Bill Meltzer Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • RSS
• Archive
• CONTACT
Quick Hits: May 18, 2022
1) On Wednesday's edition of Flyers' Daily, Jason Myrtetus talks with guest Travis Konecny. Although Konecny led the Flyers in scoring ((52 points in 79 games played) including a 0.75 points per game pace after the All-Star break, the player admitted that he was not satisfied with his overall season. That was particularly true in the goal-scoring department (16g), for the second straight year. Konecny discussed some of the things he has done -- including looking at analytics tied to his shot locations -- to try to regain more of a finishing touch.
2) The Flyers officially signed 2018 second-round pick Adam Ginning to an entry-level contract on Tuesday. The 22-year-old defensive defenseman is likely to play in the American Hockey League in 2022-23 for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. This past season, playing for SHL champion Färjestad, Ginning averaged 17:49 of ice time in 55 regular season games (1g, 4a, 42 PIM, E, 35 SOG) and 19:11 TOI in 19 playoff matches (3g, 2a, 2 PIM, +5, 26 SOG). Ginning's postseason run was arguably the best hockey he's played at the SHL level.
Ginning's bread and butter is his ability to bring a physical presence and do battle along the walls and in close near the net. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound blueliner is also a decent skater. He is strictly average with the puck on his stick -- something that is still a work in progress, but he has worked hard to improve --and he has focused on keeping his game fairly simple and straightforward.
From the time of Ginning's draft year, he's been compared to Robert Hägg. Hägg was actually more offensive-minded as a young player in the SHL and American Hockey League than Ginning has ever been. Hägg found limited success in the AHL playing that way. He was encouraged by former Phantoms head coach Scott Gordon and Flyers development coach Kjell Samuelsson to simplify his game, focus on making short-range passes rather than attempting nearly as many stretch passes and up-ice forays as he did early in his career. Hägg has been able to carve out a 300-game NHL career to this point.
Ginning is unlikely to fast-track to the Flyers' NHL roster but believes that his playing style is better suited to the smaller-rink game. In today's game, there is a heavy emphasis on puck movement and playing a possession-oriented style. However, teams still have room for one or two blueliners who are in the lineup primarily to deliver physicality and block shots. If Ginning eventually works his way up to the NHL level, those aspects will be what gets him there.
3) May 18 Flyers Alumni birthdays: Dave Michayluk (1962), Turner Stevenson (1972), Jay Wells (1959).
4) Today in Flyers History: May 18, 2010
After making NHL history with their second-round comeback against the Boston Bruins, the Philadelphia Flyers showed no signs of physical fatigue or mental letdown in the Eastern Conference Final against the Montreal Canadiens. The Flyers opened the series with a 6-0 blowout win in Game One.
Two nights later, the Flyers did it again, shutting out the Canadiens for the second straight time. This time, the score was 3-0. Goals by Danny Briere (power play), Simon Gagne (power play) and Ville Leino led the way offensively. Leino also assisted on the Gagne goal. Philadelphia closed the game out with authority, outshooting Montreal by a 10-4 margin in the third period
After notching a 28-save shutout in the series opener, Michael Leighton stopped all 30 shots fired on his net in Game Two. His best work came in the opening period as he was called upon to make 16 saves. Montreal goaltender Jaroslav Halak turned back 20 of 23.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
Join the Discussion:
»