Travis Konecny's Offensive Woes Continue As Flyers Hold On To Playoff Spot
Travis Konecny has long been the Philadelphia Flyers' star player, but since returning from injury, his production has not been where fans are used to seeing it.
Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports - Travis Konecny's Offensive Woes Continue As Flyers Hold On To Playoff SpotTravis Konecny has long been the Philadelphia Flyers' star player, being named the Flyers' sole All-Star Game representative twice (2020, 2024) and has been the team's leader in points three times since his debut season.
Off the ice, Konecny has one of the most boisterous and lovable personalities in the Flyers' locker room. Before Sean Couturier was named captain, there were many people advocating for Konecny to be given the 'C' because of the clear amount of respect and admiration he has amongst his teammates, and his long-standing status as a fan favorite. (He was named an alternate captain on Feb. 14.)
However, Konecny suffered an upper body injury last month, having to leave practice on Feb. 23 because of discomfort. He did not return to the lineup until Mar. 7.
When he came back, though, the difference in play was a bit jarring.
Before, everyone's eyes were drawn to Konecny—and for good reason. He seemed to be everywhere on the ice. If there was an offensive push happening, he was there. If there was a scramble in front of the goal, he was there. If there was a shoving match happening between players, you could bet the farm on Konecny being right in the middle of it, talking smack the entire way.
Since his injury, though, Konecny has not been as noticeable on the ice. He hasn't scored a goal since Mar. 7 (although he has recorded four assists), and hasn't looked to be nearly as in the middle of everything as he was beforehand. For a player like Konecny, who has consistently been the standout player for the Flyers for years now, this decline is sharp and a bit worrying.
It's still entirely possible that he's dealing with the after-effects of his injury, and that's why he hasn't been back to full power yet. He could also be trying to find his place offensively in the midst of players like Tyson Foerster stepping up in his absence and becoming mainstays in the way the Flyers attack. He might just be experiencing an offensive slump, like a number of his teammates have at scattered points throughout the season.
Whatever the case may be, one thing remains clear: At this point in the season, when the Flyers are fighting tooth and nail to keep their playoff position, they need one of their best offensive producers to find his footing again. Thankfully, many of the young players have been able to fill his shoes, but Konecny getting back to his signature scoring and pestering ways will no doubt bring the energy of both the team and fans rocketing up in the final run of regular season games.
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