Mika Pyorala (#27) is an undrafted Swedish
Elite League star that has caught the eye
of the Flyers' organization this preseason.
(Image Credits: hockey_rocks)
The one thing that they do have in common is that they both want to start their NHL rookie seasons on October 2nd when the Philadelphia Flyers travel to Carolina.
Coming into camp they were both determined to make the team. Of course both had many doubters as unproven and untested players jumping into the NHL game. Though they have survived the Flyers preseason cuts up until now it may not be that simple. Considering that Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Simon Gagne, Danny Briere, Scott Hartnell, and Claude Giroux are locks to make the team there are only so many roster spots available.
Coach John Stevens has also made it clear that Riley Cote will be on the roster though he will likely only play in specific games or be asked to suit up if there is an injury to another skater. It's also hard to imagine that Ian Laperriere is left out of the fold after being considered one of the bigger offseason acquisitions by the organization. Then Arron Asham also has to be considered as a veteran from last season that even got a little bit of time in the top nine.
Dan Carcillo of course is not going to go away quietly, and the organization has high hopes for him despite a trade that was criticized as nothing more than a salary dump. Though he sometimes seems to be a liability and penalty risk, he draws a lot of them off other teams as well as adding some excitement and bringing more offensive potential than many of the other forwards on the bubble. There's also Darroll Powe who, as an undrafted rookie, came out and surprised the Flyers fans in the latter half of the season with high-energy play, hitting, excitement, and chemistry while on a line with Giroux and Briere.
You can't forget about camp invitee Blair Betts either, who has shown his value as a penalty-kill expert who can win face-offs on the fourth line. Recently the Flyers traded Patrik Hersley's contract to the Nashville Predators for future considerations in a move to make a little more room under the 50 contract limit. The speculation that a contract will be offered to Betts is obvious, and he is not in camp just to play for the Phantoms.
That brings the total of forwards who expect to make the team to 12 when normally teams only keep 13. Though that does not include prospects Patrick Maroon and Lukas Kaspar they are long-shots to make the opening day roster at this point.
At first glance it may seem as if one of Pyorala or van Riemsdyk will be spending some time with the Phantoms this season, at least at the beginning of the hockey year. The little snag in that theory is that both are among the Flyers' top performers in the preseason. They have been in the roster more than anyone else so far and are clearly being watched closely. It seems as though every other game one takes the title of top forward.
Last night in Philadelphia Pyorala had the final say in a home preseason game as he slipped one by Martin Brodeur in overtime. The game before, when the Detroit Red Wings came to town, van Riemsdyk was the talk of the town after scoring two goals. Though they upstage each other in different nights they have both performed well. If Stevens is really thinking of sending one of these two down then he's going to regret it.
Van Riemsdyk has played all five preseason games and accounted for three goals as well as an assist which is good enough to put him in second for Flyers preseason scoring behind Briere who has five points on three goals in four games. Pyorala is tied for fourth with three points in four games including two goals. Giroux has three assists in five games while Carle has a goal and two assists in four games. Pronger, the only other skater ahead of those three, has a goal and three assists in four games.
Unlike Laperriere, Betts, Powe, Asham, Carcillo, and Cote, van Riemsdyk and Pyorala are exactly what this team needs to add to the secondary scoring depth. The other forwards that expect to make the club are borderline top nine skaters, if that. These two rookies have what it takes to help make up for the holes left by Joffrey Lupul and Mike Knuble. Though all signs have shown that full seasons from Briere and Giroux will easily take care of that, every little bit of offensive fire-power helps in today's NHL.
It's true that role-players such as the six borderline scoring-depth forwards bring something to the table. The Flyers have assembled an above average group of fourth liners. Stevens' mentality in wanting to keep as much energy, grit, and physicality on the roster as possible is admirable, but pretending that some of these guys are something they are not will certainly not make this team any better.
While recent speculation that van Riemsdyk and Pyorala may be competing for the same job is floating around, it is important to point out that both deserve a spot on the opening day roster based on preseason performances to date. If Stevens is planning on keeping an army of fourth liners in Laperriere, Betts, Powe, Asham, Carcillo, and Cote on this team then he better find some room for van Riemsdyk and Pyorala as well.
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