VOORHEES, N.J. — Ian Laperriere said a player won't win a roster spot in a rookie game.
But one can definitely make an impression.
The Flyers' 2022 rookie training camp commenced Thursday. Day 1 gives way to a pair of prospect games for the Flyers at PPL Center against the Rangers' rookies.
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Game action is always the best way to evaluate and the Flyers will be doing so closely at the home of the Phantoms with main camp ahead next week.
Despite the club stomaching a 25-46-11 season in 2021-22, there's an anxiousness around Flyers Training Center. The organization is turning to John Tortorella, a demanding head coach who historically runs a rigid training camp.
Players are preparing.
"I think they had 40 guys here two weeks ago," Laperriere, the head coach of AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley, said Thursday. "I've never seen that. I've been here 13 years, I've never seen that."
NHL
The Flyers-Rangers rookie games are Friday (7:05 p.m. ET) and Saturday (5:05 p.m. ET/NBCSP+).
Let's get into three observations from Day 1 in Voorhees, New Jersey.
'Looks like a different kid'
Tyson Foerster is healthy and, of course, can fire that puck.
The 2020 first-round pick has always possessed an advanced shot. It's still very good.
But what's notable is he's starting to look more like an NHL player physically.
The 20-year-old winger missed most of last season after suffering a shoulder injury and undergoing surgery in November. After playing some games at the junior level to finish the year, Foerster went to this summer's 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship and won gold with Canada.
"I've played the game long enough. If you're not healthy right from the get-go, it's tough to build," Laperriere said. "But he looks like a different kid. You look at him physically, he's thicker. ... I watched the world juniors this summer and he looked like a man."
Foerster said he feels at his peak now from a sharpness and strength standpoint following the injury.
He's projected to open the season with the Phantoms.
"That's not my decision, but I think, hopefully I can be with the Flyers," Foerster said. "That's my goal and that's what I want to do."
What does he want to show in camp aside from his shot?
"I think my physicality," he said. "I feel like I'm a big player, I need to use the body a lot more."
Foerster is listed at 6-foot-2, 207 pounds.
"If he does come to me," Laperriere said, "I'll be excited to work with him."
Not playing the numbers game
Noah Cates is the headliner of rookie camp given he has the most realistic shot at cracking the big club's season-opening lineup.
With a lost season, the Flyers had a number of auditions toward the end of last year. Cates had the most impressive performance, showing his smarts, ability to scale the lineup and putting up points to boot (five goals, four assists in 16 games).
"That's obviously my goal," Cates said about vying for the Flyers' roster. "I know it's pretty tough, it's a deep camp, a lot of good returning players. Just focusing on my game and getting better.
"I know a lot of things change in training camp and throughout the year. I'm not going to be too emotional with it or up and down with looking at guys or numbers. Just kind of focus on myself and put my best foot forward every day."
The 23-year-old forward looked good Thursday. The 2017 fifth-round pick has had to prove himself a lot by hard work.
"The speed of the game and the endurance, keeping up in 82 games," Cates said of his offseason training focus. "Really worked on skating, getting a little faster. ... Trying to go every day, every other day, pretty hard, to be ready to skate with the big guys."
He's expected to be alongside Foerster in at least one of the rookie games. Keep an eye on that line.
"Big, strong kid with a good shot," Cates said of Foerster. "Really excited to get to work with him. Try to give him the puck because he can really shoot it. Definitely a really good prospect for the Flyers.
"We definitely are looking to dominate, do really well and put some pucks in the back of the net. I think we need to do that, we're older and that's kind of what's expected of us. Really looking forward to it."
Big gains for 'Big Z'
Egor Zamula tends to smile whenever he's asked about his weight.
He knows adding strength is important for his size and position.
What did he learn from his 10 NHL games last season?
"I need to put on some muscle," Zamula said. "To be better in the 1-on-1s, in front of the net, play stronger every shift."
He accomplished that goal in the offseason. He gained 12 pounds of muscle. The 6-foot-3 defenseman now weighs 192 pounds. He was 160 pounds in 2018 when he was an undrafted product and invited to training camp on an amateur tryout.
Laperriere noticed the improved strength of Zamula and defenseman Wyatte Wylie.
"Good on them," he said. "That means they put the work in in the summer. ... They realized that they needed to put weight on and they did. For me, that's part of being a pro, you've got to recognize your weaknesses and address them in the summer."
Both are entering their third year at the pro level and will play important minutes at Lehigh Valley.
Bonus notes
• Olle Lycksell, a skilled 23-year-old Swedish forward, scored a couple of nice goals during the drills. He's set for his first season with the Phantoms.
• Western Michigan product Ronnie Attard displayed his shot on a goal from the point. The 23-year-old defenseman is pushing for the Flyers after getting a taste of the NHL last season.
"Attard's a big boy," Laperriere said. "I'm excited to see him play Saturday."
• Alexis Gendron, a 2022 seventh-round pick, showed his goal-scoring touch at different points. His father Martin Gendron is on the Flyers' amateur scouting staff.
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