Injuries are unfortunately part of every season and they're hitting the Flyers early on this season. With Kevin Hayes likely out the first month of the season after undergoing abdominal surgery, a season-ending hip injury to Tanner Laczynski, and Wade Allison likely to miss a significant chunk of games with a high-ankle sprain, the Flyers will have to shuffle their lineup around before the season begins in a few weeks.

But with these injuries come opportunities for other players to step in and impress the coaching staff in hopes of being included on the opening night roster. Let's look at three Flyers who have a big opportunity to step up.

 

Morgan Frost

After suffering a season-ending shoulder injury last season, Morgan Frost will have the opportunity to step in and claim a spot on the opening night roster which seemed like a stretch just a few weeks ago. In his short stint in the NHL, Frost has shown flashes to show why he was a first-round pick in 2017. But with a combination of injury, fit, and being buried by a lot of veteran Flyers forwards, Frost hasn't had a real chance to stick with the team.

But with injuries to Hayes and Allison, who were both expected to be on the opening night roster, Frost has a chance to claim a spot at either the center or winger spot.

So far in camp, Frost has been centering Joel Farabee and James van Riemsdyk, replacing Kevin Hayes' spot in the lineup. He's also seen time on the team's second powerplay unit.

Frost will get into his first preseason game against the Bruins tonight which will mark just his third game since the 2019-20 shutdown.

 

Derick Brassard

It's been just over a month since the Flyers signed Brassard but he'll have a real chance to step right into the Flyers' starting lineup to start the season. In their first preseason game against the Islanders, Brassard centered the second line with Oskar Lindblom and Cam Atkinson.

Brassard brings a veteran two-way game to the Flyers that fellow offseason signing Nate Thompson does not. By no means is Brassard the same player that netted 27 goals in 2015-16 but he could possibly be a 20-30 point player like he was last season.

With the bottom six still being figured out, Brassard looks like he could fill a 3/4 C role on this team and has also been rotating in on the team's second powerplay unit in training camp.

 

Connor Bunnaman

Another player that falls into the same role as Brassard, Bunnaman will have the opportunity to step into a role on the bottom six. After signing a two-year contract extension this summer, Bunnamann will look to continue to build his game in his third NHL season. Though he's collected just three points in 39 games, he's brought good energy to the Flyers lineup when he's gotten the chance.

 

Tyson Foerster

The Flyers' 2020 first-round pick has opened some eyes during training camp and it's certainly possible he could crack the lineup with the injury to Wade Allison.

At just 19 years old, Foerster has his work cut out for him. But he has impressed Alain Vigneault thus far in camp with his improved skating and an already deadly shot that prompted the Flyers to draft him in the first place.

After holding his own in the AHL lasts season with 10 goals and 7 assists in 24 games despite his professional inexperience, Foerster is looking to play up to his competition once again.

 

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