Flyers Coach John Stevens has taken an unusual approach in his line-ups so far

The Flyers have looked discombobulated, for lack of a better word, this preseason. Part of that was the short amount of time before they started playing games, and part of it is the integration of the new faces.

I am a bit surprised at the process the coaching staff has used to do the latter, thus far.

Head Coach John Stevens had few scrimmages in the early part of the camp, noting that they team had a 3 game swing out to the midwest.

The problem is, that limits the time in practice where the team’s offensive lines can gel. One would suspect that would lead Stevens to get those lines work during the pre-season tune-ups. That hasn’t been the case.

I am loathe to say that Stevens used a dartborad when determining the line combos for tonight’s game in London, Ontario against the Maple Leafs, but how to explain slick second year scorer Claude Giroux playing between enforcer Riley Cote and agitator Dan Carcillo?

Some very odd line-up choices by the Flyers coach tonight.

STUFF I NOTICED
-Ole-Kristian Tollefsen had a really rough night. He was on for at least the first two Leafs goals(as I write this) and negated a 2 on 1 chance by stupidly engaging in a fight with Ben Ondrus.

-Johan Backlund is either having a rough time adjusting to the smaller North American ice, or the first guy that new Flyers goalie guru Neil Little endorsed is a dud.

-2007 number two overall pick James van Riemsdyk has thus far made a strong case to make this team’s opening night roster. Among the try-out/bubble guys, Blair Betts has been solid overall, but made a costly mistake in tonight’s game against Toronto. Mark Bell seems as serious about making this roster as Mel Brooks was in his telling of Dracula.

However, tomorrow the New York Islanders (who apparently took a wrong turn at Albuquerque) will be the opponent and indications are that the Flames will run out a serious lineup. Not only will the smooth skating Jay Bouwmeester make his Flames debut, but a line that I’m eagerly waiting to see of  Olli Jokinen, Jarome Iginla and Mikael Backlund are going to play. Since camp opened on Sunday B. Sutter has kept this trio together consistently, which means the Flames are going to give Backlund every chance to prove he’s NHL ready. Whether or not he’s ready to make the jump to the NHL is going to become apparent  playing with the two top forwards on the team.

It will be very interesting to see how Backlund fairs because if he impresses then its going to quickly become a jumble as the Flames try to decide who to keep and who to try to sneak down through waivers to Abbotsford. With 13 forwards on one-way contracts, things could get tricky very quickly. But with so many one-way deals and D. Sutter’s stated desire to move two rookies up to the big club every season, this is the type of math that Flames fans should get comfortable with.