"And certainly from the AHL to the NHL, it's another big step," he added. "It's a lot faster up here. If you have the puck, you barely have time to do something with it."
But Read, a sturdy, 5-foot-10, 185-pounder, has looked right at home. In three preseason games, he has a goal and three assists.
"He's a very well-rounded player," coach Peter Laviolette said. ". . . He continues to impress."
Read, who signed an entry-level contract in May after starring at Bemidji State (Minn.), played a team-high 22 minutes, 58 seconds in Friday's 3-1 win in Detroit, collecting a goal and an assist. He also led Flyers forwards in time on ice on the power play (4:06) and penalty kill (3:53).
Throughout his college career, Read was primarily a center, but he did see action at wing. He was at wing Friday, and that could be his ticket to the NHL because the Flyers are deep down the middle.
"I'm comfortable at either position," Read said.
Read's emergence has put several players on the roster bubble, including winger Andreas Nodl ($845,000 cap hit). Read's cap hit is $900,000.
Roster cuts. On the team's first off-day in camp, the Flyers trimmed their roster to 38 as they sent 14 players to the Phantoms and waived five others.
The players headed to Adirondack: forwards Jason Akeson, Tyler Brown, Shane Harper, Ben Holmstrom, Tye McGinn, Luke Pither, Mike Testwuide, and Eric Wellwood; defensemen Marc-Andre Bourdon, Tyler Hostetter, Blake Kessel, Oliver Lauridsen, and Kevin Marshall; and goalie Brad Phillips.
Five players were waived: Jon Kalinski, Johan Backlund, Stefan Legein, Jason Bacashihua, and Dan Jancevski. Provided they clear waivers Monday, they will be sent to the Phantoms, reducing the Flyers roster to 33, a number that includes two injured prospects who don't figure in this year's plans.
Picking up the pace. Starting Monday against the visiting New York Rangers, Laviolette plans to play his regulars more often in the final three preseason games.
"We have an opportunity to get our team squared away," Laviolette said. "We used those [first] four games to put the system in place for everybody and work on our team game."
Holmgren improving. General manager Paul Holmgren has been cleared to attend the Oct. 6 opener in Boston. Doctors have not allowed him to take a flight since being in a serious bicycle accident earlier this month.
Contact staff writer Sam Carchidi at scarchidi@phillynews.com or @BroadStBull on Twitter.
