The Philadelphia Flyers conclude the 2024 Rookie Camp with an on-ice session. A six-day camp featured the first resemblance of competition for a few prospects, notably a generational talent like Matvei Michkov.
Jett Luchanko continued to develop chemistry with Michkov. A partnership since the beginning of rookie camp, Luchanko and Michkov lined up often in drills, were featured on the same line last Friday, and combined for a five-on-three powerplay goal. Ian Laperrière calls them ‘special’ if they end up competing in the top six of the forward lineup in the future. On Sunday, Brent Flahr called Luchanko ‘mature’ for his age. Considering his game and the desire Michkov shows to compete, Laperrière made a more than fair assessment:
“He [Michkov] wants to be here. His English improved in [the] two weeks I’ve been around him. It’s amazing how when you want something, it goes quickly, and that’s a kid who wants to learn the language because he wants to be part of the solution here. With Jett [Luchanko], they have a great relationship. They’ve played together in that game and they’ve been practicing together. If you have those guys in your top six in the future, I think the future is bright. They have different qualities, both of them, but they’re both special players in their own right.” – Ian Laperrière; 9/16/2024
Alexei Kolosov remains a burning topic. He never showed up to the 2024 Rookie Camp after spending less than a month with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at the end of last season and into the postseason. Kolosov finished 1-1-0 on the Phantoms with a 3.03GAA and an 88.5%SV. Before the last session of rookie camp, the Flyers released the 2024 Training Camp roster featuring 58 players, none named Kolosov.
Daniel Brière spoke with the media before the final session of the 2024 Rookie Camp. One of the first pieces of business addressed by Brière was more information regarding Kolosov, aligning with what Laperrière said Monday. Kolosov wanted his place in Philadelphia, but Brière expected him to compete for a role and continues to have no interest in loaning Kolosov back to the KHL:
“I guess we [the Flyers] can still hope that he [Kolosov] decides to show up at some point if he wants to play hockey. We hope that he changes his mind and decides to come, but it’s not looking like it at this point. It is what it is. We have to move on. We hoped that he would want to compete for a job. When you look at the way we’re built right now, there’s an opportunity there for him, the way we saw it, to start in the American League [AHL]. Most teams around the league use their third goalie or fourth goalie. He [would] be in a competition with the guys we have to play some games this year. On his end, it’s about he wants to be guaranteed a spot in the NHL; if not, he prefers to stay over there [the KHL]. That’s not the way we see it. We agreed last year to loan him back for one year because he wanted to stay home, but at some point, you sign a contract, and we want him here. We want him to start integrating himself into the game; the way it’s played here in North America with the smaller ice, learning the language, and all that. I guess he doesn’t see it that way at the moment.” – Daniel Brière; 9/17/2024
Nonetheless, the Flyers keep moving forward.
2024 Flyers Rookie Camp: Day Six
Samu Tuomaala has not returned to an on-ice session since the 2024 Rookie Series wrapped up versus the New York Rangers. Tuomaala scored the game-winning goal on Saturday but disappeared in three sessions since, halting his momentum in the 2024 Rookie Camp.
Hunter McDonald and Oliver Bonk continue to make a valuable impression. McDonald was aggressive during the 2024 Rookie Series, standing up for his teammates. Bonk efficiently moved the puck with Emil Andrae on Friday, securing an assist when Massimo Rizzo scored a late equalizer during a six-on-five. Flahr and Laperrière had high marks for those defensemen during the 2024 Rookie Camp.
“The biggest quality I see in him [Bonk]; he’s comfortable. He’s around us, and sometimes you see kids, they go around Danny [Brière]; they’re impressed. They go around guys that played and they don’t want to talk too much, but Bonker is [a] great kid, great personality. He wants to do it right, and I think it’s coming from a kid who grew up with a hockey dad who played for a long time. It’s not a bad quality to have at this level; you don’t get impressed by what’s around you.” – Ian Laperrière; 9/16/2024
On Thursday, the 2024 Training Camp begins with the daunting bag skate to test the mental fortitude of the roster.
A day off between the 2024 Rookie Camp and Training Camp offers preparation, but Laperrière shared how he had not seen anything like the John Tortorella skate test. It is not about being the fastest. It is about finishing. Nicolas Deslauriers finished the skate in 2022 and, while ugly, did not go unnoticed. Ronnie Attard conquered the test in 2023 with flying colors, undoubtedly in incredible shape.
“The first day, I don’t know how many judgments I can make, but I know I was happy about just getting through some skates. It doesn’t matter what you look like as long as you finish the skate, and we had no problem. I don’t think anybody gave in as far as what we tried to go through today.” – John Tortorella; 9/22/2022
Before the 11am session, Philadelphia released the 2024 Training Camp roster and schedule. The Flyers will break into three teams on Thursday, creating separate 45 minute sessions that begin at 8:30am, 9:30am, and 10:30am. The preseason officially begins this Sunday against the Washington Capitals at 3pm.
