Zach Aston-Reese is one goal shy of 50 career NHL goals, but he has yet to play a game for the Flyers this season.
The Flyers visit Calgary on Sunday at 4-10-4, sitting 30th in the NHL after a 3-2 loss at the Rangers on Thursday night. Offense is the problem, and it has been for weeks.
Aston-Reese sits on 49 goals over 416 career games, with 53 assists, 102 points and a +17 rating. The sheet shows no games played for him this season, and it gives no status either way.
Philadelphia has scored 39 goals in 18 games and carries a -22 goal differential. On the road it is 1-6-1, which is where the lineup questions get louder.
We've already seen Christian Dvorak's minutes under Rick Tocchet become a talking point. Ice time is a live debate in this room.
Now look at the forwards currently getting the work. Noel Acciari has 2 goals in 18 games, while Cole Knuble has 3 goals in 8 games.
Acciari brings 83 career goals over 603 games, and Knuble is only 8 games into his NHL career. Aston-Reese has 49 over 416. Nobody is calling him a scorer, but the production per game is there for a depth piece.
Flyers' scoring problem meets a milestone chase
Could a depth forward with 49 career goals get a look while the Flyers search for offense? Tocchet makes that call, and nothing in the sheet says which way he leans.
A 50th goal would not fix a team that has been shut down too often, and nobody should pretend it would. But the Flyers have road struggles before Calgary that lineup tweaks have not solved so far.
When you're 30th in the league, no spot in the bottom six should be sacred. Trying a veteran who has scored before costs very little.
Sunday's lineup in Calgary will show whether Tocchet is thinking along those lines. The Flames have lost two straight themselves, so someone is going to snap a skid.
Quick hits
NEW YORK RANGERSPro Hockey Rumors just reported that the Rangers have placed James Reimer on waivers for the purpose of contract termination. That's a notable move on the same night the Flyers' road trip ended there.
EDMONTON OILERSPro Hockey Rumors also reported that the Oilers placed Atro Leppanen on waivers, hours before tonight's game against the Canucks. A busy day in Edmonton.
COLORADO AVALANCHEAarif Deen reports Mackenzie Blackwood was the first goalie off the ice this morning, so he appears set to start for the Avalanche tonight.
ST-LOUIS BLUESLou Korac reports the Blues lineup is set in Nashville, and Mason McTavish is officially in tonight. A notable name to watch in that building.
DALLAS STARSBruce LeVine reports that coach Glen Gulutzan has confirmed Jake Oettinger starts in net for the Stars tonight against San Jose. No surprise there.
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Matvei Michkov's ice time becomes a Flyers problemA MILESTONE IS WAITING ON THE FLYERS' TRIPTrevor Zegras is three goals shy of 100 for his NHL career as the Flyers head to Calgary on Sunday to face the Flames.
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Flyers still can't solve the road before Calgary