Cam Atkinson still has ‘juice left in the tank.’
At least, he feels like he does. During his Break Up Day media availability, Atkinson seemed frustrated. He usually seemed more upbeat in his demeanor. Last Wednesday, it sounded like he was trying to convince himself.
He’s played 12 seasons in the NHL, missing 2022-2023. There is a strong possibility that Atkinson played longer than anyone else under John Tortorella. ‘Disappointed’ was how Atkinson labeled his season, and Tortorella decided to slide him down the lineup. At times, he was a healthy scratch. For the first time in his career, Atkinson wasn’t the go-to.
Has the hourglass turned on Atkinson and his ties with the Philadelphia Flyers? Yes, absolutely. He is entering a contract season, and the consensus opinion is that Atkinson wraps up his Flyers stint next year.
But, the combined media availability wasn’t all doom and gloom. Tortorella said outright, regarding Atkinson and Sean Couturier, that he ‘can’t make a judgment on them this year’ because of their surgeries and how it affected their production in their return seasons.
“Last summer is definitely a little different. I got cleared at the end of last season to start contact, but I still really haven’t lifted a weight. I was a little bit cognizant and cautious of what I can and cannot do as far as in the gym, but going through the bumps and bruises this year, and taking hits; there’s things I couldn’t do last summer, that I’ve done, that has helped my game. I think I’m able to get to do those things this summer and go from there.” – Cam Atkinson; 4/17/2024
It’s a particularly fair assessment, especially after Tortorella clarified that at the start of each season, how much time a player earns on the ice is a clean slate. The ice time Atkinson earns will depend on a few factors, but his health headlines.
Atkinson played a healthy 73 games in 2021-2022, accumulating 50 points (23G, 27A) while averaging 18:15 of ice time and ranked among the best forwards on the team with Claude Giroux, Travis Konecny, and James van Riemsdyk. Then, he missed all of last season after getting surgery to repair a herniated disc in his neck and healing from left bicep atrophy. Coming back after those successful procedures, Atkinson played 70 games this season, totaling 28 points (13G, 15A) while averaging 15:57 of ice time, his lowest ice time since 2013-2014 with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Admitting to the wear and tear of a hockey season is one thing, but Atkinson found he could withstand most of the season following a season-ending injury.
In fact, Atkinson started at a better pace this season. He even had a six-game stretch in January where he tallied 10 points (5G, 5A). As he moved down the lineup, his point production naturally dropped. However, Atkinson was spot on in his self-evaluation of how he managed his role change:
“When your role does change, you have to find ways to contribute any way you can, and unfortunately, it wasn’t really on the score sheet, but overall I thought I handled it pretty well.” – Cam Atkinson; 4/17/2024
So, what standing is Atkinson in with Philadelphia? Is he still a short-term fit? Daniel Brière mentioned the potential of exploring the free-agency market in the same way they stumbled upon Garnet Hathaway and Ryan Poehling. They are two examples of forwards better molded to help the rebuild. Atkinson is less likely to be in a spot to succeed, and the room only becomes more crowded with Bobby Brink.
“He [Tortorella] was very honest at the beginning of the season, and so is management [Hilferty, Jones, Brière] to the organization, [and] to the fans that we’re going younger. Those guys are getting more of an opportunity. I get it. Torts and I, we’re going to agree to disagree in a lot of things, but it is what it is at this point.” – Cam Atkinson; 4/17/2024
A return to form is the central focus for Atkinson. He has the competitive drive, but the right opportunity to prove himself might not be with the Flyers.
