Lines in question, spot that’s ‘wide open’ and more from Flyers
Lines in question, spot that’s ‘wide open’ and more from Flyers training camp originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
VOORHEES, N.J. — The Flyers are getting down to the nitty-gritty of evaluation and decision time.
They wrap up the preseason Thursday when they host the Devils (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP). It won’t serve as a dress rehearsal for the Flyers because New Jersey’s big club is already in Prague, Czechia for the 2024 NHL Global Series. So John Tortorella will play only a handful of veterans and more of an inexperienced, Phantoms-heavy lineup.
Instead of holding a morning skate Thursday, the Flyers will practice as an NHL group to go over their systems. They’re starting to prepare for the regular-season opener next Friday against the Canucks in Vancouver, British Columbia.
On Wednesday, the Flyers had a 24-player big club group on one ice sheet and a 10-player group on the adjacent rink.
“We’ve gotten plenty of work in,” Tortorella said. “I’m really happy with the camp. Now it’s time to get to our teams.”
The Flyers have until Monday at 5 p.m. ET to submit their season-opener roster, which can be at a max of 23 players. Before they suit up for their seventh and final exhibition contest, let’s get into three observations from the sixth non-game day of camp.
Here’s what we saw in Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4 and Day 5 of camp, as well as Game 1, Game 2, Game 3, Game 4, Game 5 and Game 6 of the preseason.
Line dance
Tyson Foerster didn’t practice Wednesday after blocking a shot in the second period of the Flyers’ 4-1 preseason loss Tuesday night to the Bruins. Foerster was able to finish the game but Tortorella said the 22-year-old winger was dealing with some swelling Wednesday, so the Flyers decided to keep him off the ice.
With no Foerster, the Flyers had 14 forwards in their big club group, including Jett Luchanko. The 2024 first-round center has understandably tapered off as the preseason games have picked up and still seems unlikely to get a nine-game…
