The rope is back for another year. NHL training camp gets underway for the Flyers on Thursday at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees. As with every camp run by John Tortorella, the first day of the Flyers' 2024 camp has been set aside entirely for Tortorella's ultra-grueling skating test.

The rope itself is the one constant from Tortorella's coaching career. It has gone a long with him to each and every stop of his two-plus decades as an NHL head coach. The rope is there to ensure that no one takes a shortcut in completing their laps around the rink.

As players skate, Tortorella exhorts them to push harder. He watches the players like a hawk to make sure they are completing the laps to his satisfaction. It's nearly an annual occurrence that some of the player will be in rough shape by the end (some laying down on the floor at rinkside. All will be exhausted and spent. Over the years, Tortorella has actually reduced the number of laps required to complete the test.

At this year's camp, there are 58 players on the opening roster between Flyers, Phantoms/Royals, and tryouts. There are 32 forwards, 20 defensemen and 6 goaltenders. Three players dealing with injury or illness -- Samu Tuomaala, Carter Sotheran, and Denver Barkey -- are excused from the skating test.

Day One's skating sessions begin bright and early, with the first group starting at 8:30 a.m. EDT. The final group wraps up at 11:15 a.m. EDT. Media availability follows.

Team 1: (Flyers Ice)
8:30am – 9:15am: 3x8 Lap 300 Shuttle

Team 2: (Phantoms Ice)
9:30am – 10:15am: 3x8 Lap 300 Shuttle

Team 3: (Flyers Ice)
10:30am – 11:15am: 3x8 Lap 300 Shuttle

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