Who Will Win The Opening Night Roster Spots? Only One More Chance To Impress Tonight.

LW C RW
JVR Hayes Tippett
Frost Laughton Allison
MacEwen J Cates N Cates
Deslauriers Laczynski Hodgson

D D
Sanheim York
Seeler Attard
Braun Belpedio

G
Grosenick
Ersson

The only two regulars not in the lineup up front tonight are Travis Konecny and Cam Atkinson, so the battle for big league roster spots appears to be down to Jackson Cates, Noah Cates, Tanner Laczynski, and Hayden Hodgson. Noah Cates has undoubtedly played himself onto the opening night roster, so this may be a battle for the fourth line center position. Assuming Laughton is 2C, Frost, Allison, MacEwen, Deslauriers, and N Cates will occupy five of the bottom six spots, leaving 4C open. The fourth line center will likely be J. Cates or Laczynski, who could be the casualty when Farabee returns.

On defense, four positions are a lock; Provorov, DeAngelo, Sanheim, and Ristolainen. Relegating Cam York to the minors seems absurd and he should lock up the fifth spot; floating between the Flyers second and third pairing, with spot duty on the the power play. That leaves three D competing for the six/seven spots on the point; Seeler, Braun, and Connauton. I don't think Attard or Belpedio factor into the mix yet.

The biggest question mark is the backup goalie position and whether or not Carter Hart will be ready for opening night, as he states he will be. Felix Sandstrom looked to be the early favourite, but an unfortunate injury set him back. The Flyers can either go with the 33 year old journeyman netminder, Troy Grosenick, or the raw 22 year old, Samuel Ersson. Tortorella has been known to roster two young goalies in the past, so this decision does not appear to be clear cut.