The Flyers prioritize extending Travis Konecny, even with eight years left

It was one of those situations no one enjoys. Not the player, not the reporter and not anyone within earshot of the conversation.

But when rookie Bobby Brink was made a healthy scratch by coach John Tortorella for the Philadelphia Flyers’ only game of the season in Minnesota on Jan. 12, the question had to be asked: How disappointing was it for Brink, a Minnesota native, to be out of the lineup for what would have been his first NHL homecoming?

Photo By Kevin Kurz

“It’s a coach’s decision, and I’m the player,” Brink said. “Obviously, it’s disappointing …”

“… But you’re a great guy, Bob,” interjected Travis Konecny, seated immediately to Brink’s right. “You’re a f——ing great human.”

“I’m here to support the team,” a distracted Brink continued.

“And that’s it!” Konecny declared. “That’s it, Bob.”

Point taken. Interview over.

Konecny was named an alternate captain on Feb. 14. At the top of the list of reasons why is because he is the Flyers’ best player, and was named as such at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season when the local media selected him as the winner of the Bobby Clarke Trophy. In 76 games, Konecny posted 33 goals and 68 points, both team highs. His 64 goals over the last two seasons is 44th in the league, while his goals per 60 minutes at even strength over that span is 1.15, tied for 23rd in the league. He embraced a new role on the penalty kill this season as well, keying the NHL’s fourth-ranked unit and posting a league-high six short-handed goals while disrupting opposing power plays all over the ice.

But the 27-year-old Konecny is also at an important age off the ice, able to relate to both older and younger players alike. His relationship with captain Sean Couturier has been likened by both to an older/younger-brother-type bond, and he has the respect of other veterans, too.

The Flyers brass views Konecny as someone who can help bring the younger players along — as a heart-and-soul, gritty, talented teammate, but also as reflected in that moment with Brink in which Konecny felt protective of the youthful winger whose disappointment of not being able to play in front of family and friends for the first time as a true NHLer was readable. It was the reaction of a team leader, whether Konecny was conscious of it at the time or not.

“I think T.K. has brought a different level of game and attitude,” Tortorella said in February, after the official announcement of the Flyers’ new leadership group. “He (leads) by example. He’s got an engine on him that doesn’t stop, has made big plays at key times, does everything for us. He’s a penalty killer for us now, (plays) power play. I’d hate to think where we would be if we didn’t have his energy in our lineup.

“Just what he is as a pro, what he’s become as a pro — and I think there’s more there.”

The Flyers have a decision to make. Konecny has one more season left on his current six-year deal at a $5.5 million cap hit, after which he would become an unrestricted free agent. He can sign a long-term extension this July 1, something he has strongly indicated he would prefer to do.

It should be a priority for Flyers management to get that deal done, even if it requires the maximum eight-year commitment.