The Olympics might be still going on but it’s back to work for the rest of the Flyers not participating in the Milano Cortina Games.
All but Canada’s Travis Sanheim, Czechia’s Dan Vladar and Finland’s Rasmus Ristolainen have been taking it somewhat easy since the schedule break began back on Feb. 6.
That’s going to change on Tuesday when the Flyers reconvene at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J. to begin six days of practice leading up to the resumption of the NHL schedule on Feb. 25.
While the Flyers haven’t had any organized activities, you can be sure the players have been working out on their own in some fashion so they didn’t lose too much conditioning.
What was the approach for someone like rookie Denver Barkey, who had 11 days to basically be his own coach?
“Just being a pro,” he said prior to the start of the Olympics. “Making sure you’re ready for that game (at Washington, a week from Wednesday).”
Barkey said he’s motivated by the fact the Flyers are still somewhat in contention for postseason play. They were in the hunt for much of the tail end of 2025 but obviously have slipped out of the picture at the moment.
It’s going to take some high-level performances to get back in the playoff picture and that’s why these six days of workouts are so important.
“lt’s exciting,” Barkey said. “We know we have a lot more here. I think we can continue to grow and push for the playoffs.
“Our focus is just to continue to grow as a team and stick together, although we are in a bit of a rough patch. We want to turn it around and make that push.”
Barkey was called up from the AHL back in late December after Tyson Foerster went down with a season-ending arm injury.
Since the promotion, Barkey has played in 22 games with two goals/nine points. He was a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
During his “time off,” Barkey was home in Newmarket, Ontario catching up with family and friends and said he planned to skate a bit on his own.
Also, there’s been some time to reflect on his somewhat unexpected rise to NHL competition.
“I’m going to be able to sit back a bit, relax and take it all in,” Barkey said. “Look back, be proud of yourself. . .all the hard work that’s gotten you here. Let it sink in a bit.
“I know it’s going to be good to see family and friends. Talk about what it’s been like up here so far.”
Coach Rick Tocchet has been serving on Team Canada coach Jon Cooper’s staff as an assistant and won’t be around to oversee these practices, so he’s leaving that chore in the capable hands of assistants Todd Reirden, Jay Varandy and Jaroslav Svejkovsky.
“We’ve already planned the time I’m away for practice,” Tocchet said back on Feb. 4. “Strategizing, what kind of practices we went to do – what’s the theme, video. Is there going to be a skating technical? Things like that.”
The Flyers will skate Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. After a day off on Friday, they will continue workouts on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday.
In the last three days of workouts, things will start to get more physical.
“As things ramp up, there will probably be more contact,” Tocchet said.
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