Philadelphia Flyers: 6 Things We've Already Learned from Preseason

Training camp and preseason offer NHL coaches a chance to get a good look at the incoming players that want to compete for only a few roster spots, while getting the sure-thing veterans in shape so the team can be as dangerous as possible when the first puck drops.

While wins and losses mean nothing in the grand scheme of the season, the performance of new players could not be more important.  Concerns can be put to rest and confidence can be shattered in the short preseason, and coaches are left with little time to fix it.

After merely a rookie game against the Washington Capitals and a pair of preseason bouts with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Flyers have already learned quite a bit about their new roster.

Here are six glaring lessons that coach Peter Laviolette will be keeping in mind as opening night approaches. 

Despite Having One of the League’s Best Defenses…

The Flyers are showing a little rust in their own zone.  Many of the problems could be the involvement of young defensemen and forwards not knowing their assignments, but even the staple players have looked a little sloppy covering opponents and clearing the puck.

Expect Laviolette (and new captain Chris Pronger) to address this early, especially with the new, young forwards who will be playing in the NHL this year. 

Aggressive defensemen like Andrej Meszaros may be ordered to hang back more, as the young players aren’t used to rotating positioning and utilizing a pinching defenseman.  This team is built from the back forward, so defense will be a priority.

You'll Start Hearing the Name...

Tomas Hyka.  Hyka was perhaps the least-recognized nameplate to appear in the first two preseason games against Toronto, but he took advantage of the little exposure he got by scoring a breakaway goal that made Leafs netminder Jonas Gustavsson look lost. 

In case that wasn’t enough, Hyka put his glove to his ear in celebration, telling the Philadelphia crowd that he wanted to hear it.

Whether it’s the speed, skill, youth or attitude, Hyka can expect to hear his name in hockey circles for a long time.  His eligibility issues will cause him to wait until the 2012 Entry Draft to join an NHL team, but Hyka is going to be the sort of prospect that turns more and more heads as he spends time on NHL ice.

You Won't Forget the Name...

Sergei Bobrovsky.  While Ilya Bryzgalov’s nine-year deal has made him the obvious starting goaltender, last season’s rookie sensation isn’t going to make it easy for Bryz to hold onto that role.

In one preseason game, Bob has already done something he didn’t do at all last year—shut out the opponent.  During his solid performance against Toronto on Tuesday, Bob used his impressive reflexes to stop a number of point-blank shots and bailed out a defense that looked a little shaky to begin with.

Whether or not Bobrovsky has a long-term future in Philadelphia remains to be seen, but one way or another the young Russian will be spending the season making the case for a starting role, either on the banks of the Delaware River or somewhere else in the league.

The Opening Night Roster Will Not Include...

Matt Read.  Fans and scouts were excited to see the 25-year-old forward out of Bemidji State University get a shot at the big stage, but Read has not done enough to prove that he is capable of skating with the best of the best.

He saw a good amount of ice time in two games against Toronto, but he didn’t assert himself well enough in puck battles, and he failed to convert a few great setups by his linemates. 

With competition already tight on offense, Read will start the season in Adirondack.

Even Though You Hated Him as a Penguin...

You’re going to love Max Talbot as a Flyer, for all the same reasons.  After converting from the dark side, Talbot spent a lot of time talking about how excited he was to play in Philadelphia and how good a fit the team and city are for his style of play.

On Wednesday night, he made sure to show it.

Talbot got scrappy and didn’t hesitate to throw the body around and looked confident and aggressive while killing penalties.  Most impressive of all, when Brayden Schenn took a hard, clean hit in the defensive zone, Talbot wasted no time charging after Philippe Dupuis and standing up for his young teammate.

On a team that lacks Dan Carcillo and Darroll Powe, Talbot is an appropriate replacement for both players at once.

It Won't Be Long before You See...

Sean Couturier in the NHL.  While an October roster spot stills seems a long shot, Couturier has been showing the Flyers why he was long considered a possible No. 1 pick, before contracting mononucleosis and dropping weight.

Even with plenty of room to pack on pounds, Couturier used his size and positioning to impress in the rookie game and in the team’s first preseason game, and the Flyers rewarded the youngster with an entry-level deal.

Couturier will be eligible to play 10 games at the NHL level before the team must either send him back to juniors or keep him permanently on the roster.  The team won’t necessarily keep him on the roster right away, but if another center falters or gets hurt, expect Holmgren to dial up his top pick.