Porter hopes to stay on merit, not history with Hakstol

VOORHEES For “a few years,” Flyers general manager Ron Hextall said, he’s been interested in getting Chris Porter.

Now that the 31-year-old left wing is here, the perception is a little like the Philadelphia Eagles signing a player from Oregon.

See, Porter played for new coach Dave Hakstol at the University of North Dakota. He served as the captain in his senior season, 2006-07. The two get along great. Each year UND made the NCAA tournament after he graduated, Porter would send a text message to Hakstol and the Fighting Sioux coaching staff.

These days, it’s not a long-distance communication. Porter is one of 17 remaining forwards in Hakstol’s rookie training camp as an NHL head coach.

“I try not to associate myself with the past with him,” said Porter, who signed a one-year, $575,000 deal August 8. “I play my own style. I want to have them appreciate that. I don’t want to have that whole Hakstol-Porter playing together thing. It’s nice to have him here but at the same sense, I want to do it on my own.”

Porter’s line all camp has stayed the same and it’s an intriguing one. He’s playing on a line with two young players that the Flyers have been hoping to see more out of — Brayden Schenn and Scott Laughton.

“They have been a lot of fun to play with. I talk to them on the bench,” Porter said. “They think a little differently than I do. It’s been nice to get their side of things. I am just trying to get in on the forecheck and create a little room for them. They know what to do when they get the puck.”

If the line is built of misfits and players the Flyers don’t know what to do with, Porter wants to change that perception. He already has experience as a fringe guy and wants to get back to playing.

Last season, Porter was up with the St. Louis Blues all year and was a healthy scratch 41 times. He also missed 20 games after breaking his leg last December after playing on a line with Jori Lehtera and Vladimir Tarasenko.

“Not that I was deserving to play there,” Porter said, “I just happened to be there and was playing well and went down and tried to battle back and we were playing well when I came back from the injury. It was hard to get back in the lineup. I played in the playoffs, which is the most important thing in my mind. It was a tough year.”

Porter is hoping that he doesn’t have a two-month hiatus with the Flyers like he did with the Blues last season. For now, he’s hoping he just makes the team. Indications are that the Flyers would like to do whatever they can to keep him around because he’s made the wait to get him worth it so far.

“I think he’s had a solid camp,” Hakstol said. “I wasn’t at his exhibition game. I was in a different place that particular night, but in terms of training camp, he’s brought what he brings to the table day in and day out: good consistency. He’s a pro.”

Pope visit keeps Flyers in South Jersey

If Luke Schenn really could, he might think about waiting in line to see Pope Francis when he comes to Philadelphia Saturday morning. After all, it wouldn’t be far from his Center City apartment.

The Flyers don’t want any of their players in the city while the pope is in town, so the Philadelphia-based players moved into a Voorhees hotel Thursday.

“Coming to Philadelphia it’s pretty special,” said Schenn, who was brought up Catholic and still adheres closely with the faith. “Obviously we’re unable to take part in it, which would have been cool somehow if we had gotten the chance to meet him, but obviously they want no part of us being downtown, which is obviously good.”

Schenn has always been religious. He married his girlfriend of eight years, Jeska, over the summer and her family is also “very Catholic.”

“Going to school is probably a huge part of it,” Schenn said of why he stayed with the faith. “It’s mandatory, like math class, to graduate. It’s not optional or nothing like that. It’s obviously a huge part of my everyday for sure.”

Loose pucks

Because of the pending road closures for the papal visit, the Flyers moved Friday’s morning skate to their Voorhees practice facility at 9:15 a.m. … Like Tuesday’s game against the Rangers, Friday’s game will also feature a mandatory five-minute, 3-on-3 overtime regardless of the final score.

Dave Isaac; (856) 486-2479; disaac@gannettnj.com .