Flyers forward Travis Konecny’s rise continues with slot amongst top 10 in points

NEWARK, N.J. ― And just like that, Travis Konecny is in the top 10.

After Thursday night’s three-assist performance in the Flyers’ 5-3 win against the New York Islanders, the spark plug’s 53 points have him tied with Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele.

Is he impressed by his standing among the game’s elite? Not really. Konecny says he tries not to focus on that. Instead of the stats, he clicks on the standings.

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But maybe he should be.

Among the 11 players in the top 10 in points, Konecny leads the way with shorthanded points (three). Tied with superstars Connor McDavid and Nikita Kucherov in goals (20), he has more than Nathan MacKinnon, Mitch Marner, and Jack Eichel. Plus, he’s doing it all while averaging fewer minutes than everybody but Schiefele and Jets teammate Kyle Connor.

“I was just saying to him, it’s pretty cool,” said Morgan Frost, who recently became Konecny’s center. “He’s obviously a super humble guy, and you don’t really think about it. But, just for me, just growing up a hockey guy and you see some of those names in the top 10, true superstars in the league that have been for a while, it’s nice to see. I think he’s shown that he’s in that class, and he is a superstar for sure.”

Konecny has been on a steady rise. He has led the Flyers in scoring each of the last three seasons and four of the past five. An All-Star last February, he finished the 2023-24 season with a career high in goals (33) and points (68), and he’s on pace to shatter his best numbers with 35 goals, 59 assists and 94 points this year.

The last time a Flyer cracked the 90-point mark was Claude Giroux’s 102 points in 2017-18. It’s the only time a player wearing orange and black has scored over 90 points since Giroux’s 93 in 2011-12.

“He just plays the game the right way,” coach John Tortorella said. “The biggest thing with TK is, and it’s part of the give and take that I have with him, we don’t want to give him too much information. He needs to be reactive. You know he’s going to play hard each and every night. Does some crazy things at times, but we try to get out of his way a little bit too.”

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Tortorella has spent many years on an NHL bench, so it’s impressive when he says Konecny has an engine he’s never seen before. And it’s evident to anyone watching a Flyers game. The Canadian forward may stand at just 5-foot-10 but the 192-pound winger throws his body around with the best of them and is not afraid to do whatever is necessary — regardless of the cost to himself — to make a play. He is No. 5 on the team in hits (61) and has blocked 25 shots this season.

“He knows one way to play, and whether he’s making peanuts or making the millions he’s going to make, he knows one way to play when he puts his skates on,” Tortorella said of Konecny, who signed an eight-year, $70 million extension over the summer that kicks in next season.

Although he’s often seen chirping at the competition, Konecny says he’s not much of a talker in the room. Instead, the alternate captain has been focusing on being a leader on the ice with his play. He’s been keying in on being sharper with his defensive play, managing the game, and channeling his emotions.

“I think that’s the best part of his game, honestly, is his emotion,” Scott Laughton told reporters. “Probably doesn’t get as down on himself as he did in the past. But I think that’s the best part of his game is how much emotion he brings and fire. I think it helps him throughout the games — maybe sometimes turns on him — but I’d rather have it that way than the other way.”

Sam Ersson will start against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday (12:30 p.m., NBCSP). … Tortorella did not have an update on Ryan Poehling, who was injured on a high hit by Islanders forward Max Tsyplakov in the first period of Thursday night’s win. The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced on Friday that Tsyplakov was suspended for three games. … Laughton was fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement, for cross-check on Tsyplakov in the third period. … Olle Lycksell returns to the lineup with Poehling out. Laughton is expected to move to center. … Tortorella said Nick Deslauriers is getting better but didn’t know what the timetable is on the rugged forward. “He’s in the gym,” Tortorella said. “I’m not sure if he’s been on the ice since we’ve been on the road here. He got locked up good, but I know he’s doing some work, whether it’s on the ice now or not, I’m not sure.”