For Flyers prospect Stolarz, a wake-up call
After goalie Anthony Stolarz had an up-and-down season with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms last season, the Flyers selected three netminders in the recent draft.
Stolarz made it sound like a wake-up call.
"Good competition," said Stolarz said after the goalies finished their first day at development camp Tuesday in Voorhees. "There's nothing wrong with healthy competition. For me, I have to elevate my game. I have to step up and start producing. I want to go out this year and make a statement."
Stolarz, 21, said there are goalies in camp who "want to be where I am, so I have to do my best to not give them an opportunity. Just keep improving….so I can keep moving up and not give them an opportunity to unseat me."
In his first pro season last year, the 6-foot-6, 220-pound Stolarz had a 9-13-4 record with a 3.28 goals-against average and .905 save percentage with the AHL Phantoms.
"For me, it was a learning experience. Now I'm going in and know what to expect," he said. "I've been here the last two months training and just getting myself ready to play 30, 40, 50 games or whatever it may be. Just giving myself the best chance to succeed."
Stolarz, a New Jersey native selected in the second round (45th overall) of the 2012 draft, is in his fourth development camp with the Flyers.
"Kind of being an older guy (in camp), you kind of want to walk around with a little bit of swagger," he said. "You want the young guys to look up to you, but at the same time, you want to help mentor them. If they have any questions, just help them out and help them adapt."
Stolarz and the other four goalies in camp _ Felix Sandstrom, Merrick Madsen, Martin Oullette, and Matej Tomek _ worked out with new goalie coach Kim Dillabaugh.
Sandstrom (third round, 70th overall) and Tomek (third round, 90th overall) were among the goalies selected in last month's draft.
Madsen, a stringbean 6-5 goalie chosen in the sixth round of the 2013 draft, is expected to get significant time at Harvard this season. Oullete, 23, signed as a free agent in 2014, played eight games with the Phantoms last year (2.90 GAA; .890 save percentage).
New goalie coach Kim Dillabaugh (the subject of a Mike Sielski column for Wednesday) had his first look at the prospects.
"We had just one session and I'm still trying to get to know these guys and get a feel for their game," he said.
Breakaways. The Flyers have opened contract talks with Jake Voracek's agent on an extension. Voracek is expected to get at least $7 million per season....Scott Laughton is in his fourth season of participating in the development camp. He will try to make the team during the September camp. "I think I'm ready to be an NHL player and be a reliable one," said Laughton, whose 2014-15 season was hindered by a concussion. "I'm really excited to come into camp and try to prove I belong here."
.Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.