With Tyson Foerster out for 2-3 months, the Philadelphia Flyers have some big shoes to fill. Not only did they lose their leading goal scorer, but an impactful penalty killer and power-play guy as well.
A lot of adjustments need to be made for the Flyers to fill the gap left by Foerster’s injury. With a top-nine spot open, no player could be more impactful than Nikita Grebenkin, who is set to take on much more responsibility for the Flyers.
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Grebenkin Poised for Bigger Role with Flyers
“Tyson is a big guy for the Flyers… It’s a big chance for me, and I want to help the team. Let’s go Flyers,” said Nikita Grebenkin on Wednesday morning when asked about this chance for him.
This season, the Flyers’ forward has a goal and two assists, none of which were while playing with his typical fourth-line teammates.
When asked if he was excited for more time, the Flyers’ winger said it’s just like every other game. “I am excited every game,” said Grebenkin. “I want to help the team every game. Today is not too exciting.”
This is a big opportunity for Grebenkin to showcase his talent and remind the Flyers’ fanbase and coaching staff just why he made the opening-night roster to begin with. Moving up the lineup comes with more time, and more time typically equates to more chances. Let’s see what Grebenkin can do, playing alongside Noah Cates and Bobby Brink.
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Tocchet Talks Grebenkin
Grebenkin has been in and out of the lineup this season. That comes with being a young, fringe player. Head coach Rick Tocchet has been transparent about why Grebenkin has not had a steady spot in the lineup. On Wednesday, Tocchet opened up about what he wants to see from the 22-year-old winger.
When asked what he was looking for from Grebenkin, Tocchet said, “Good decisions. Skate. Sometimes when he gets the puck, he doesn’t move his feet. But for him, I just want him to play, mind free, but he’s got to skate. He’s got to hold on to pucks.”
The Flyers’ bench boss says there is a process to this. He does not expect Grebenkin to be able to go out and play “mind fee” hockey.
“He just came from Russia; he was in the minors last year. It doesn’t happen overnight. There are certain things, practice and information, day-to-day stuff that we see. The solution isn’t just to let him play and see if he makes mistakes. There’s a process to it. Now, he’s got to do the process.”
On that note, Tocchet is confident in Grebenkin’s abilities to make it all translate.
“I think he’s ready for it, but there’s a process to it, the way you practice, the way you take information,” said Tocchet.
During his pregame availability, Tocchet shared an example as to why he has that confidence in his young skater.
“A perfect example is in the last game, when he had two-on-ones, he slowed down and tried to pass the puck. [Against] Pittsburgh, he had all day to go in and fire the puck. But he waited, he tried to make a pass, and the guy picked it off. So we talked about it today, and his two-on-ones were outstanding. Hopefully, he can apply that in a real game.”
Wednesday night will be the first test for Grebenkin with this new opportunity.
Team Adjustments
Grebenkin is not the only Flyer that needs to step up in the absence of Foerster. Tocchet is looking for the whole team to elevate their game.
“I don’t think it’s just one guy. I think everybody can. Can everybody give themselves 5% better? You know, you add all those up, you know, it helps,” said Tocchet. “I know it’s an overused word, but it is a committee. There’s not one guy who can make up for a loss. It’s, to me, it’s a team .”
The Flyers have had to shake things up in the absence of Foerster, including their lines.
Flyers forwards at morning skate
Trevor Zegras–Christian Dvorak–Travis Konecny
Matvei Michkov–Sean Couturier–Owen Tippett
Nikita Grebenkin–Noah Cates–Bobby Brink
Nick Deslauriers–Rodrigo Abols–Garnet Hathaway
Not only is Grebenkin getting a boost in time, but the Flyers have seemingly elevated Matvei Michkov and Sean Couturier to the second line with Owen Tippett. Travis Konecny is sticking as a top-line forward, but playing alongside Christian Dvorak and Trevor Zegras instead of Cates and Foerster.
Michkov and Zegras are two guys I look to pick up some of those goals that the Flyers will miss from Foerster.
Tyson Foerster was a key power-play player for the Flyers as well. Again, in his absence, things had to change.
Flyers’ power play at morning skate
PP1: Sanheim, Zegras, Michkov, Konecny, Tippett
PP2: York, Drysdale, Couturier, Cates, Brink
Michkov and Zegras are now on a power play together, which will be interesting since both players typically stick to the right flank on the man-advantage. I would also expect Couturier to be used situationally on the draw with this unit.
The last spot is the penalty kill. With the Flyers using penalty killers like Konecny, Cates, and Couturier on the power play, it was hard to get a read on who would step up for Foerster on the PK. I assume Garnet Hathaway, who has been a big PKer in the past, will see increased minutes. I am also curious about Bobby Brink, who has dramatically improved his defensive play and has excellent chemistry with Cates, Foerster’s typical partner.
How do you think the Flyers’ initial adjustments will work out on Wednesday?
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