Five things to watch in Flyers training camp

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH AT FLYERS' CAMP

Training camp means hope, and lots of intrigue. With that, here are five things to watch as the Flyers open their 46th training camp at Wells Fargo Center today:

1. THIRD LINE LEFT WING:

If free agent Dan Cleary decides not to report to training camp, his absence will open the only obvious hole on the roster. Rookie Scott Laughton would be a great fit, both developmentally and on the salary cap, if he can demonstrate an increase in offensive output. Frequent call-up Tye McGinn is also a challenger for the position.

2. LOGJAM AT 'D':

Not including Chris Pronger, the Flyers have nine defensemen on guaranteed, one-way NHL contracts. Marc-Andre Bourdon (concussion) likely will not be cleared to play. That leaves Kimmo Timonen, Mark Streit, Luke Schenn, Nick Grossmann, Braydon Coburn, Andrej Meszaros, Erik Gustafsson and Bruno Gervais to battle it out for the top six spots. Gervais, 28, could well be the odd man out. Interestingly, Carolina is perusing the market for a defenseman after announcing Joni Pitkanen will miss the season.

3. BATTLE IN NET:

It's pretty clear Peter Laviolette will use goaltenders Ray Emery and Steve Mason in tandem this season. But who will earn the lion's share of the minutes and the Opening Night start against Toronto? Mason, 25, appears as confident as ever, after a brilliant seven-game stint late last season. Emery, 30, signed a 1-year deal to return to Philadelphia after helping Chicago to a Stanley Cup, with the goal of proving himself worthy of being an NHL starter.

4. NO SOPHOMORE SLUMPS:

Sean Couturier, Matt Read and Brayden Schenn no longer have the "sophomore slump" to explain their drop in production. All three figure to be X-factors this season, fulfilling big roles in the lineup. Can Couturier and Read pick up where they left off in their fantastic rookie campaigns?

5. GIROUX' HAND:

Captain Claude Giroux will be the most obvious absentee in drills this weekend. He's still rehabbing the four tendons in his right hand that were torn in a golfing accident on Aug. 15 in Canada. Giroux says he'll be ready to play in exhibition games before the Oct. 2 opener, but whether he is rusty or not to start the season will be something to keep an eye on.

- Frank Seravalli