Flyers receive a tough "D"-ecision from Adam Ginning
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Joshua
September 30, 2023 (1:54 PM)
This season, the Philadelphia Flyers may struggle in the defensive option, as the options are limited. Why not give them a chance in the lineup to help establish better practices down the road?
Getting younger on the blueline is a possibility on October 12th, as the Blue Jackets' game approaches.
As the team expects to carry 8 defensemen, young prospects have a chance to crack the lineup. This leaves Helge Grans, Ronnie Attard, Egor Zamula, and Adam Ginning in the running.
Their competition on the blueline will include veterans like Travis Sanheim, Ramus Ristolainen, Nick Seeler, Marc Staal, and up and coming defenseman Cam York.
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«There's a lot of bodies here and it's obviously hard to make the team right away,» said Ginning, who says he feels much more comfortable than he did at last year's camp. «But I'm doing everything I can right now and we'll see what happens. If I have to play more with the Phantoms, I'll do that and try the best I can to get a call-up and be here.»
With 22:27 TOI in the 2-1 exhibition loss to the New York Islanders, Ginning might be the next youngster promoted. During the game, the big Swede showed flashes of offense, with 10 shots and five on goal. With a 6'4", 215-pound frame, the defenseman is confident his stay-at-home style of defense will lead him to the big leagues.
In his first season in the AHL, he led the Lehigh Valley Phantoms with a plus-24 rating and could be called back to Philadelphia in the event of an injury.
It is clear that Ginning has won Tortorella over with his style of play during training camp as well.
«The thing I like about him is he's in the way,» Tortorella said. «He understands the position and where he needs to be. That needs to be a big strength of his because of how long he is and what area he can take up. I think he'll get a faster track to the National Hockey League if he hones in on that and works on his positioning.»
Tortorella said Ginning «had some good minutes» against the Islanders. «He'll probably get another game and we'll just keep evaluating.»
Whether he ends up in the top or bottom pairing is hard to predict, but if he is a 7th or 8th defenseman, perhaps Lehigh Valley is the best place for him.
Previously on FlyersInsider
| POLL |
30 SEPTEMBRE | 135 ANSWERS Flyers receive a tough "D"-ecision from Adam Ginning Do you think Adam Ginning makes it to the Flyers full-time? |
| Yes | 58 | 43 % |
| No | 77 | 57 % |
| LIST OF POLLS |
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