The conversation between Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren and defenseman Matt Walker wasnt long.
It came in May after the players packed their bags for the long summer, following a crushing four-game sweep out of the playoffs by the Boston Bruins.
My meeting with him was'I know a few things about you,' Holmgren recalled. You are a right shot. I know youre a big guy, tough, and I know you are a good guy. But I dont know anything else because of what happened last yearno one has seen you play.
And no one with the Flyers organization could say just where the 31-year-old from Beaverlodge, Alberta, fit, mostly because of dual labrum surgeries to both hips that limited Walker to just four games last season.
Holmgren told Walker this was a critical summer and his future as a Flyer was on the line in training camp.
The meeting with him was fine, Walker said. Nothing I didnt know. As disappointing as it was tough ending the season, everyone wasnt in a real good place and I wasnt in a good place, either.
It was a long time to miss and tough sitting on the sidelines. It was frustrating. To say Im anxious to get going was an understatement.
NHL
The off-season transformation in Walker, from a physical standpoint, is noticeable. Hes leaner and healthyI can actually take my shoes off and put them onand hes smiling again because the constant pain in his hip and groin is gone.
When Walker walked out of Skate Zone last May, he went to Vancouver and hired Alex McKechnie, a fitness trainer formerly with the L.A. Lakers, who transformed Eric Brewer with his Core X system that the Flyers use as part of their workout routine.
If you put in the time, the results speak for themselves, Walker said. I felt the change affected the way I move and the way I do everything, every day. I feel great. Its good to finally get out on the ice and get going. I missed so much time last year.
Itd be nice to get some flow back into my life as far as getting on the ice. Its a lot of work every day and I feel its always going to be that way for as long as Im playing.
When the Flyers signed Andreas Lilja as a sixth defenseman this summer for a reasonable cap hit of 737,500 to replace Sean ODonnell, that again meant that Walker would face Oskars Bartulus (600,000) for the role as the seventh defenseman on the team.
Walker initially came to the Flyers in the Simon Gagne deal with Tampa Bay. The Bolts were looking to lose salary and the Flyers wanted more depth on defense. Walker had played on three NHL clubs.
Yet Walkers cap hit of 1.7 millionwith another year left on his dealmakes him vulnerable because the club has roughly 175,000 in cap space. That doesnt include Walkers salarybut does include Bartulis.
To keep Walker, the Flyers have to create significant cap space. And this doesnt even include non-contract players such as Adam Mair or Michael Nylander, who are looking for a roster spot, too. Unless Walker impresses, hes vulnerable to be waived.
This is the first time I ever had a multi-year deal, Walker said. I would come into camp knowing every year could be my last year. Its pretty standard for me. Holmgren didnt need to light a fire under me. My season last year was a complete write off.
He said he made the decision over the summer that he wanted to play another 10 years, but knew he had to transform his body.
He hired a skating coach, hired a nutritionist and he looks like a new man, Holmgren said. Well see how he does in training camp. If he can make our team, God bless him. Well do what we have to do. He did have a lot of surgeries last year.
Walkers first chance to show that he belongs on the Flyers comes Tuesday night at Air Canada Centre when the club begins the first of four consecutive exhibition games with a match in Toronto.
When you are injured, its a burden you carry to the rink every day, trying to play through it, and perform at the highest level when you are not feeling 100 percent internally, said coach Peter Laviolette, sizing up Walker.
Laviolette said the first thing he noticed about Walker in this camp was that he was smiling.
What he didnt say was the smiles had replaced grimaces of pain.
He was enjoying practice and enjoying the work and time he put in, Laviolette. He made the commitment over the summer to get a healthy body and come back in shape. Like Ive talked from the start, theres opportunity. And those opportunities come shortly.
Walker was paired with Matt Carle the past two days in camp and figures to go into Tuesdays game that way, as well.
Every year, there are tons of guys who come into camp and look good, Walker said. Very capable players. There is always competition. Its not like Im the 1-2 or 2-4 defenseman.
Ive always been taught to come into camp every year knowing my position is on the line. I had a great summer. Did a lot of interesting stuff.
How does Walker see himself faring?
To be completely honest, I dont kook at that or read into it, Walker said. I dont listen or read reports or sports news. I dont even watch news. I dont do anything but prepare my body.
With what I have going on, its more of a life change for me than hockey. The work I have to do every day, I know I am capable. I proved it continually throughout my career.
I know when I go out there, I bring a few unique things to the lineup. I just hope I dont have a terrible camp. It is what it is.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net