In other action from Tuesday, Canada punished Switzerland, 10-0, and Russia dispatched Austria, 7-1. Later today, Finland plays Slovakia and the Swiss play Germany. If the favored Finns win in regulation to keep pace with Canada, tomorrow's Canada vs. Finland game will be for first place in Group A. In Group B, any among Team USA, Sweden or Russia could still finish first in their preliminary round bracket.

Coming up later today on the Flyers' official website, I will have a player-by-player, game-by-game rundown of how York, Brink and Andrae have fared so far during the tournament.

Flyers on national TV schedule

Starting with the team's opening night game against the archrival Pittsburgh Penguins on Jan. 13 at 5:30 p.m. ET, the Flyers will be featured seven times on national television (either NBCSN or NBC) over the course of their 56-game regular season. Five will be on NBCSN and the other two will be Sunday games on NBC.

The full schedule of national TV games follows below. Note: Start times for games after opening night as well as the Flyers' local (NBC Sports Philadelphia and NBCSP+) television and radio broadcast schedules will be released on a later date.

Wed. Jan. 13 vs Penguins: NBCSN (5:30 PM ET)
Wed. Feb 3 vs Bruins: NBCSN (time TBD)
Sun. Feb 7 @ Capitals: NBC (time TBD)
Sun. Feb 21 @ Bruins: NBC (time TBD)
Wed. Feb 24 vs. Rangers: NBCSN (time TBD)
Wed. Mar 17 @ Rangers: NBCSN (time TBD)
Sun Apr 18 vs. Islanders: NBCSN (time TBD)

Flyers Daily for December 30, 2020

In Wednesday's edition of Flyers Daily, Jason Myrtetus and I covered a lot of ground. We previewed training camp, looked at battles for roster spots, discussed some news from around the NHL (Henrik Lundqvist, Jonathan Toews, Mathew Barzal), answered some Twitter questions and more. To listen, click here.

Today in Flyers History: December 30

In the entire history of the Philadelphia Flyers' organization, the team has never played a home game on December 30th. Traditionally, this has been due to touring ice shows (Ice Capades at the Spectrum, Disney on Ice at the Wells Fargo Center) or holiday music shows at the home arena. Correspondingly, the Flyers have been on the road this time of year. The team has played 26 road games on Dec. 30, most recently in 2016.

During the 2009-10 season, the Flyers hit a severe slump in the first half of the season that cost John Stevens his job as Flyers' head coach and continued into the early tenure of his successor, Peter Laviolette. In dire need of a win, the Flyers visited Madison Square Garden on December 30, 2009, in their final game before playing in the Winter Classic against the Boston Bruins in Fenway Park.

On this night, the Flyers showed flashes of the form that would eventually bring them within two wins of the Stanley Cup championship in the 2010 playoffs. Philadelphia put forth a strong 60-minute performance in a 6-0 rout of the New York Rangers.

Simon Gagne compiled a hat trick and an assist while Michael Leighton breezed to a 22-save shutout. Emerging young star Claude Giroux posted one goal and one assist, while Danny Briere and ex-Ranger Blair Betts (getting Philly off to a flying start in the opening minute of the game) also scored. Other notable Dec. 30 events in Flyers history:

1967: Doug Favell earned a 25-save shutout of the Los Angeles Kings in a 2-0 win at the Forum. Ed Hoekstra and Leon Rochefort supply the offensive support.

1976: Goals by Bobby Clarke and Andre "Moose" Dupont sparked a 2-0 win over the Kings at the Forum. Wayne Stephenson posted a 22-save shutout.

1982: The Flyers skated off with a 6-3 win in Calgary. Hall of Famers Bobby Clarke, Mark Howe and Darryl Sittler tallied goals for Philadelphia, along with Paul Holmgren, Bob Hoffmeyer and Paul Evans.

Clarke, who had four shots on goal also added two assists and unofficially won 17 of 24 faceoffs (it wasn't yet as an official NHL stat yet), was inexplicably left off the night's three-star selection honorees. Flyers head coach Bob McCammon made an issue of it during the team's subsequent trip to St. Louis.

"It's a goddamn joke," McCammon said to the Philadelphia Daily News. "I don't know what game they were watching."

McCammon was peeved that the Calgary media chose Flames player Kevin LaVallee (one goal) as the second star. They also gave a nod to Flyers defenseman Brad Marsh (who had been very well-liked ast the Flames captain before being traded to Philly) as the third star. McCammon, of course, didn't mind the nod to Marsh for his usual workmanlike performance but felt the need to say that three-time Hart Trophy winner Clarke should be recognized ahead of the pint-sized LaVallee.

For his part, Clarke was puzzled as to why McCammon even cared about it. The future Hockey Hall of Famer's response when asked was a grin and a shrug. Clarke was never one to care a whit about personal accolades or statistics.

1984: The Flyers wom a see-saw 3-2 game at the LA Forum. Dave Poulin scored the game-winner in the third period, after Murray Craven and Tim Kerr canceled out first- and second-period goals by Los Angeles. Pelle Lindbergh (24 saves) earned the win.

1989: The Flyers received a big offensive boost from an unexpected source as Tony Horacek compiled a hat trick in a 6-3 win over the LA Kings. Derrick Smith, Mike Bullard and Rick Tocchet also scored for Philly.

1992: Multi-point games by Mark Recchi (two goals) and Rod Brind'Amour (one goal, two assists) elevated the Flyers to a 6-2 win over the San Jose Sharks. Philly also got three goals from the defense corps, as Garry Galley, Gord Hynes and even tough-guy blueliner Shawn Cronin found the net.

2003: The Flyers hammered the St. Louis Blues, 7-2. Mark Recchi led the assault with two goals and two assists. Jeremy Roenick scored twice as well.

2006: The Flyers claimed left winger Dmitry Afanasenkov off waivers from the Tampa Bay Lightning. In the midst of the worst season in Flyers' franchise history, Afanasenkov played commendably. He posted eight goals and 15 points in 41 games, largely in a third-line role. After the season, Afanasenkov was an unrestricted free agent the 27-year-old Russian forward was an unrestricted free agent. The Flyers offered him a new contract at a small raise but the player felt he deserved a more significant salary bump. He opted to go back to Russia, signing with Dynamo Moscow, and played out the rest of his career in the Russian Super League, the KHL and the Swiss National League.

2007: Antero Niittymäki turned back all 38 shots fired on his net by the Florida Panthers, including a first period penalty shot by Radek Dvorak. Derian Hatcher snapped a scoreless deadlock midway through the third period and the Flyers hung on for a 1-0 win.

2013: The Flyers stole a 4-3 shootout win in Vancouver after they seemed to be on the brink of losing in regulation. Brayden Schenn tied the game with 47 seconds left. Vincent Lecavalier notched the winner in the skills competition. Mark Streit and Claude Giroux scored first-period and second-period goals in a game that saw the Flyers lead 1-0 and then trail by scores of 2-1 and 3-2 before the late-game comeback. Steve Mason stopped 41 shots in regulation and overtime and then thwarted Mike Santorelli, Ryan Kesler and Daniel Sedin in the shootout.

Fallen Flyers video

All this week through New Year's Eve Day, we will conclude each day's Flyers blog with the 2020 updated edition of the "Fallen Flyers" video; an in memoriam tribute to most (but not all) of the members of the Flyers family that have passed away. The video, produced by the Flyers, is always a bit sad to watch but it also brings back a lot of great memories as it honors each person's ties to the organization, one by one.

Sadly, the 2020 edition of the video features several in-memoriam additions: Jack McIlhargey, Dale Hawerchuk and Phyllis Snider Foreman.

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