The Flyers have not played a game since last April 11.
It’s been a long five-month offseason without the playoffs.
Next week, they return to Skate Zone with the opening of rookie camp Monday (Sept. 14) and then the full training camp the following Friday.
Over the next several days, CSNPhilly.com will explore some questions and issues that will face the Flyers in both camps, starting with rookies.
Question 1: What exactly are we to make of general manager Ron Hextall’s decision to draft three goaltenders last June at a time when the organization had been touting the wonders of young Anthony Stolarz?
Thirteen years ago, the Flyers took three goalies — David Tremblay, Rejean Beauchemin and Ville Hostikka — in the final three rounds of the 2003 NHL draft held in Nashville.
None of those players ever wore orange and black at the NHL level.
NHL
The 6-foot-6 Stolarz has been tabbed a “can’t-miss” goaltender almost since the day the Flyers drafted him 45th overall (second round) in 2012. He also was among the most dominating goalies in the Ontario Hockey League, which bolstered the organization’s hopes he would become a quick study.
Yet Stolarz, 21, suffered a debilitating hip injury that required surgery in June 2014, and though not entirely unexpected, was inconsistent in his first year at the AHL level with the Phantoms.
In 31 games, he posted a 9-13-4 record, 3.28 goals against average and .905 save percentage on a bad Phantoms squad.
Often, a goalie’s numbers are just as much a reflection of the play in front of him as what he does in net. Still, when the Flyers chose Felix Sandstrom (Sweden), Matej Tomek (Slovakia) and Ivan Fedotov (Russia) at this summer’s draft in South Florida, one could assume they’re taking no chances because the organizational depth at the position isn’t very solid to begin with.
Tomek was the Flyers' third-round pick (90th). New Flyers coach Dave Hakstol recruited him to North Dakota this coming fall, long before he was on the Flyers' radar to coach here. Ranked the fifth-best goalie prospect in North America by NHL Central Scouting, Tomek is one player to keep an eye on moving ahead.
And Stolarz knows it.
At the Flyers' annual development camp in July, Stolarz said he would welcome the challenge of competition and considered this a wake-up call heading into the September training camp.
Hextall gave Stolarz an even bigger challenge for camp this summer by signing free-agent NHL journeyman Jason LaBarbera to a one-year, two-way contract, so he can become a call-up this season if Steve Mason or Michal Neuvirth are injured.
Rob Zepp, who Stolarz credits for mentoring him in several areas, including diet and exercise, was not re-signed and reportedly has retired in Europe.
Stolarz needs to impress in his fourth training camp, especially if he wants to beat out LaBarbara as the starter on the Phantoms.
Incidentally, all the netminders will have to adjust to two new on-ice mentors — goalie coach Kim Dillabaugh and his development assistant, Brady Robinson.