The Philadelphia Flyers took the ice on Thursday to kick off their 2022-2023 season. It was day one of John Tortorella’s tough camp and it showed.
Day 1 featured what you would think from John Tortorella. Hard skating and a focus on conditioning.
Each group went through a rigorous 45-minutes of skating. No pucks, no goalies. Just pure 45-minutes of skating. Which, left some players gasping for air as they exited the ice.
“Definitely happy it is over,” Joel Farabee said after his session. “Stuff like that (skating drills), its good to build team moral.”
The skate included 3-lap sprints for 30-minutes before ending with full rink (200-foot) up-and-backs for the final 15-minutes.
With little known of what to expect today, except if the players asked Cam Atkinson, it was a tough start for Group D. Who hit the ice first.
Just ask Mason Millman. His day ended with an extended stay on the Flyers bench. Leaving some extra bodily fluids on the bench before heading to the locker room.
“Tough first day, but its going to get even harder,” Tony DeAngelo said after day 1. “It’s a tough day; but everybody worked hard and that’s all you can ask for.”
DeAngelo added “it was a mixture of all of it. Getting in shape, getting ready for the start of the season. But, also its mentally like I’m sure in everybody’s head that you can’t wait to be done.”
The surprise of the day came in the final grouping. Camp invite Adam Karashik was the best skater all day. Showing little to no tiredness throughout his 45-minute skate.
But, even though it was a first tough day, head coach John Tortorella was extremely impressed with his group.
“Doesn’t matter what you look like, as long as you finish the skate,” Tortorella said about Day 1 of camp. “Don’t think anyone gave in.”
Tortorella added “it’s not about pounding our chests & to bury them. We want to test them.”
Patrick Brown Week-To-Week
During his media availability, GM Chuck Fletcher gave some surprising injury news about Patrick Brown.
Brown, who had offseason back surgery per Fletcher, is considered week-to-week. But, casted some doubt on that.
“Brown had offseason back surgery & is continuing to rehab,” Fletcher said about Brown. “Timeline is a little murky. Would call it week-to-week.”
Fletcher added “he (Brown) is skating. But, still has not been cleared for contact.”
Brown was not on the ice for day 1 of training camp.
Ryan Ellis Out Indefinitely
In addition to all the injury news, GM Chuck Fletcher finally gave some clarity on the status of Ryan Ellis.
Ellis, who played just 4-games last season, is out indefinitely with no time-table to return.
“Ellis is out indefinitely,” GM Chuck Fletcher said about Ellis. “No timetable for his return.”
Fletcher added “my assumption is he (Ellis) won’t play this season. If he (Ellis) does, it will be a bonus and that’s how we prepared this offseason in our additions on the blueline.
