After suffering two consecutive lower-body injuries during the preseason, Philadelphia Flyers forward Denver Barkey is finally recovering and is on track to possibly rejoin the team during their upcoming three-game road trip. The 21-year-old initially sustained a lower-body injury in a preseason game against the Washington Capitals, and after a brief period of practice, he re-injured himself while practicing in a no-contact jersey, which set him back once again. Recently, Barkey had been skating in a no-contact jersey, but during Sunday’s practice, he switched to a regular orange jersey, indicating progress in his recovery and a step closer to returning to game action. Following practice, Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet mentioned that Barkey could be considered for the upcoming road trip starting Monday night against Tampa Bay, although it’s not certain if he will play in the first game back. Tocchet commented, “Yeah, I think he’d be an option… I don’t know if it’s next game or whatever, but he’s in the mix.”
The Flyers are also contemplating a potential position change for Barkey based on his strong performances in NHL and training camp. While Barkey started the season on injured reserve, the team temporarily replaced that roster spot with veteran enforcer Garrett Wilson, who signed a one-year deal last week and remains available if needed. Additionally, Carl Grundstrom, who cleared waivers after camp, continues to serve as a versatile checking winger and has been moving in and out of the lineup. It’s still uncertain which roster moves will be made to activate Barkey, but the Flyers have flexibility when the time comes. Last season, Barkey contributed five goals, 12 assists, and 17 points over 43 games, averaging 13:24 minutes of ice time, in what was his first professional season with the Flyers.
Fan Take: This news is exciting for Flyers fans because Barkey’s potential return could provide the team with increased offensive depth and energy on the ice. For hockey fans overall, it highlights the importance of resilience and patience for young players recovering from injury, and it could signal new strategic moves as teams adapt and optimize their rosters for the season.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
