The Penguins may be getting a little healthier soon, and Trevor van Riemsdyk looks like the closest one to coming back. Seth Rorabaugh of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that the veteran defenseman is nearing a return after missing a little more than a month because of a blocked shot. Van Riemsdyk said he’s feeling close to back to normal now, a good sign for Pittsburgh after he opened his first season with the club by averaging just under 19 minutes per night over his first five games.
There are other injury updates in Pittsburgh, too. Bryan Rust, who is dealing with a lower-body issue, and Elmer Soderblom, out with an upper-body injury, both skated before practice as they continue working back. Ryan Graves, however, remains out indefinitely with knee injuries that the Penguins disclosed at the end of training camp.
In Philadelphia, Noel Acciari was back on the ice in a more encouraging way. Jackie Spiegel of the Philadelphia Inquirer relays that the Flyers forward was a full participant in practice today after leaving Wednesday’s game against Edmonton with an upper-body injury.
It doesn’t look like the 34-year-old will miss time. Acciari, in his first season with the Flyers, has three goals and one assist in 21 games, along with 46 hits and a 53.3% success rating.
The Flyers also have a prospect headed to college next season. As first reported by Brad Elliott Schlossmann of the Grand Forks Herald, Brek Liske has committed to the University of Wisconsin for next year.
The 18-year-old defenseman was taken in the second round in June, going 53rd overall out of WHL Everett. Last season, Liske put up 24 points in 52 regular-season games and added 17 more in 18 playoff contests.
He’s kept rolling early this year with the Silvertips, posting three goals and 11 assists in 18 games.
In Other News...
Flyers Just Turned Up The Pressure On Rick Tocchet
Danny Briere did not try to downplay the noise around Matvei Michkov when he spoke about the Flyers latest swirl of reports, and in doing so he put the spotlight squarely on the relationship between the young forward and Rick Tocchet. For a team trying to steady itself this season, the conversation is no longer just about managing a talented players development. It is also about whether the coach and the organization can get on the same page quickly enough to keep the season moving in the right direction.
Brieres message carried more weight because it went beyond simply acknowledging the situation. He made it clear he expects Tocchet to find answers and help the Flyers play better now, which is the kind of public standard that tends to sharpen the pressure around a coach. The comments also leave an obvious question hanging over Tocchets future, because when a general manager starts talking about solutions and results in that tone, the clock can feel a lot shorter than it did before. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Could Hand Mat Barzal The Finisher Hes Been Missing
The Flyers uneven start has already put the organization under a harsh spotlight, and the questions around Rick Tocchet have only added to the noise. Now another layer has been attached to the conversation, with Matvei Michkov suddenly becoming part of the broader uncertainty around the club. The 2023 seventh overall pick arrived with star-level expectations, but his future in Philadelphia is now being talked about in a way that would have seemed far-fetched not long ago.
For a team trying to steady itself, the possibility of moving a player with Michkovs ceiling would be a major decision, and it has naturally opened the door to outside speculation. The Islanders have been floated as a possible fit, with the idea centering on how his skill set could work in their lineup and under their coaching structure. It is still very much a hypothetical, but it is the kind of scenario that tends to linger when a young talent, a frustrated team and a potential trade path all start to line up at once. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Now Face A Delicate Matvei Michkov Balancing Act
The Flyers handling of Matvei Michkov has settled into a familiar kind of development story, the sort that asks for patience without letting anyone off the hook. Elliotte Friedman said the organization has been focused on Michkovs physical conditioning and his English communication, two areas the club believes matter as much to his day-to-day growth as his talent does on the ice. Around the team, the message has been that progress needs to be acknowledged, not just demanded.
Michkov, by all accounts, has already shown noticeable improvement, which leaves Philadelphia in a delicate spot. Danny Briere and the Flyers leadership want to keep supporting a player they view as a key part of the future, while still making sure the standards stay clear. It is the kind of balancing act that comes with a young, gifted player in the spotlight, especially when the organization is trying to help him grow without losing sight of accountability. [Read more 🡒]