VOORHEES, N.J. – Last season when the Noah Cates’ High Speed Line was assembled, it looked at times like Bobby Brink was just a passenger.
Oh, how times have changed.
Cates and Tyson Foerster are still producing points on the HSL but it’s Bobby Brink who has caught everyone’s eye three games into the Flyers’ season.
The 24-year-old right wing has moved up to conductor on this train and some nights he’s even the engineer.
Put aside the three points he’s produced in the first three games. It’s the skating, the puck-hawking, the energy which has basically not only inspired his line but the entire lineup.
Coach Rick Tocchet has nothing but good things to say about the former NCAA Division I scoring champion out of Denver University.
“For me, you can see the confidence in the kid,” Tocchet said after Tuesday’s practice at the Flyers Training Center. “He’s always on a loose puck, he’s trying to do the concepts we’re talking about.
“He’s not scared. He’s a small guy but he’s going through traffic.”
Brink doesn’t kill penalties so that means sometimes he’s cooling his heels for a long stretch in a period. No problem.
“When I do get him out there, he’s buzzing around,” Tocchet said. “That’s a good thing when a guy can do that. He’s in the play, even though he sat for five minutes.”
The cool thing about Brink is he smiles a lot. Clearly he’s having fun out there.
Foerster picks up on that vibe.
“He seems more confident,” Foerster says of Brink. “As a line, we take pride in playing defense. We know we’re going to get chances.
“Me and Bob actually live together. ‘Catesy’ is right down the street. We hang out for lunch. Out of the rink we’re all super-tight. (On the ice) We want to set the tone. If the guys read off of that, then that’s great.”
Brink was exchanging wisecracks with veteran Nick Deslauriers when he was approached by media.
“I had a good offseason, the trainers set us up for success,” Brink said when explaining his fast start. “I was feeling good going into the season.
“We play simple, predictable. I don’t know if we’re making any special plays out there – we’re just keeping the offense simple.”
No doubt Tocchet has had something to do with the way Brink is playing right now.
“I think he’s bringing a lot of positive energy,” Brink said. “Guys are excited at the start of the year. I think we have a good team here that has a chance to get to the playoffs this year.”
Oh, how times have changed.
Cates and Tyson Foerster are still producing points on the HSL but it’s Bobby Brink who has caught everyone’s eye three games into the Flyers’ season.
The 24-year-old right wing has moved up to conductor on this train and some nights he’s even the engineer.
Put aside the three points he’s produced in the first three games. It’s the skating, the puck-hawking, the energy which has basically not only inspired his line but the entire lineup.
Coach Rick Tocchet has nothing but good things to say about the former NCAA Division I scoring champion out of Denver University.
“For me, you can see the confidence in the kid,” Tocchet said after Tuesday’s practice at the Flyers Training Center. “He’s always on a loose puck, he’s trying to do the concepts we’re talking about.
“He’s not scared. He’s a small guy but he’s going through traffic.”
Brink doesn’t kill penalties so that means sometimes he’s cooling his heels for a long stretch in a period. No problem.
“When I do get him out there, he’s buzzing around,” Tocchet said. “That’s a good thing when a guy can do that. He’s in the play, even though he sat for five minutes.”
The cool thing about Brink is he smiles a lot. Clearly he’s having fun out there.
Foerster picks up on that vibe.
“He seems more confident,” Foerster says of Brink. “As a line, we take pride in playing defense. We know we’re going to get chances.
“Me and Bob actually live together. ‘Catesy’ is right down the street. We hang out for lunch. Out of the rink we’re all super-tight. (On the ice) We want to set the tone. If the guys read off of that, then that’s great.”
Brink was exchanging wisecracks with veteran Nick Deslauriers when he was approached by media.
“I had a good offseason, the trainers set us up for success,” Brink said when explaining his fast start. “I was feeling good going into the season.
“We play simple, predictable. I don’t know if we’re making any special plays out there – we’re just keeping the offense simple.”
No doubt Tocchet has had something to do with the way Brink is playing right now.
“I think he’s bringing a lot of positive energy,” Brink said. “Guys are excited at the start of the year. I think we have a good team here that has a chance to get to the playoffs this year.”
>Michkov mystery
After three games, second-year player Matvei Michkov has yet to register a point and his six penalty minutes lead the team.
Because no Russian translator was on-site Tuesday, Michkov was not made available to the media.
Tocchet, however, had plenty to say. He’s not pleased that the Flyers have given up 15 power plays in the first three games. Michkov is not a penalty killer, so he just sits.
“That’s the hardest part for a coach because those guys don’t kill,” Tocchet said. “I thought he was better yesterday (against Florida). He was moving his feet. That’s really encouraging.”
Any possibility Michkov could be scratched, like he was for a couple games last year?
“No,” Tocchet said. “For a guy like him, he’s got to play through it. He practiced well today, played well last night. Just have to stack some days for him.”
Because no Russian translator was on-site Tuesday, Michkov was not made available to the media.
Tocchet, however, had plenty to say. He’s not pleased that the Flyers have given up 15 power plays in the first three games. Michkov is not a penalty killer, so he just sits.
“That’s the hardest part for a coach because those guys don’t kill,” Tocchet said. “I thought he was better yesterday (against Florida). He was moving his feet. That’s really encouraging.”
Any possibility Michkov could be scratched, like he was for a couple games last year?
“No,” Tocchet said. “For a guy like him, he’s got to play through it. He practiced well today, played well last night. Just have to stack some days for him.”
>Short shots
Travis Sanheim, who’s been logging heavy minutes in the first three games, had Tuesday off for maintenance. “He actually wanted to skate today,” Tocchet said. “But I felt he looked a little tired, he’s been playing heavy minutes.”
Rookie Nikita Grebenkin was on the ice in the last few minutes when the Flyers were ahead by just one goal in an eventual 5-2 win over the Panthers on Monday night. Tocchet is OK with that. “I want him to out in those situations,” the coach said.
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