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Quick Hits: A Look at the Week Ahead (Sept. 25 to Oct. 2) |
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A Look at the Week to Come (Sept. 25 to Oct. 2, 2024)
After the infamous skate test, two days of dual scrimmages, two road exhibition games and non-game group practices in Voorhees, the Flyers had a complete day off on Tuesday. Today, the team reconvenes for practice at the Flyers Training Center.
The first round of roster cuts were decided on Tuesday, although not yet publicly announced. The one publicly confirmed cut was 2023 second round pick Carson Bjarnason being returned to the Western Hockey League's Brandon Wheat Kings. The 19-year-old Bjarnson had a good rookie camp and early main camp, showing progress from last year. He saw some action in the preaseason opener in Washington.
There are no surprise names expected to be among the yet-unannounced remainder of early cuts. Most are players on AHL contracts who are on the bubble of opening the season in the ECHL with the Reading Royals or as depth players with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
One bit of notable news emerged on Tuesday evening: the Flyers have converted 25-year-old goaltender Eetu Makiniemi's training camp tryout deal into a one-year (two-way) NHL contract for 2024-25. The contract, per Puckpedia via the player's agent, is for $775,000 at the NHL level over a full season or $200,000 in the AHL with the Phantoms.
Makiniemi's solid camp so far, including a promising performance in Tuesday's otherwise desultory game in Montreal, hastened the reward of replacing the tryout arrangement with a contract. So, of course, did the continued absence of prospect Alexei Kolosov.
Rather that playing hockey in NHL camp and working to position himself for a chance to be calletd up to the big team if and when there's an injury or other impetus to recall him to play some NHL games, Kolosov is currently a player without a team. He's under NHL entry-level contract and is not of high enough priority for his KHL team to flout the NHL/KHL non-interference agreement over valid contracts. He already spent a year on loan to KHL team Dinamo Minsk at Flyers expense (burning year one of his ELC in the process). Additionally, Kolosov has willfully opened the opportunity door for a competing talented but unproven and inconsistent goalie (former San Jose Sharks netminder Makiniemi).
With veteran goaltender Cal Petersen in the final year of his contract, it was nothing less than short-sighted thinking for Kolosov to no-show camp. He is not going to get a guaranteed NHL roster spot right off the bat in any of the league's 32 organizations. In this organization, though, he has (or had) a clear avenue to overtake Petersen on the depth chart within a couple months. There is/was potentially a chance to see at least a few NHL games by the end of the season through merit or necessity. Now, by his own doing, Kolosov is missing more and more time and has presented on a silver platter a chance for Makiniemi to replace him in challenging Petersen for playing time.
Tomorrow, the Flyers play their first home game of the preseason, hosting the New York Islanders. Travis Konecny, Travis Sanheim, Cam York and Samuel Ersson are anticipated to play for the first time in the exhibition schedule. It would also not be surprising if a number of standouts from the opening 6-2 win over the Capitals -- including Joel Farabee (1g, 3a), Morgan Frost (2g, 1a), Owen Tippett (1a, several good looks at the net), 19-year-old Matvei Michkov (2a), and/or 18-year-old Jett Luchanko (2a) return to the lineup after not dressing in Montreal.
This is Wednesday's practice schedule: TEAM 1 (Flyers rink) practices at 11:00 a.m. EDT and then has an off-ice workout at noon. Team 2 (Phantoms ice) practices at noon and then has an off-ice workout at 1:00 p.m. EDT. Respective media availability will be after workouts are completed. Most likely, head coach John Tortorella would speak after the second on-ice session.
On Thursday, the Flyers' game group will have a 10:00 a.m. morning skates (Flyers rink) in Voorhees. Prior to pregame warmups, there will a team meeting (approximately 5:30 p.m. EDT) at the Wells Fargo Center. Opening faceoff is shortly after 7:00 p.m. EDT. The non-game group will have a 10:00 a.m. practice on the Phantoms rink at the FTC and then an off-ice workout.
From Friday (Sept. 27) to next Wednesday (Oct. 2), the daily schedule is as follows:
Friday, September 27 is a similar schedule to today, with an 11 a.m. practice for Group 1.
Saturday, September 28th
Game Group:10:00am: Pre-Game Skate (Flyers Ice)
5:30pm: Meeting @ Wells Fargo Center
7:00pm: Flyers vs Boston Bruins
Non-Game Group: (Phantoms Ice): 10:00am – 10:50am: On-Ice
11:00am – 11:50am: Off-Ice
Sunday, September 29th
OFF DAY
Monday, September 30th
Game Group: 10:00am: Pre-Game Skate (Flyers Ice)
2:00pm: Bus to Long Island
7:00pm: Flyers @ New York Islanders
Non-Game Group: (Phantoms Ice): 10:00am – 10:50am: On-Ice
11:00am – 11:50am: Off-Ice
Tuesday, October 1st
Game Group: 10:00am: Pre-Game Skate (Flyers Ice)
7:00pm: Flyers @ Boston Bruins
Non-Game Group: (Phantoms Ice): 10:00am – 10:50am: On-Ice
11:00am – 11:50am: Off-Ice
Wednesday, October 2nd
TEAM 1: (Flyers Ice) 11:00am: On-Ice
12:00pm: Off-Ice
TEAM 2: (Flyers Ice) 12:00am: On-Ice
1:00pm: Off-Ice
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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