So where does all of this leave the feisty, 25-year-old left winger?
Disappointed but convinced that, like last season, he can be a productive part of the team.
"I just have to work hard in practice and try to get back in the lineup," he said after the team's one-hour workout in Voorhees on Monday. "That's all I can do."
Flyers coach Peter Laviolette said Carcillo can bring "more to the table" as far as his physicality and "creating some havoc" on the ice. "I've seen it at times. I'd like to see more consistency with that," the coach said. "Danny is at his best when he's banging bodies and getting under the skin of the opponent.
Laviolette doesn't want Carcillo singled out for the team's 2-2-1 start.
"There are a lot of guys that can pick up their game and play better," he said, mindful that Richards, Scott Hartnell, Ville Leino, and James van Riemsdyk are still goal-less.
Laviolette, whose team hosts Anaheim on Thursday, said the Flyers "can all be better" at generating more offense and better puck control.
A year ago, Carcillo mainly was on the fourth line, with Blair Betts and Ian Laperriere. This season, he has played a total of about 34 minutes in four games, an average of less than nine minutes per contest.
With the Flyers killing so many penalties, Carcillo's time has diminished because he is not used on the penalty kill.
"I've only played six minutes in two of those four games, so it's hard to get going when you play that amount of time," Carcillo said, adding "the message I've got is that they want to get a guy in there who can play the PK, Nodl."
Nodl had not played in the first four games.
"Nodes had a really good camp, and I didn't want him sitting too long," Laviolette said. "I wanted to see what he could do with Richards and Carter, and . . . I thought he did a good job."
Carcillo said he can play alongside skilled forwards like Richards and Carter.
"I just don't know if I've gotten a fair crack at it just because of the way the games have gone," he said.
Carcillo has no points and is minus-3 in his four games this season; he has taken four shots and has two penalty minutes.
"I think I'm an NHL player," he said. "In my mind, I think I can play and be effective in this lineup. Maybe Peter doesn't see that. Who knows?"
Veteran center Danny Briere sympathizes with Carcillo.
"It's not an easy situation," Briere said. "Most of the guys in the room have been there at one point in their career. They know how hard it is. He's not the only one."
Breakaways. The Flyers did extra skating drills at practice Monday. Briere thought it was because of the high amount of penalties the team has committed. "You've got to do what you've got to do. It's got to stop," Briere said about the penalties. . . . The Flyers originally announced that the banner night ceremony for the late Barry Ashbee would be Thursday; it will be before next Tuesday's game against Buffalo.
Contact staff writer Sam Carchidi at 215-854-5181 or scarchidi@phillynews.com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BroadStBull.
