Monday night’s matchup against the Boston Bruins marked the Philadelphia Flyers’ fifth preseason game. It also was the fifth preseason game for Rodrigo Ābols, the only Flyer to lace up their skates in each exhibition contest thus far.
Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet continues to give Ābols the opportunity to show him why he deserves an opening night roster spot. Ābols is the ongoing favorite to crack one of the Flyers’ bottom-six forwards slots. His play over these five preseason games has edged out others battling for a spot such as Nikita Grebenkin, Jett Luchanko, and Alex Bump.
“Obviously I don’t want to speak or put words into other people’s mouths, just trying to come to work every day, put my best foot forward, and try to present the best I can,” Ābols said. “For my case, I can’t be complicit every day. I’ve got to come in and kind of battle for my spot.”
Ābols entered the contest against the Bruins with a goal and an assist. He added another goal to his total in the second period to give Philadelphia a 2-1 lead. I’ll apologize on Ābols’ behalf, because the shot that he snapped rang off the post and behind Jeremy Swayman loud enough that those in the Foxborough area probably heard the ping from up in Boston.
The 29-year-old forward made his NHL debut last season in January after starting the year in the AHL. Ābols had two goals and five points in 22 games for Philadelphia in 2024-25. Between both leagues, Ābols finished the year with 17 goals and 32 points in 69 games. He changed his workout routine in the offseason to gear up and hopefully maintain a recurring appearance in the NHL for this upcoming season.
“Last year was a good learning lesson on what I’m kind of missing to be a quality player in this league,” Ābols said. “First half of the summer I fixed my body so that there’s no aches and pains. The second half was more speed and power…that’s something I changed because before it was more strength, strength, strength…if I can get that half a step better then I can get to use my size easier and put myself in better spots.”
Ābols has high-level experience taking part in the Lehigh Valley Phantoms’ playoff run where he netted a pair of goals. He also represented his native country of Latvia at the Men’s World Championship and found the back of the net twice in three games during the tournament.
Not only does Ābols have the understanding of how to play in the NHL, but he also has the size to go with it. Ābols is listed at 6’4”, 206 pounds, and can use his big frame to strengthen a weaker Flyers center core, hence the reason Philadelphia went out to acquire centers Trevor Zegras and Christian Dvorak on top of drafting Jack Nesbitt.
Even if Dvorak or Luchanko snags the 4C role, Ābols can switch over to the wing, something he’s done in preseason and twice the season prior.
“That’s one of my upsides is that I’m not a one-dimensional guy who can only play one position or one role. I can be a versatile player and be used in all these different spots,” Ābols said.
Tocchet highlighted the importance of Ābols’ ability to play the wing too.
“If somebody is out you can put him at center so you usually like when a guy plays dual, he usually gets the extra games,” Tocchet said. “I’ll put it this way, if two guys are even, you usually go to the guy who plays dual. That’s for down the road but it is good to have a guy who’s a dual.”
Just another positive attribute for Ābols to join the team when the Flyers head south to take on the Florida Panthers come October 9.
