Flyers must decide how returning vets mix with young upstarts: ‘Internal competition always makes your team better’
As Cam York and Rasmus Ristolainen near their return, Rick Tocchet and the Flyers must decide how to balance the youth movement behind their three-game win streak.
The newest entries in the Flyers’ youth movement, Cole Knuble and Oliver Bonk, brought a needed spark and helped drive the group’s current three-game win streak.
Those young players, plus Alex Bump and Jacob Gaucher, only got an opportunity in the NHL lineup due to a stacking number of short-term injuries. They’re not all back yet — Travis Konecny and Owen Tippett haven’t been skating with the main group — but some hard decisions might be coming down the pike.
Cam York and Rasmus Ristolainen, both still on injured reserve, were full participants in practice Friday, often as a pair. York will not play Saturday against Anaheim, while Ristolainen is a “possibility,” Flyers coach Rick Tocchet said. Ristolainen spent most of last season on the top pair with Travis Sanheim, and started this season in that same role. Bonk slid in following Ristolainen’s injury, and has made a strong impression.
“He just continues to get better,” Sanheim said. “Each game, each shift I’m playing with him, he looks a lot more comfortable than the first game, and so on and so forth. It’s a credit to him and how he approaches the game and his maturity. It’s tough to do from a young age.”
Since his call-up, Bonk has averaged 20 minutes, 37 seconds per game, and played a career-high 24:22 in the win over Colorado on Monday. The Flyers hold a 54.46% expected goals percentage with him on the ice, and he’s flashed strong skills both with the puck and defensively.
Tocchet didn’t make it seem like Bonk would get bumped from the lineup entirely upon the return of the regulars, but he will likely see his role change.
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“Obviously, he’s not going to be playing 22 minutes,” Tocchet said. “We’ve got York and Risto coming back, so it’ll actually kind of slot people in where they’re supposed to be, gives Todd [Reirden] a little bit more flexibility. He’s been pretty heavy on [Sanheim] and [Bonk]. It’s a good thing now, especially Ristolainen, big minute guy, but Bonk is going to get his time too. He’s played well for us.”
Knuble has made a huge early impression on this Flyers team, scoring his first two NHL goals against Buffalo and showing his willingness to get into the dirty areas and put his body on the line — even when they think that maybe he shouldn’t.
He might’ve made the team out of camp if there were more open spots available on the NHL roster. Now, with all the injuries, Knuble is making his unexpected opportunity count. Still, after just two NHL games, he’s a prime target to potentially get sent down after the return of the veterans.
The Flyers looked lifeless to start the year. How can they work the veterans back in without messing up what’s working?
“Integrating other guys, you know, you’re getting veteran guys back, and some of the young guys are pushing jobs too, so that’s a good thing,” Tocchet said. “Internal competition always makes your team better, so it might push some people for urgency.”
Breakaways
The New Jersey Devils swung a big trade to acquire goalie Connor Hellebuyck from Winnipeg in exchange for Dawson Mercer, Nico Daws, Alex Command, Nick Bjugstad, a 2029 second round pick, and a 2027 seventh round pick. The Flyers have three remaining games against the Devils, on Jan. 23, Feb. 13, and March 23.
