PHILADELPHIA – In a Flyers season of many ups and downs, the one steady positive has been the play of Travis Konecny.
Through a quarter of the schedule, Konecny’s offensive numbers have outdistanced the rest of the roster by a lot.
Prior to Monday night’s game against Vegas, the 27-year-old right wing had posted team leads in goals (11), assists (14) and points (25).
Konecny’s numbers are well ahead of those registered by rookie Matvei Michkov’s seven goals/16 points. Then it’s another dropoff to the 10 points compiled by Sean Couturier, Owen Tippett and Bobby Brink.
Coach John Tortorella has come to expect this sort of outstanding play from Konecny on a nightly basis.
There’s no off-switch to Konecny’s game. He’s always looking to make a play, charge up his teammates or get into a scrape if the situation calls for it.
“He makes plays – when I’m breaking down the tape – I mean he’s all over the scoresheet,” Tortorella said after Monday morning’s skate at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J. “A team that struggles for offense, he’s constantly all over it.”
Since making the team as a 19-year-old back in 2017, Konecny has been a steady performer when it comes to initiating the action.
Saturday’s game was a perfect example. In overtime against Chicago, Konecny appeared to be bottled up in the offensive left circle. But then he spotted Michkov roaring through the right circle. One pinpoint pass later, the Flyers had a 3-2 victory barely a minute into the extra session.
“I think he’s such a good player,” said Tortorella, who’s not an easy coach to please. “I always say, my coaching with him is to remind him to do some of the other things, too, and not be too reckless. . .undertanding situational play.”
That’s been perhaps the biggest improvement in Konecny’s play. It’s knowing when to initiate the attack and when not to let an opponent construct an odd-man rush against the Flyers’ defensive zone.
“Understanding situational play is the biggest thing because he wants to make a play all of the time,” Tortorella said. “There are sometimes in a game you might just have to push it by a ‘D,’ get a change or go forechecking but he’s been terrific.”
Tortorella said Konecny and defensemen Travis Sanheim “have been our top players.”
Konecny’s dry wit has kept the mood light on his side of the locker room, too. And he was named an alternate captain and that speaks to his leadership characteristics.
It’s a responsibility he doesn’t take lightly.
As for being diligent with the puck, Konecny still keeps an eye on the defensive end.
“Obviously you have to be aware,” he said. “Play the right way, be patient with your opportunities, especially against the veteran teams which aren’t going to make a lot of mistakes.”
Leading by example is important, particularly for a team which is in a committed rebuild. A lot of young players look up to veterans such as captain Couturier and the other alternate, Scott Laughton.
“Every night you have to do your best, which is kind of the way I look at it,” Konecny said. “Whether it’s forechecking, bringing energy. Some nights it’s roughing it up a little bit.
“Whatever it is, you just try to get into the rhythm of the game. Find what’s working and what’s not. Just kind of go from there and make sure you limit your mistakes.”
>Frost gets passing mark
Tortorella gave Morgan Frost a passing mark after the center’s first game back (vs. Chicago) after three games off as a healthy scratch. “Played better, we need more,” the coach said. “The positioning was good. I want the other part to come, the offense. He’s going to have to play better.”
>Log jam on defense
Defensemen Cam York and Emil Andrae returned to action on Saturday and Jamie Drysdale is getting close after a stint on the IR. Rookie Helge Grans, recently called up from Lehigh Valley, has played well. The Flyers suddenly have a logjam on the back line.
Tortorella said he’s using the six (or seven) players who are performing best at the moment.
“If we go with six, the only veteran guy out is ‘Johnny’ (Erik Johnson) and he knows his role,” the coach said. “If we go with the six we want, then one or two of the young guys are going to be out. They wait their turn. We look at the six best and go with it.”
