Report: "Miserable" Cam Atkinson Done In Philly

It was a dreadful second season with the Philadelphia Flyers for veteran winger Cam Atkinson, and according to at least one report, his days in Philly are likely done. 

Jonathan Bailey of Philly Hockey Now noted that Atkinson "looked and sounded miserable at his exit interview" and despite another year left on his contract with a $5.875 million cap hit, he believes that the two sides are ready to part ways. 

It certainly seems like the Philadelphia Flyers and veteran forward Cam Atkinson are trending towards going their separate ways this offseason.

When the offseason rolls around, Atkinson could quickly find himself becoming a buyout candidate.

Atkinson was a healthy scratch 12 times this season and finished the year on a 23-game pointless drought. It's all a head-scratcher for the 34-year-old seven-time 20-goal scorer. 

“It’s unlike any situation I’ve ever been in in my career,” Atkinson said of his season with the Flyers. “I have one more year left on my contract. I know the player I am. I’ll never lose sight in who I am and what has made me the player I am today, and what’s gotten me to this level."

One has to wonder if there were lingering issues from the neck injury that kept him out of the 2022-23 season after recording 23 goals and 50 points in his first year with the Flyers in 2021-22. 

This season, Atkinson finished with 13 goals and 15 assists for 28 points in 70 games, with the worst plus/minus rating of his career, at minus-22.

Neither head coach John Tortorella nor GM Danny Briere were willing to offer any suggestion that they wanted Atkinson back. 

“Torts and I, like I said, we’re going to agree to disagree on a lot of things. It is what it is at this point,” Atkinson said, while still insisting that he has "a lot of juice left in the tank, for the right situation.”

That situation does not seem like it'll be in the City of Brotherly Love.