Trаvіs Koneсny sсrаtсһed (аgаіn) for 4 Nаtіons Fіnаl vs. USA

The Philadelphia Flyers top winger is once again a healthy scratch for Team Canada and now it’s for one of the biggest international hockey games in a long time.

There will be only one Philadelphia Flyers skater participating in one of the biggest international hockey games in the modern era Thursday night.

As Canada and the United States get ready to collide at center ice in Boston for the 4 Nations Face-Off final, for the privilege to lift a trophy that will never be seen again, the lineups have started to take shape. Unfortunately for all of us, Canada has opted to have Carolina Hurricanes winger Seth Jarvis instead of Travis Konecny. The Flyers forward will be watching the first best-on-best between the two hockey powerhouses up from the press box.

Konecny will have his tournament finished with two games played, no points earned and a minus-3 rating. Despite the unfortunate scoresheet, the 28-year-old played a fairly solid game in his ultra-depth role on the star-studded team. Finishing his checks and all the underlying stuff to not really get noticed, but he also didn’t do enough to stay in the lineup above the younger Jarvis.

And while we want our Flyers out there on the ice, to see Jarvis in the lineup gives you an objectively warm feeling. Just four years ago, the Hurricanes forward was cut from Canada’s World Juniors team as he was in the middle of his development. And now, having signed his big-ticket contract, established himself as one of the best players on a Cup-contending team, and now is in the lineup representing his country in a best-on-best tournament playing alongside players he grew up watching. A Disney movie on ice if you’ve ever seen one.

The Flyers won’t be without a representative, though. Defenseman Travis Sanheim will still be in the lineup and will consistently be one of the more underrated players on this roster as a big, mobile blueliner. So far, Sanheim has played in two games, earned one assist, and has a minus-1 rating on the tournament.

It all comes down to one question: Are you cheering for the Flyers in this tournament or for the country the Flyers exist in?