A couple of days ago, you could have said with confidence that veteran forward Rodrigo Ābols would be a shoo-in to make the Philadelphia Flyers season opening roster. However, after comments from head coach Rick Tocchet about roster construction, he could be on the outside looking in.
The Flyers made 11 roster cuts on Tuesday that included players like Alex Bump and Emil Andrae being assigned to the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms, leaving the roster at 29 players. On Wednesday, they then loaned Jacob Gaucher back to the minors and announced that Oliver Bonk would be out for about 2 weeks, dwindling their roster down further.
With just one cut needed to get down to the maximum 23-man roster, players on the bubble fighting for a spot included Nikita Grebenkin and Jett Luchanko up front with Ābols, as well as defensemen Noah Juulsen, Dennis Gilbert, and Adam Ginning.
After their respective training camps, you could make the argument that Ābols and Grebenkin stuck out the most and should earn a spot on the NHL roster. However, if we’re going by some of Tocchet’s comments made after their practice on Tuesday, we could be in store for something completely different.
“In the past, I’ve had 8 Ds and 12 forwards, we’ve done 13 and 7, most teams do that, I’ve yet to see a 6 and 14. I think for quality of practice, you at least have 7. 8 D for me is ideal for practices but because of the roster spot, you have to give and take, but I’ll talk to Danny about and get some feedback. But I do like 8 defense.”
Tocchet’s preference would be to have 2 extra defensemen, which would then make it sound like all of the remaining defensemen left on the roster will make it for opening night.
Jamie Drysdale, Dennis Gilbert, Adam Ginning, Noah Juulsen, Travis Sanheim, Nick Seeler, Cam York, and Egor Zamula are the 8.
Coupled with that quote was another one from the same presser on what Tocchet wants to see from the “bubble” players still looking to a spot. Based on his requirements of size and being able to defend, it makes it sound more likely that guys like Juulsen, Ginning, and Gilbert have a legitimate shot of all making it.
“Hockey and lineups are a puzzle, right? Whoever that 5th, if Zamula holds the 5th, you use that 6th spot as a penalty killer, it’s gotta be a guy that can defend. If he’s big then that’s even better but that’s not saying that a smaller guy couldn’t go in, it’s just you gotta be really good at something in those situations. But a PK guy should dictate the 6th spot.”
Charlie O’Connor then posted a slew of comments made by Tocchet in regards to Ābols, who looked to have had an inside track on a roster spot. However the tone of Tocchet’s comments surely make it seem like he either hasn’t done enough or they’re just really into the idea of housing 8 defensemen early on.
As he mentioned earlier, Tocchet likens roster construction to a puzzle, and with Rasmus Ristolainen expected to miss the start of the season, the 5th and 6th spots are wide open. Drysdale, Sanheim, Seeler, and York are the obvious locks up front, but beyond them it remains to be seen who’ll crack the game roster.
Zamula has not shown much improvement from last year but he remains on the team most likely due to depth and familiarity. Juulsen has ties with Tocchet from Vancouver and he fits the criteria of what he’s looking for in that 6th spot as someone who can defend and kill penalties.
Then you have Ginning who is another player that seemingly fills that void as well as a “specialist” defensive defenseman who finishes his checks, blocks shots, and kill penalties. Gilbert was added strictly for depth but in 111 career games, he has 146 blocked shots and 259 hits in 12:12 ATOI to go along with 62.5 shorthanded minutes.
Based on preseason games and training camp, Juulsen and Ginning might have a step on Zamula and Gilbert, and if so, they would be looked upon for 15-17 minutes a night of strictly defensive hockey, penalty killing, and finishing checks/blocking shots.
Ginning has also impressed Tocchet so far, which is more than we can say about his counterparts.
“He’s been pretty steady in certain situations. I think there’s some more there for us, but there’s enough that, like, hey, this guy has a shot. There’s been some details from the meetings and practices that he’s doing in a game. I like that.”
He was also very happy to see that Ginning was able to adjust to in-game mistakes, and at this point in the offseason, that will go a long way as the Flyers look to finalize their roster in the next coming days.
“Those are mistakes you’re going to make, but he’s corrected them. That’s what I love. We’re all going to make mistakes. But I haven’t seen those mistakes the last couple of games. He’s cleaning that stuff up. So, good for him.”
With 8 defensemen very likely making the cut, it’s a bit surprising that Andrae isn’t apart of that list. However, Tocchet made mention that the 5/6 spots should go to bigger guys who can kill penalties. He did correct himself in saying that smaller guys aren’t shut out from those spots, but they need to show those traits to stand out.
As we inch closer to the start of the regular season, the third pairing is likely going to be a very defensive-minded shut-down pairing. Whoever makes it will be tasked to defend their tails off, kill penalties, and be physical.
Until Ristolainen returns, there are 2 spots up for grabs, and it will be interesting to see how things play out in the final 2 pre-season games. However, it does sound like all 8 are very likely going to be pencilled in as NHLers to start the 2025-26 season.
