PHILADELPHIA – Travis Konecny set career highs for goals (33) and points (68) last season.
It’s the third straight year he’s improved those totals.
Now, still only 27, the Flyers right wing is starting his ninth season in the National Hockey League. The Flyers thought enough of his recent play to sign him to an eight-year, $70-million contract back in July.
With highly regarded prospect Matvei Michkov in the fold and another first-round draft pick, center Jett Luchanko, waiting in the wings, the Flyers appear to have more offensive balance, at least in this preseason.
Konecny was scheduled to play on a line with Luchanko and left wing Tyson Foerster for Thursday night’s preseason game against the New York Islanders.
Luchanko has impressed Konecny with his play in early preseason action.
“He looks good so far,” Konecny after the morning skate at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J. “I would say it’s hard to stand out in camp because there’s so much going on. But he stood out to me. He’s done a good job of doing a lot of the little things that people don’t notice.
“He seems like a strong kid, too. He doesn’t seem to be out of it as far as size, too. He’s a big kid. I look forward to playing with him tonight.”
Konecny has evolved into a locker room leader, typified by his promotion to an alternate captain’s spot last season.
Being a leader means he has license to get the young players such as Luchanko feeling more comfortable.
“I’ve just been messing around with him a little bit,” Konecny said with a grin. “Just to get him to crack a smile a little bit. I’ve been teasing him. He seems like a great kid.”
Fans who follow the Flyers faithfully are anxious to see if the team can break its four-year playoff drought. More than 1,300 showed up for a training camp session at the FTC last Saturday.
“The fans here have been awesome during camp,” Konecny said. “But we don’t really look at that stuff. We’re just excited to be back in the locker room. Mess around, hear some music and go play a game.”
>Kolosov headed here
Several media reports have goaltender Alexei Kolosov headed back to the Flyers, this after he made it known he wanted to stay with Dimano Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League for one more season.
According to his agent, Kolosov had a change of heart and will report to Flyers training camp.
A third-round draft pick by the Flyers in 2021, Kolosov played most of last season in the KHL but did travel over here and played in two games for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (1-1, 3.03 goals-against average).
>Bonk getting a good look
Defenseman Oliver Bonk might not be in the Flyers’ plans for this season but certainly he figures to be a strong candidate for a roster spot down the road.
Getting some preseason action this year will be valuable experience.
“I’m just trying to be able to keep up with the pace, being able to play that type of game,” he said. “Play defense with that type of level of players out there. They’re faster, they’re better than anything I’ve seen before. Be able to prove I can kind of be up there with them.
“It’s just being in your head you have to move your feet more than you do in junior. You have the footspeed, you just need to kind of know when to use it. Kind of give it your all at all times.”
