Little-used Nic Deslauriers faces an uncertain future with the Flyers: ‘I still think I have some in the gas tank’

Last season, Nic Deslauriers played 31 games for the Flyers, mostly due to an upper-body injury that kept him out for almost three months. This season, across the Flyers’ 56 games, the veteran winger has suited up for just 21.

“Not easy, that’s for sure,” he said Sunday after practice. “It’s where the young guys kind of step up and [I] just stay ready for when my name is called upon. It’s frustrating, but at the same time, I can’t control those things.”

A fourth-liner when he does slot in, Deslauriers is a bit of a throwback. Although he was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the third round of the 2009 NHL draft as a defenseman, the now 35-year-old — his birthday was Sunday — is a tough, grinding forward who is feared across the league for his fists.

» READ MORE: Dan Vladař relishes in his Olympic experience; Flyers’ Americans celebrate Team USA’s historic gold

This season, he has one assist with a minus-3 rating while averaging 8 minutes, 18 seconds of ice time. He’s averaging the most minutes he’s played since his first year in Philly (10:06 in 80 games) after signing as a free agent in July 2022.

Since joining the Flyers, the forward has dropped the gloves 32 times in the regular season — most notably against the New York Rangers’ Matt Rempe in what many called the “Fight of the Year” two years ago Tuesday. Twenty of his 26 penalty minutes this season are from fighting majors against Minnesota Wild forward Marcus Foligno, Montreal Canadiens forward Arber Xhekaj — he fought his brother, Florian, who is also on the Canadiens in the preseason — Tampa Bay Lightning tough guy Curtis Douglas, and Brennan Othmann of the Rangers.

“It’s funny, there’s sometimes that I could see it kind of like disappearing, and then, it’s more when you watch the playoffs, and you see those guys, not enforcers technically, but the hardworking guys that hit, and, I wouldn’t say patrol, but if there’s something going wrong, they’re there,” he said.

“I think you see them in some teams, and those are teams that have success. So I think it’s getting away, that’s for sure, but I think there’s still a place for it.”

Flyers general manager Danny Brière is starting to build a reputation as a guy who does right by his veteran players. Last year, he traded Erik Johnson back to Colorado, where he had previously won a Stanley Cup, and Scott Laughton to his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs. With the trade deadline approaching on March 6, is the pending unrestricted free agent next?

“I think I have maybe another year or two in me [but] those are things out of my power,” Deslauriers said. “I’ve always taken care of my body for the type of job that I do, and I’m always ready. I still think I have some in the gas tank.”

Deslauriers feels like he came into camp in great shape, plus, as he noted, “I get bag-skated a lot, so I’m still in shape.” On the ice for every morning skate, whether optional or not, he spends extra time helping goalies work on their craft, does a hard skate if he’s not playing, and then hits the gym during the first period of the game. Sometimes he’ll head up to the press box afterward to check out the game.

“The game’s easier when you guys watch from up top,” he noted. “Some games you want to feel a refresh and you go up there and kind of look at the games. But the main thing, of not playing, is just staying in shape and waiting for your turn.”

Unfortunately, time catches up to us all, and there is only so much road left for the Quebec native who is two games shy of 700 in the NHL. He got a taste of post-career life when he was hurt last season, spending more time with his four children and taking them to soccer tournaments in between gym sessions during the recent Olympic break.

But despite being the oldest player on the Flyers — he’s got nine months on linemate Garnet Hathaway — the respected and well-liked Deslauriers is not done yet.

“I know it’s toward the end,” he said with a laugh, “but trying to kind of prove that I can be here.

“If you look at my season this year, just 21 games, it’s not a lot, but I think I’m almost more in shape now than the last few years from all the skating.

“So, no, I think the passion of the game is still there. The love of the game is still there. And we’ll see where that goes.”

» READ MORE: Flyers defenseman Emil Andrae is ‘doing everything he can’ to get himself back into the lineup

The NHL trade freeze lifted at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday. … Several Flyers and NHL items are up for auction at www.classicauctions.net, including items from the personal collections of Ron Hextall and Bobby Taylor along with the late Bernie Parent’s “Ghost” mask. The auction closes on Tuesday. … On Saturday, Flyers forward Owen Tippett surprised more than 50 children, ages 5-9, by participating in the Flyers Learn to Play practice at the Skatium in Haverford. An ambassador for the program since 2023-24 with his wife, Taylor, Tippett ran the players through skating and stickhandling drills. Participants in the program, which takes place at 18 rinks across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, are supplied full head-to-toe hockey equipment, a personal welcome message from the Tippetts, a certificate of completion signed by Owen, and the chance for a postgame meet-and-greet at Xfinity Mobile Arena.