The Phanatic Magazine
The Philadelphia Flyers hope they have found their short-term solution to fill the void left by defenseman Braydon Coburn, as the club recalled defender Ryan Parent from the Philadelphia Phantoms on Wednesday.
Parent, the key to the Peter Forsberg trade with Nashville last season, will skate in his second career game tonight when the Flyers take on the Tampa Bay Lightning. Parent played in one game late last season with the Orange and Black.
“I’m trying not to be nervous, but nerves are something that’s always going to be there,” said Parent . “I think you have to use them to your advantage. Last year’s game helps with the nerves a little bit. I know what to expect a little bit, and playing the games in the American League so far this year helps to build your confidence.”
Parent has one goal and seven assists in 53 tests with the Phantoms this year, and has been working on adding some offense to his game. The Flyers need a spark at the blue line after Coburn went down with a ruptured artery in his buttocks that required surgery.
Coburn had been one of the Flyers' best defenders this season, as his speed and puck-handeling abilities often led to scoring chances for Philadelphia in transition.
“Typically what I’ve been playing my whole career is more of a defensive side,” Parent, 20, said. “Everywhere I’ve been they have been working on me to move the puck a little bit better and be more of a puck-moving defenseman. My strength right now is definitely my defensive game.”
Solid play by Parent over the next few weeks could make the Flyers less hesitant to make a move, as it is thought the Flyers would like to add another defenseman before the trade deadline.
Parent was a first-round pick by Nashville (18th overall) in 2005 and will turn 21 on March 17.
1 comment:
Good to see Parent get the call. I'm not too optimistic about the impact he'll have though... so far he doesn't seem to be the defenceman he was thought to be at trade time. Time will tell though.
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