While most Flyers fans are busy enjoying the summer, 36 of the Philadelphia Flyers prospects met last week in their annual prospects camp to help prepare themselves for the road ahead, one that all of the team’s prospects hope will lead to a spot on the Flyers roster.

Ryan Parent is one prospect who is practically assured of a roster spot come October when the season starts. Parent, the 21-year-old prospect who was a former first round pick of the Nashville Predators, came over in the Peter Forsberg trade in 2007, is already listed on the Flyers' website as being a part of the big teams current roster.

With the future of Derian Hatcher up in the air due to knee problems, Parent, who played in 22 regular season games, and four playoffs games for the Flyers, fit in nicely when called upon. Now, the Flyers will call upon Parent to help anchor a blueline that for years has been hit with injuries and a lack of overall talent.

Slowly, things are changing in south Philly, to a team that is moving away from bigger, slower defensemen, to a more mobile defense that will help the Flyers keep up with a league that is getting younger and younger all the time. After the last day of prospect camp, Parent took to time to answer some of our questions about the Flyers, his future with the team, and of course, prospect camp.

So what was the big different between this years camp and last years camp?

“I guess the big difference is I know the organization a little bit better” said Parent. “With this rookie camp, I'm just meeting all of the new guys.”

“From this year to last year, you see a lot of improvement. You get to see everyone and how they are coming along. Plus you get to see some of your teammates again and see how everyone is coming along since the end of the season."

Needless to say, the experience of playing against Sidney Crosby and the rest of the Pittsburgh Penguins during the Eastern Conference finals was the highlight of last season.

“It was awesome. To get to that next step. Regular season is totally different than the playoffs. I really think it (the experience) is going to help me coming into training camp. It’s such a different experience when you're growing up and watching it on TV, but to be a part of it was great. The experience in invaluable. It really helped my confidence.”

While the Flyers' website has his name on current roster, Parent sure doesn’t take anything for granted heading into next season.

“My mindset is that I still don’t have a spot on the roster. I have to earn everything I get. My main goal is to go to camp and see what happens from there.“

Former team captain Jason Smith has since moved onto the Ottawa Senators, but his impact on Parent will surely remain.

“It was awesome to see how he played the game. He’s a really solid d-man. To see how he thinks the game and play the game. It was great to play with him.”

Another former Flyers defenseman also had an impact on this years camp was Eric Desjardins, who was recently named player development coach for the team. Desjardins spent 17 years in the NHL, and needless to say all of the prospects respect.

“He was here the first few days of camp so I didn’t get the chance to talk to him much. He was really good when he did talk to us. He was really good trying at trying to explain things to us. He was great in helping us when he was here.”

One thing that parent couldn’t wait to do was get back on the ice, especially after a seemingly long off-season. But one favorite part of the camp was what is called the “Trial by the Isle” (which takes place in Stone Harbor, New Jersey).

“I really haven’t skated before this camp so I really wanted to get back on the ice and do the little things that will make me better by training camp. We also go to participate in the “Trial by the Isle.” It was pretty simple stuff. Your in teams of threes; one guy does the kayak, one guy does the bike (for six miles), the other guy runs. It’s pretty much laid back. It’s something that was fun and broke things up during the week.”

That's simple stuff and laid back? The fun part for fans and prospects was the part where the fans get to meet and greet the players. Not bad on a hot summers day. There is also a softball game with the prospects against some local softball team.
Still, it was the prospect camp that helped give everyone that itch to start the season sooner rather than later.

“It gives your that taste of hockey back into your mouth. It makes you look forward to the season. Now you know the next step is training camp. That’s what I'm focused on now.”

In the meantime, staying in shape between now and then is the key.

“I try to keep my cardio up the best that I can. I do a lot of running and bike work. You get into the weights maybe a little bit harder. Play a little bit of tennis. I usually go 50-50 between running and biking.”

For Ryan Parent, the one thing he most likely won’t have to do is worry about a spot on the team’s roster. Still, you can bet he will be more than ready for the challenge. The Flyers definitely feel he is up to the task.

Training camp starts in mid-September and it can’t come soon enough for the average hockey fan, that’s for sure. Nor can it for the rest of the Flyers prospects so they can make their case for a starting job on the team’s roster.

Contact the author at Bjennings@insidehockey.com