Travis Sanheim Likely to Sit Again Vs. Panthers

VOORHEES, N.J. - It looks as though Travis Sanheim will sit for the second straight game vs. the Panthers tonight (see Flyers-Panthers thoughts)

Now, before you get angry - and fire off a hot take about Andrew MacDonald or Brandon Manning - understand this isn't a death sentence for Sanheim.

The Flyers have played all of five games this season. Sanheim has played in three, and after a bumpy NHL debut vs. the Kings, the talented rookie showed growth to round out the Flyers' season-opening road trip (see Flyers Rookie Report)

"I think that the L.A. game was a bit of a wash, with it being my first game and it not going the way I wanted it to," Sanheim said Tuesday after morning skate. "But I thought the other two games, you started to see some more of the way I want to play. I thought even into the Nashville game, I got better that night, as well. I think that's what you want to see with a young guy, is getting better every night and I'll continue to do that."

And after watching from the press box during Saturday's blowout win vs. the Capitals, the Flyers' top defensive prospect will get his chances ... at some point. 

"I don't have a number for you there," Hakstol said of when we could see Sanheim crack the lineup. "But your players have to play. That doesn't mean they have to play every game, but certainly they have to learn, both off the ice, on the ice, practice, game-wise and continue to grow."

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So Sanheim - who is a minus-two with zero points - has to learn the NHL game. It's not uncommon for rookie defensemen to struggle with the speed and skill of the NHL in the early parts of their careers.

"The position is a hard position to make the adjustment to and to learn," Hakstol said. "That being said, I think your players can be successful in making the jump and making the transition."

If Sanheim needs any inspiration, he simply needs to look a few lockers down at Ivan Provorov. 

Provorov made the jump straight from the WHL (junior hockey) to the NHL last season, and early on, it wasn't a particularly smooth transition. The then 19-year-old bottomed out at a minus-5 in an October loss to Chicago but blossomed into the team's No. 1 defenseman in the second half of the season.

Sure, Sanheim has taken his lumps this season, but he hasn't necessarily been bad. Hakstol even went as far as to say that he's been happy with the 21-year-old's play.

"I've been very happy with him," Hakstol said. "I've been happy with Travis' play. We want him to keep growing. He's going to continue to be a big part of our group. He's got a great attitude and a great perspective in terms of being able to handle all the different situations that come his way."

Sanheim said the coaching staff hasn't ordered him to focus on any one aspect of his game, but after Tuesday's optional morning skate, the rookie stayed on the ice for an extra 30 minutes with the staff and Jori Lehtera - who has been a healthy scratch for all five games this season - working on clearing the crease. 

It all comes down to the numbers. And right now, the Flyers have seven solid defensemen. 

"The other night (Saturday vs. Capitals), obviously I wanted to be in the lineup, but we've got seven good [defensemen] right now and obviously there's going to be a guy sitting, and it just happened to be me the other night," Sanheim said. "It was a learning experience. I think I can gain a lot from watching and seeing some of those guys, how they handle themselves in certain situations and I thought I gained a lot from it the other night."

Not convinced? Last season, rookie winger Travis Konecny and second-year D-man Shayne Gostisbehere both served multiple stints in Hakstol's doghouse - the press box - and have seemingly turned things around to begin this season. This year, Gostisbehere is second on the team in points with eight, while, more importantly, he and Konecny are both a plus-2 on the year - good enough for a tie for third on the team. So, like it or not, maybe there is some good to sitting a young player for a few games. 

"Ultimately, as a young guy, I think there's a lot of things you need to work on and for me, it's just working hard in practice and getting better every day," Sanheim said. "I just want to try and establish myself as an everyday player. 

"I've been through this before. My first year of junior, I didn't play right away and I was a healthy scratch for five games there, so I've been through the process before and I understand the situation that I'm in and ultimately, it's up to me whether I want to play every night and I've got to show them that I'm deserving of that and obviously, it's going to maybe take some time but I'm willing to put in the work."

Projected lines
With only 11 players skating, there was no line rushes or defensive pairings, but coming off an 8-2 win, it's hard to imagine Hakstol making any changes to the lineup. However, it looks as though Michal Neuvirth will get the start in net. 

Forwards
Claude Giroux-Sean Couturier-Jakub Voracek
Jordan Weal-Valtteri Filppula-Wayne Simmonds
Dale Weise-Nolan Patrick-Travis Konecny
Taylor Leier-Scott Laughton-Michael Raffl

Defensemen
Ivan Provorov-Andrew MacDonald
Shayne Gostisbehere-Robert Hagg
Brandon Manning-Radko Gudas

Goalies
Michal Neuvirth
Brian Elliott

Scratches
Forward Jori Lehtera and defenseman Travis Sanheim

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