Hart happy to have Elliott back as helpful backup

PHILADELPHIA – Carter Hart hasn’t started calling his backup goalie “Uncle Brian’’ just yet, but few would be surprised if he did.

The Flyers’ second-year netminder is obviously pleased the Flyers decided to re-sign veteran Brian Elliott during the offseason.

Not only do the two players have a comfortable relationship, the 21-year-old Hart acknowledges he’s still in the learning phase of his career and can pick up a lot from the 34-year-old Elliott during the 2019-20 campaign.

“We get along really well,’’ Hart said after a practice. “I split time playing with him, Michal (Neuvirth) and Cam (Talbot) last season. They were all really great to me.

“Moose (Elliott) is a veteran goalie, he’s played in the NHL a long time. I’m excited to play alongside him for a full season. I learned a lot from him last year with how he approaches the game, how hard he works.

“I mean he’s the first guy here in the morning, warming up and taking care of his body. I commend him for that and really respect that.’’

The Flyers want to get the most out of Hart. But they don’t want to wear him down and make him susceptible to injuries, either.

Barring someone getting hurt, look for something like a 55/27-game split for the two goalies.

Hart said he isn’t looking too far ahead.

“I mean for me right now, I take things day by day,’’ Hart said. “I don’t get too ahead of myself. I’m just really excited to get things going here Oct. 4.

“We added some key additions this summer, I’m just starting to get to know these guys. I’m really looking forward to a very long season.’’

Hart played for Canada at last spring’s World Championships and that team was coached by Flyers bench boss Alain Vigneault.

What are Hart’s impressions of AV?

“Over there he was awesome, the guys really liked him,’’ Hart said. “He seems like a player’s coach. Guys got along with him really well. He’s easy to talk to.

“He has a bit of a sense of humor as well. I know guys can really appreciate that. Over there, it was mostly about hockey. Back here, it’s all Flyers. I know he’s definitely excited to get things going.’’

Hart showed remarkable poise for a rookie last season and seems impervious to the “pressure” of social media and so forth.

“Honestly, all that outside noise doesn’t matter at the end of the day if you don’t get the job done,’’ he said. “For me, that’s all I have to worry about.

“We have 24 people on the roster and if everyone does their job, we’re going to have a lot of success. At the end of the day, all that matters is this group. All that outside noise, we need to block out and just worry about what’s inside this locker room.’’

>Frost injured

Rookie Morgan Frost is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury apparently incurred during a scrimmage on Sunday.

>Short shots: The Flyers’ morning skates will return to the Wells Fargo Center this season. The team had been skating before games at the Skate Zone in Voorhees. However, Vigneault has made it known he’s not a big morning skate guy, so the schedule for these sessions could be sporadic. . .The Flyers’ Warriors hockey team, captained by Pineville/Bucks County native Jim Young, coasted to an easy 16-3 win over the Pittsburgh Warriors on Monday afternoon at the WFC.