The Flyers’ roster picture got a little clearer on Wednesday, and six more names were pushed to the edge of camp.
After their second preseason game and with training camp now halfway done, Philadelphia placed defenseman Cam Dineen and forwards Zach Aston-Reese, Nolan Foote, Carl Grundstrom, Jack Studnicka, and Danila Klimovich on waivers, according to PuckPedia.
Grundstrom stands out as the biggest surprise of the group. He had been working in an NHL-facing role throughout camp, but the Flyers may also be timing this move with roster flexibility in mind. If he clears waivers now, he won’t need to go through the process again until he plays 10 regular-season games or spends 30 days on the NHL roster, whichever comes first.
That could matter if Denver Barkey is still unavailable when the season opens, or if Nikita Grebenkin isn’t ready for game action yet. Barkey is dealing with a lower-body injury, while Grebenkin is working back from an upper-body issue. Grebenkin has not played a competitive game since March, has not appeared in a preseason game, and spent the early part of camp in a yellow non-contact jersey.
The clock is ticking on his ramp-up, though, with the regular season opener now just one week away.
For the rest of the group, the path looks much narrower. Studnicka had a few moments, but not enough to change the bigger picture. Klimovich also had a rough night in Tuesday’s loss to the Boston Bruins, when he was at fault for one of Boston’s goals.
The remaining forwards still in the mix for roster spots are Grundstrom, Jacob Gaucher, Jett Luchanko, Cole Knuble, Grebenkin, and Riley Thompson.
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The bigger question is whether the Flyers can actually make that transition stick. Last season, shot attempt numbers told a familiar story for most regulars, with the club often landing below the baseline that usually signals a team is driving play rather than chasing it. Tocchet and his staff have clearly identified possession as a priority, and if the Flyers can raise that level, it could change not just how the defense looks, but how the entire team plays. [Read more 🡒]