VOORHEES, N.J. – It will be interesting to see in the final two months of the season if the Flyers can turn things around after their disappointing January.
They played their previous 15 games before the Olympic break five games under .500, a slump which essentially put them on the outside of the playoff picture looking in.
Defenseman Cam York is one of a number of players who believe this team can pull this off. They just have to get back to the way they were playing in November and December when they hardly ever suffered back-to-back defeats, and when the five-gamer in January seemed hard to imagine.
Maybe this long break will allow everyone to regroup.
“I think right now we’re just trying to resharpen our tools,” York said at the Flyers Training Center. “Mentally, get refocused. We played some really elite hockey to start the year. Then kind of tailed off a little bit.
“We just want to start off this next little chapter the same way we started the season.”
On a personal level, York didn’t end last season the most positive way. He had a much publicized vocal quarrel with former coach John Tortorella just prior to his dismissal after three years at the helm.
This season has gone much better and coach Rick Tocchet is using him in mose strategic moments.
“I mean the coach has been unreal from day one,” York said. “He’s done a great job with me and a lot of guys, too. It’s been a fun year and I want to finish it off the right way.”
>Thoughts on Bonk
The Flyers brought up defenseman Oliver Bonk, defenseman Hunter McDonald and goaltender Carson Bjarnason the other day for a quick look while Travis Sanheim, Rasmus Ristolainen and Dan Vladar were away at the Olympics.
York saw Bonk in training camp but this was a slightly different environment with everyone on ice in active participation for NHL competition.
“He had a big injury to start the year and he’s been playing through that,” York said. “He just seems like a really smart guy, good hockey IQ, smooth skater and a big body, too. I think he can bring a lot to the table.”
York himself is a former first-round pick and so he’s aware that there are somewhat high expectations for Bonk, also a first-rounder who has a father who was an NHL star.
“I think he’s used to that by now,” York said. “He’s played through that his entire career. If anything, I think it helps him with experience. His dad gives him a lot of tips, I’m sure. I think he’s going to be a big part of our team moving forward.”
>Flyers call up pair
On Saturday the Flyers recalled defenseman Adam Ginning and goaltender Aleksi Kolosov.
The Flyers have been looking at some of their young talent in the farm system during this week of practices leading up to the resumption of the season on Wednesday. The Flyers will return to action with a game at Washington that night.
Ginning, 26, a second-round pick in 2018, has played in 16 games for the Flyers over the past four seasons, including five this season.
>Andrae looks ready
Defenseman Emil Andrae was scratched for the five games leading up to the Olympic break but he’s been working hard through the Flyers’ first four practices as resumption of the season nears.
Assistant coach Todd Reirden, who is filling in for head coach Rick Tocchet (assistant coach for Team Canada) during the Olympics, says Andrae has looked ready should he be called back into action.
“Emil has had a real good year, he’s already passed his career numbers,” Reirden said. “In terms of where his path is for this year and how we’re using him game by game, sometimes it’s situational.
“This break has been good and it’s been something different. I thought he’s been really sharp in these three practices. I know he came back and did some other skating. He’s doing everything he can to get himself in a situation where he’s fighting to be in that lineup.”
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