For many promising young hockey players, the only way to make the long-awaited leap to the highest level of the sport is to push themselves to do more. More repetitions at the gym to increase strength. More hours at the rink to refine the rough edges in their skill sets. More plays on the ice to keep opponents perpetually off balance.



Philippe Myers, on the other hand, has slowly realized his path to the NHL might be contingent on him doing less.



Take last September’s training camp. When news broke just before rookie camp that Flyers defenseman Andrew MacDonald would miss six weeks with a lower-body injury, it seemingly cleared the final obstacle to Myers earning a roster spot. There was now an open spot, and Myers was the most talented option to fill it. What could possibly go wrong?



Myers, of course, would return to the AHL before the end of camp. And it wasn’t merely because MacDonald made a miraculous (and ultimately foolish) return in...