PHILADELPHIA — He was the darling of camp a year ago. Bobby Brink, probably ticketed for the Phantoms, forced his way onto the Philadelphia Flyers roster with his blend of speed, shiftiness, playmaking ability and enthusiasm. In the season opener Oct. 12, 2023, in Columbus, there was Brink on the right wing of the top line, with Sean Couturier and Joel Farabee beside him.
It’s different this year. Brink isn’t the attention-grabbing, fresh-faced rookie anymore. Matvei Michkov and Jett Luchanko have instead become the focal points of the fans (and, admittedly, the media) as the compelling, talented youngsters that maybe, just maybe, will help usher in a new era of Flyers hockey after a decade of mostly misery. Michkov provided a few more highlights Saturday, scoring two goals including the game winner in overtime to give the Flyers a 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins at Wells Fargo Center in their fourth of seven preseason games.
But Brink shouldn’t be overlooked, at least not based on how he’s played so far. With a two-year, $3 million summer contract extension to his name, thereby assuring him of a place on the 2024-25 roster, the next step for the 23-year-old will be to solidify his place as part of the future core. He seems to recognize how important this season is, too, staying in the area for nearly the entire offseason and adding 5 pounds of bulk. He now carries around 170 pounds on his 5-foot-9 frame.
“I think I had a good offseason here,” Brink said. “I think the weight guys did a great job with me. We worked hard and we’re here all summer so I got stronger in the gym, and it’s translated to on the ice.”
It has. Brink, according to Scott Laughton, was the “best player on the ice” in the preseason opener last Sunday in Washington, scoring twice in the Flyers’ 6-2 win. He unexpectedly played the next night in Montreal due to Garnet Hathaway’s being a late scratch but still had decent legs despite all of the skating he and everyone else had done in camp to that point.
On Friday, coach John Tortorella said: “I think he’s had a really good camp. He looks like a better skater.”
Brink will have to earn his ice time when the regular season gets underway, of course. And that got a bit more complicated for him in the offseason with Michkov’s early arrival. On the depth chart on the right side, Brink is firmly behind Travis Konecny, and considering how Michkov has looked throughout camp Brink is likely ticketed for the third line, at least to start. On Saturday against Boston, Brink skated mostly with Luchanko and Farabee.
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“I’m not saying Mich is above (Brink),” Tortorella said. “I’m not sure what the depth chart is, but (he’s) certainly a right winger. Players are very perceptive as far as when it comes to this time of year and where they sit. He knows where he’s at.”
Brink said: “There’s going to be competition between players for opportunities and playing time. But ultimately it’s just about winning. Whatever helps us win, I can do. I think every guy on the team kind of buys into that.”
There’s plenty of room for him to grow. Last season wasn’t exactly silky smooth. Brink was reassigned to the Phantoms for a stretch from mid-January until late February, and after he returned, he saw limited ice time on a few occasions. He was benched for the third period of a 5-2 loss against the Washington Capitals on March 1, for example, while cameras caught Tortorella loudly scolding Brink on the bench for a defensive miscue that resulted in a John Carlson goal late in the second period of a pivotal loss.
It was all part of the learning experience for the Minnesota native.
“It’s a long, hard year,” Brink said of his takeaways from last season. “Mentally taxing and physically taxing. It just kind of shows you how to deal with it, and you kind of learn the ups and downs. Never too high, never too low. Learn how to take care of your body a bit and come to work every day and try to get a little bit better.”
Associate coach Brad Shaw, who ran the bench for Saturday’s game, touched on the relationship between Brink and the head coach last season.
“He’s a guy — maybe not in the crosshairs of Torts, (but) he really wanted him to work on his defensive game and be more responsible,” Shaw said. “I think since Bobby has gotten here, he’s always shown he has the ability to see the ice, make plays, get on the inside — even against bigger guys. He’s a real competitive guy.”
In that regard, Brink has looked more proficient on the walls and in battles. Shaw touched on one play in Saturday’s game in which a well-timed stick from Brink prevented a Bruins player from clearing the puck, resulting in another half-minute of offensive zone time for the Flyers.
Shaw left no doubt the coaching staff is expecting Brink to improve on his 11-goal, 12-assist output in 57 games last season.
“I think what he’s done is he’s shown enough on the effort side and the preparation side through the offseason that we treat him (like) he’s a part of the team,” Shaw said. “He’s not a guy that’s looking to find his way. We’re looking for production from him.”
A role on the power play would help Brink’s stat line. Though the Flyers didn’t ice a full NHL lineup Saturday, it was notable Brink was on the top power-play unit with Konecny, Michkov, Jamie Drysdale and Olle Lycksell. Swap out Morgan Frost for Lycksell, and that could conceivably be the top power-play unit Oct. 11 in Vancouver.
Brink’s skills would seem tailor-made for five-on-four. That’s how it looked Saturday as Brink made several plays on a dangerous-looking power-play unit. He got free in the slot and fired a one-timer on goal about two minutes into the second period and later slid a nifty backhand pass through the slot to the circle to a wide-open Konecny, who was stopped by goalie Joonas Korpisalo at point-blank range.
All four of Brink’s shots came with a man advantage. He seemed to have chemistry with the rest of his unit, which had good movement in the offensive zone and seemed to enter the zone with ease.
“I think that’s an area I can help the team,” Brink said of playing on the power play. “It’s kind of been my game for a while now, is offensive and (a) power-play guy. I think I need to take another step and be a little bit better.”
Michkov will surely continue to get the bulk of the attention when it comes to potential young difference-makers on the roster. But Brink, if he can play a more consistent game this season, could get his name in a few headlines when everything gets underway.
“Just going through that last year helped me going into this year,” Brink said, “and knowing what it takes to be an everyday player.”
(Photo of Bobby Brink celebrating with teammates after scoring in the preseason game against Washington: Geoff Burke / Imagn Images)
