With Flyers training camp set to kick off in just a few days. All eyes will be focused on the roster battles set to take place. Flyers’ GM Danny Briere addressed the media Tuesday morning and mentioned that there are “a few” spots up for grabs.

Briere specifically cites Alex Bump, Nikita Grebenkin, and Jett Luchanko as prospects he expects to make a serious push for the roster. He mentions Denver Barkey, Jack Nesbitt, and Jacob Gaucher as players in the “next tier”. Emil Andre, Helge Grans, and Oliver Bonk are all in the mix as well.

As the roster stands right now, the Flyers have their 23-man roster, including 13 forwards, eight defensemen, and two goaltenders. Regarding the forwards, there are 11, in my mind, that are absolutely locks to make the roster. Depending on how many defensemen the team chooses to carry, there are about two to three spots open for Luchanko, Grebenkin, Bump, Karsen Dorwart, and Rodrigo Abols to fight for.

Rasmus Ristolainen is not expected to join the Flyers for at least a month. That leaves seven defensemen with NHL contracts on the current roster. On defense, there are five players currently rostered who I am certain will be on the team out of training camp. With Ristolainen expected to remain out for a good bit still, that leaves two to three defensemen spots open. Dennis Gilbert, Noah Juulsen, Emil Andrae, Helge Grans, and Oliver Bonk will all be in that battle.

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What Positions Are Open for the Flyers

Regarding the Flyers’ forward group, my focus will specifically be on Alex Bump. I think he can make a run to take over that third-line left wing position. Jett Luchanko could make a run for one of the Flyers’ two bottom-six center roles. If Nikita Grebenkin were to make the roster, it would almost certainly be as a bottom-line winger. Maybe the Flyers could opt for two extra forwards, and Grebenkin could platoon with Nicolas Deslauriers.

The Flyers’ defense, once fully healthy, will more than likely feature Travis Sanheim, Cam York, Jamie Drysdale, Nick Seeler, Egor Zamula, and Rasmus Ristolainen. Until then, Ristolainen’s spot on the right side will be open, and one to two depth spots will be available.

The early favorites for those two spots are Noah Juulsen and Dennis Gilbert. Juulsen plays the right side and Gilbert the left, and both players have NHL experience. However, both Grans and Andre have also seen some NHL time. Andrae, of course, has seen much more. Grans brings both size and plays on the right side, which could fill in for Ristolainen. I can see both players pushing for a spot on the final roster.

The one group that seems squared away before camp even begins is the goaltenders. At the NHL, it looks to be Sam Ersson’s net, with Dan Vladar in support. Briere said that Aleksei Kolosov will be the No. 3, owning the net in Lehigh, with Carson Bjarnason getting the nod as the backup.

Who are your early picks to make the Flyers’ final roster?

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