VOORHEES, N.J. – The first stall to the right when walking into the Flyers locker room belongs to Nick Cousins. He sat there after Thursday’s morning skate talking to his right, two stalls down, to Brayden Schenn.
The two conversed about making the switch to left wing, a move Schenn – as well as Travis Konecny, who sits between the two – has experienced firsthand.
Cousins, a natural centerman, will be playing the left side on a line with two other pivots in Boyd Gordon and Jordan Weal on the right wing when the Flyers take on the New York Rangers at the Madison Square Garden.
Schenn’s advice was simple: just keep your feet moving.
Jake Voracek, too, was flipped around last season and knows the struggles (and rewards) that can come when first making the move. The 27-year-old says it’s a matter of preference as some left-handed shots like Cousins prefer playing on their natural side while others take more to the off-wing.
“When I got moved to the left wing last year, you just have to keep it more simple,” Voracek said. “You don’t have as many options as you do on the right side.”
Cousins, who has spent the past few days at his new position for the time being, sees the switch as a positive. He knows that head coach Dave Hakstol wants players who can play multiple spots, and if he can show his versatility, it only benefits him in locking down a permanent spot in the lineup.
“It’s a different look for those guys,” Hakstol said. “But in terms of being versatile and looking at different options for our roster and our lineup, these are opportunities for them to show how they can fill those roles and the versatility they have as players.”
The 23-year-old said he hasn’t played wing much in his career with his last stint being “one or two” games with Lehigh Valley and only a few times at the junior level.
Regardless, he’s welcoming the change.
“I’m open to trying anything,” Cousins said. “I’ll play goalie if they want me to.”
That’s the type of confidence that has come to the forefront this camp. Cousins admits he’s in a much better place than he was this time last year. Having that familiarity around the locker room and knowing the system has made it “that much easier on the ice.”
He’s also already earned the respect of his teammates.
“He’s highly skilled but he can play both sides,” said Shayne Gostisbehere. “He can be that pest, that fourth line guy or play the top six. I think he’s a great guy to have… I don’t want to play against him.”
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