Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
It is typical for the Philadelphia Flyers to test their rookies during the preseason schedule, and this upcoming preseason will be no different. We can defer this, based on the list the team sent out for who will be traveling to London, Ontario to play against the Toronto Maple Leafs in their preseason game on Sunday night.
One of the players to not be on that list is goaltender Ray Emery, and there are a few other big name players that are absent from the list as well. Claude Giroux is absent, as he is still healing from his finger injury, and Vincent Lecavalier and Mark Streit will also not play in London with the team. Fan favorites Sean Couturier and Wayne Simmonds will also not travel with the team. Instead, they were left off the list so a few of rookies could get a taste of NHL action.
Mark Alt seems to be fine from his concussion, because he will travel with the defensemen, along with fellow rookie Oliver Lauridsen. Lauridsen played a few games with the Flyers last season, so playing him now will give the team a better idea of where he stands coming in this season. Lauridsen really helped the team’s patchwork defense last season, so he could be a viable option for the team when the regular season does start. Pro tryout Hal Gill will also travel with them.
As for the rookie forwards that will get their first taste of action, the Flyers have surprisingly not placed Scott Laughton on the travel list. The team is hot for this kid, and if they are definitely not going to re-sign Simon Gagne when Chris Pronger goes off the LTIR, he might just get a permanent spot on the pro roster.
Among the other rookie forwards to travel are Tye McGinn, Tyler Brown, Nick Cousins, Marcel Noebels, Rob Bordson, Ben Holmstrom, Brandon Alderson and Doug Clarkson.
Laughton looks like a lock, but the Flyers did play McGinn a lot last season, so he may be the biggest competition Laughton has for a roster spot. Sending this many rookies for their first preseason game means that the Flyers mean business and they really want to see what the rookies can do.
Deanna Vasso is a Flyers writer for Rant Sports. You can follow her on Twitter, like her on Facebook or join her Google network.
