After completing training camp, the Flyers open the preseason in London, Ontario against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Hockey is back as the Flyers open the 2013-14 preseason. Their first game is a traditional meeting at a neutral location.
It is marked on the schedule as a home game, but the Flyers and Leafs traditionally face off in an annual preseason game in London, Ontario.
The Flyers will be without several players for a time. The preseason is usually not about the veterans getting game action as much as it is the younger players competing for spots.
UPDATE (1:45 p.m.): The Flyers have announced the roster for tonight's game. Forwards for tonight's game are Brayden Schenn, McGinn, Adam Hall, Scott Hartnell, Laughton, Ben Holmstrom, Matt Read, Max Talbot, Zac Rinaldo, Jay Rosehill, Marcel Noebels, Cousins, Tyler Brown, Alderson, Rob Bordson and Doug Clarkson. Defenseman for tonight's game are Nick Grossmann, Luke Schenn, Gustafsson, Bruno Gervais, Lauridsen, Alt, Andrej Meszaros and Hal Gill. The Flyers will also carry three goalies tonight, with Mason, Heeter and Stolarz.
Among the young forwards are players with NHL experience from last season. Jason Akeson, Scott Laughton and Tye McGinn all played for the Flyers last season and get their chance at a roster spot in the preseason.
On defense, Erik Gustafsson, Brandon Manning and Oliver Lauridsen also joined the Flyers in the previous few seasons for their first NHL games.
In goal, prospects Cal Heeter and Anthony Stolarz will likely see some playing time despite the starting goalie competition featuring Steve Mason and Ray Emery.
Among the other Flyers rookies who will see their first action in the preseason, there is Brandon Alderson, Nick Cousins, Kyle Flanagan, Andrew Johnston, Taylor Leier, Matt Mangene, Derek Mathers, Kris Newbury, Michael Raffl, Petr Straka, Mark Alt, Cullen Eddy, Matthew Konan and Maxim Lamarche.
This marks the first time many will get a look at the young Flyers talent. Decisions will be made over the next month, and the time for evaluation, especially in game action, starts now.
But more importantly, hockey makes its return after a long-awaited offseason and a lost season between a lockout and stretches of play where the Flyers just couldn't figure it out.
This is a clean slate, and before the Flyers start the games that count, they open with a few trial runs at what will hopefully be the start of a better campaign.
Kevin Durso is a contributor for Flyerdelphia. You can follow him on twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.
