Listen to article \u2022\u00a00:00 min<\/p>\n
The Flyers<\/a>\u2019 start to the season has been … interesting.<\/p>\n After a franchise-record nine-game winless streak out of the gate, they have won three of four games. There\u2019s a lot to talk about through 13 games, so let\u2019s open up the mailbag for the first time this season.<\/p>\n Q: Does Oliver Bonk stay in the NHL or get sent back to (Lehigh Valley) when Ristolainen or York are ready to play? \u2014 Leigh (@flyersfan1953) on X<\/p>\n A: After the Flyers game in Detroit on Oct. 15, I tweeted that Oliver Bonk<\/a> should never play another game in the American Hockey League. I stand by that based on what we\u2019ve seen from the young defenseman since. It doesn\u2019t sound like he\u2019s going anywhere based on what coach Rick Tocchet<\/a> said on Friday after he was asked about Bonk\u2019s status once top-four defensemen Rasmus Ristolainen and Cam York<\/a> return.<\/p>\n \u00bb READ MORE: Flyers must decide how returning vets mix with young upstarts: \u2018Internal competition always makes your team better\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cObviously, he\u2019s not going to be playing 22 minutes. We\u2019ve got York and Risto coming back, so it\u2019ll actually kind of slot people in where they\u2019re supposed to be,\u201d Tocchet said. \u201c[It] gives [assistant coach Todd Reirden] a little bit more flexibility. He\u2019s been pretty heavy on [Travis Sanheim<\/a>] and Bonker. So yeah, it\u2019s a good thing now, especially Risto [coming back], a big-minute guy, but Bonker\u2019s going to get his time too. He\u2019s played well for us.\u201d<\/p>\n Ristolainen returned to the lineup on Saturday, and Bonk was still paired, for the most part, with Sanheim on the top pair. Wherever he lands, it shouldn\u2019t be in the press box. According to Natural Stat Trick, Bonk has the best on-ice Corsi for percentage (51.35%) and expected goals for percentage (55.46%) among Flyers defensemen who have played in at least seven games.<\/p>\n Another reader, @afern_alex, asked a similar question on X, including Cole Knuble. It feels like, when veteran forwards Travis Konecny<\/a> and Owen Tippett<\/a> return, Knuble could be sent down due to the numbers game. Although it\u2019s been a good start and he brings a lot of energy, it\u2019s only been three games, and his spot seems less solid.<\/p>\n Q: The need for a 1C and a 1st pairing D man is still there. Jackie, what is your sense and what are you hearing? \u2014 billyphilly75 on Inquirer.com<\/p>\n A: If a young player who fits the Flyers timeline and needs becomes available, just know management is checking in. So, yes, they\u2019ve checked in on top-line centers and top-pair defensemen. The problem is it always takes two to tango, and while the Flyers asked about, for example, Matty Beniers, as The Inquirer has previously reported, it doesn\u2019t mean the Seattle Kraken are open to moving the young pivot. <\/p>\n With a projected cap space of $24 million next season, and needing to sign pending restricted free agent Matvei Michkov<\/a> at the NHL level, not to mention a potential extension for Porter Martone<\/a> when he becomes eligible on July 1, the Flyers still have some wiggle room to try and reel in a relatively young and promising top-two center. Some names to keep an eye on are Barrett Hayton, 26, and Pavel Zacha, 29, both of whom are set to become unrestricted free agents next summer.<\/p>\n Q: Will Edvinsson be a Flyer soon? \u2014 Matt Graver (@GraverMatt) on X<\/p>\n A: The general feeling is that anything involving Simon Edvinsson, aside from re-signing with Detroit, needs to wait until Dylan Larkin has been moved. And it felt that Larkin could only be moved once Connor Hellebuyck found a new spot. That first domino fell on Friday. Time is ticking for Edvinsson, however, as a contract must be signed by 5 p.m. on Dec. 1 for him to play this season.<\/p>\n