Another Flyers preseason has come and gone, and after an extended offseason, the Orange and Black are set to drop the puck Thursday night for their 49th season in franchise history.
Between a new coach, and several chances to see younger prospects get a dose of competitive action, this Flyers preseason has arguably been more anticipated than in recent years. The preseason's not exactly the most exciting time for hockey (especially for those in the Delaware Valley who reserved their Chris Porter jerseys), but always gives fans a chance to get a look at what to expect before the games start to count.
NHL preseasons can be pretty routine and boilerplate. Guys are always fighting for roster spots, some even have no shot and are just happy to be there, and implementation of new coaches and schemes is standard operating procedure. Chances are, you'll even hear the "keep working hard" and "lot of energy," among the other standard cliches.
And of course, one common denominator amongst all NHL preseasons is the numerous opportunities to learn — again, bordering on cliche-territory.
Of course, the Flyers had plenty of lessons to learn — not just from mistakes that seemed to carry over from last season, but from new-coach adjustments that take a lot longer than eight games to gain a command of. Even Andrew MacDonald learned a harsh reality on Monday — that no roster spot is guaranteed, no matter how large one's contract is.
Players on the ice weren't the only ones that have had lessons to learn. Dave Hakstol still has plenty to learn as well. One significant adjustment between the college and professional ranks is the amount of teaching vs. preparation — in college, the coach's main job is to focus on teaching and developing players, while in the NHL, the focus is more on how to prepare on a game-by-game basis.
Of course, learning on the job is to be expected. Hakstol wasn't hired as some guru who could magically end the Flyers' Stanley Cup drought — his admirable record of working with young talent was a significant factor, along with his ability to prepare at the collegiate level.
All of the NHL's 30 teams — from the Stanley Cup contenders to the perennial cellar-dwellers — have something to learn in the preseason. The Flyers are no exception, and have had plenty to learn from their eight-game stretch.
There's no doubt the Flyers will go through some hard-to-watch growing pains this season. But there will be plenty of lessons and takeaways, which will be crucial components as the team builds ts way to being a Stanley Cup contender.
Rob Riches is a contributor to Flyerdelphia and Sports Talk Philly. Follow him on Twitter @Riches61
