Flyers
Last season, the Flyers brought the first of the long-awaited prospects to the NHL with the call up of Shayne Gostisbehere, who turned in an impressive rookie season. This season, Ivan Provorov and Travis Konecny arrive, making their NHL debut on Friday night. It is indeed a youth movement of sorts for the Flyers, who are as young as ever as their 50th season begins.
It was a challenging week for Flyers general manager Ron Hextall, shuffling players and optimizing salary cap implications, but he has the roster he wanted and avoided going over the salary cap.
One particular Flyer will have the chance to make his own stamp on the franchise as the season rolls along. Steve Mason could find himself as the third-winningest goaltender in franchise history by season’s end.
The roster is officially set. The Flyers have narrowed it down to the 23 players they will have for the start of the 2016-17 season.
October 11, 1967: the Philadelphia Flyers played their first game as an NHL franchise. The Flyers first season in the NHL opened against another the new expansion teams, the California Golden Seals. On this October night, it was the Golden Seals who would run the show, defeating the Flyers, 5-1.
With Jordan Weal clearing waivers, 23 players on the Flyers roster, the maximum number for opening night on Friday in Los Angeles. GM Ron Hextall confirmed that 19-year-0ld prospects Ivan Provorov and Travis Konecny were on the team.
Essentially, the Flyers needed to make one cut to finalize the roster at 23. That move could go official in the next 24 hours. The Flyers have placed forward Jordan Weal on waivers.
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms ended their preseason on Saturday night with a 5-2 win over the Charlotte Checkers at PPL Center.
Ryan Spooner scored on a breakaway at 1:48 of overtime to give the Bruins a 1-0 win over the Flyers on Saturday night at TD Garden.
The Flyers face the Boston Bruins in the final game of the preseason on Saturday at 5 p.m.
