PHILADELPHIA – Maybe Adam Ginning will never get to become a regular NHL defenseman but that doesn’t mean he’s going to stop trying.
Ginning, a 2018 second-round (50th overall) draft pick, was called up from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Thursday afternoon because Flyers coach John Tortorella doesn’t want 36-year-old Erik Johnson playing in back-to-back games.
Prior to this season, Ginning had played a total of 10 games for the Flyers over the 2022-23 through 2023-24 seasons.
He’s not a real flashy player. For instance, Phantoms coach Ian Laperriere has him killing penalties, which is a difficult task on most nights.
Ginning was scheduled to make his season debut on Thursday night against the New York Islanders.
In a pre-game session with the media, the 25-year-old Swede acknowledged he could be here on a temporary basis. It all depends on the health of defenseman Egor Zamula, who’s currently sidelined with an upper-body injury.
“It feels great, I’m very happy,” Ginning said. “At the beginning of (this) season I felt like I got away from what I usually do. Just trying to get back to that – play physically like I did last year. I think I’ve been doing that lately.”
At the moment, the Phantoms are situated in a playoff spot and Ginning has played a prominent role in that. At times, he’s been paired with Emil Andrae, who had a 20-game trial with the Flyers earlier this season.
If Ginning looks impressive in this utility role, who knows? He might just stick around awhile.
“I just know I’m playing tonight,” Ginning said. “I’m trying to make the best of it.”
As for playing with Andrae, it’s been fun. They even get to speak Swedish to each other in the locker room.
“He’s a good player and he’s easy to play with,” Ginning said.
Tortorella received positive scouting reports on the 6-foot-3, 196-pound backliner from Laperriere and Flyers general manager Danny Briere.
“He’s been playing well,” the coach said of Ginning. “We’ve been wanting to take a look at him.”
>Tippett still sidelined
Owen Tippett, who was injured in the shoulder area during a collision with New Jersey defenseman Brenden Dillon in Wednesday night’s 5-0 loss at New Jersey, was scratched for the Islanders game. Tortorella said there’s no update on his condition.
>Mixed marks for Sanheim
Tortorella said defenseman Travis Sanheim’s recent play has been “inconsistent.”
Sanheim took some of the blame for the pass which led to Tippett’s injury. And, before Thursday night’s match with the Islanders, he was a minus-9 over his last four games. That includes a pair of minus-3s in the two games up in the New York area last week.
“He’s trying like hell, probably trying too hard,” Tortorella said. “I think I put him in spots where it’s just not right. Definitely not for lack of effort. Want him to stay on his toes but slow down if I can say it that way. He’ll get there. He’s been good for us.”
