If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the last few years in regards to John Tortorella and his training camps it’s that you might be one mistake away from being cut – even if it’s just the beginning of camp – and Ronnie Attard is the latest victim after a rough game this week.
The Philadelphia Flyers announced earlier today that they have placed the defenseman on waivers, alongside Louie Belpedio and Rhett Gardner. The idea or the hope is that he goes unclaimed and reports directly to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms with most teams trying to do the exact same and figure out their rosters before the regular season begins – and AHL training camp opens this weekend.
Theres always the chance that Attard does get claimed considering he’s big, agile, puck-moving, right-handed shooting defenseman on the cheap. Teams covet right handed shooting defensemen like jewels and there’s certainly enough potential in Attard for another team to believe they can unearth it. Nevertheless with cuts and waivers stacking up by the day, he could go unnoticed – which would help the Phantoms.
However on the flip side, time seems to be ticking for Attard’s chances with the Flyers. Emil Andrae sits atop the hierarchy, Adam Ginning has really turned things around within the calendar year and is currently proving his worth, and prospects like Hunter McDonald, Oliver Bonk, and even Spencer Gill are knocking on the door – or will be shortly – in the next coming years.
After going undrafted twice, the third time was the charm for Attard when the Flyers selected the overage prospect in the third round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. He exploded for 30 goals and 65 points in 48 games for the Tri-City Storm during his draft year compared to the 11 goals and 20 points he managed in 96 contests the previous two years combined.
He’s done a stand-up job in the AHL over the last 2 seasons with 32 points in 68 games during his rookie season in 2022-23 and then 10 goals and 27 points in just 48 contests last year but his call-ups to the big club haven’t rendered much confidence within the organization. On top of the fact that there’s a log jam at the top with Travis Sanheim, Cam York, Jamie Drysdale, Rasmus Ristolainen, Nick Seeler, Egor Zamula, and Erik Johnson.
As evidenced in his appearance against the Montréal Canadiens, it sometimes feels like Attard is still trying to figure out his own game. Is he a puck-moving defenseman? Is he more defensive-minded? Should he be more aggressive offensively? Is he a solid two-way defenseman? Almost similar questions that were posed about Sanheim when he struggled early on in his career and was trying to carve his path.
With the right partner-in-crime, Attard can thrive, and we’ve seen what a “right fit” can do for players like Ivan Provorov or Ristolainen over the years. He can give you a solid 13-15 minutes a night on the bottom pairing but it’s not exactly what the Flyers want out of him right now.
Potentially another season with the Phantoms can unearth his potential, but time seems to be running out for the soon-to-be-26-year-old. His counterparts are claiming their stakes higher up in the hierarchy and the Flyers have drafted a lot of right-handed shooting defensemen over the last few years.
