I’ve seen a lot of doom and gloom regarding the Philadelphia Flyers lately. I get it, what have they shown us in the past 10 years aside from a devastating Stanley Cup Finals loss? Well I’m here to lend an optimistic machete to your well-deserving gloomy dispositions, just bare with me.

Let me preface this with I am a Flyers Fan. I have been since my inception and will continue to be, long after they inevitably break my heart… again. But with the season coming (50 days to go!) I have to just gush a little, or at least bring to light why I believe the Flyers are a stone-cold lock for the playoffs this year, barring a catastrophic injury. I’ll start with the good stuff and then I’ll take an ice bath and provide a bunch of reasonable reasons why everything I say could just be bullshit.

There are some new Sheriffs in town

Love him or hate him, Hextall made this team better in his own, patient, and unyielding way. His trades were as deft as his drafting and he built a prospect pool that this city should be proud of. His exit is admittedly strange and I can’t speak to how or why it happened and I will not give credence to the theories I’ve heard. Long story short, Hextall has left this team and made way for new Flyers General Manager Chuck Fletcher. The former Minnesota Wild GM was brought in to turn our roster into a championship roster. We dropped the unrepentant patience for a guy with a win-now attitude and the supposed balls to make the moves to bring us to the promised land. Now I will address Fletcher’s moves a bit lower on this page but at the time of his hire, I was excited. Upper Management believed we were ready to start leveraging our young guns and prospects into a championship and Fletcher was the choice. As with any GM Fletcher has had his fair share of good and bad moves but he kept the Wild in the playoffs for six straight seasons. He made deadline deals and off season moves that kept the team competitive but never enough to capture the elusive cup. Our current Flyers roster has more talent than I think any of those Wild playoff teams so I’m excited to see what we do at the upcoming deadline.

Keeping with Upper Management’s desire to win, the Flyers completely revamped the coaching staff at the end of last season. Hakstol, much to the chagrin of the fan base, was a solid coach. I imagine he will get another chance at a Head Coaching in this league but I’m glad it won’t be with the Flyers. His defensive, college coaching style obviously didn’t translate to on-ice success but I wish him the best. New Flyers Head Coach Alain Vigneault brings a pedigree to the bench that we haven’t seen in maybe ever. With 15 years of measured success (8 years coaching teams  with 100 or more points) Vigneault is the coach this Flyers team needs right now. He has experience developing young players from his days in Vancouver and New York, as well as continued playoff success. Granted he has never captured a cup but just look at some of the teams he coached to the playoffs. The 2013-2014 Rangers, who lost in the cup finals to the Kings, was by all intents and purposes, not a great team. Riding on the back of Lundqvist, this team didn’t have a single player in the regular season score over 60 points. They played an incredible defensive game and smothered teams in every zone. 

I am excited to have Vigneault behind the bench this upcoming season. Vigneault coached teams are strong in the offensive and defensive zones and operate with a great penalty kill. Something the Flyers have been starved of since 2010.  

Vignealut also brought in two former head coaches to be his assistants. Mike Yeo and Michel Therrien  bring an unheralded level of experience to the bench. Therrien brings a considerable amount of regular season success and playoff experience and Yeo brought the Wild to the playoffs in three of four of his seasons as head coach. Obviously, there are reasons that these two are now assistant coaches but the years of hockey experience behind the bench right now is not something you can ignore.  

Also shout out to Scott Gordon for keeping the ship steady after Hakstol’s exit. He did well with what he was given and almost bounced the team back from its abysmal start. I imagine he will see a coaching job in the NHL, if he wants it, in his future. 

Both Alain Vigneault and Chuck Fletcher did more with less on their previous teams. They were brought here to win and I believe that is exactly what they will do. Experience is the best teacher and the Flyers brought in enough that I’m confident we will be contending come next playoffs.

Signs and Trades and Signs and Trades

Chuck Fletcher was brought in to make this team a contender, and once Alain Vigneault was hired (April 15th, 2019) I believe they concocted a plan to get us over the hump. So let’s start with June 3rd, 2019.

-The Philadelphia Flyers have traded a 5th round selection in the 2019 Draft to the Winnipeg Jets for the rights to C Kevin Hayes

Kevin Hayes, who eventually signs with the team two and a half weeks later, was brought in to solidify the Top 6. A big-bodied center who can eat minutes, penalty kill, shutdown top lines, and even chip in some points? Sign me the fuck up. Last season he put up 42 points in 51 with the Rangers and 13 points in 20 with the Jets. A career-high for Hayes who’s offensive production is only going to increase playing with our current top 6.   

I’ll speak to the contract just a little bit here. Obviously it is a larger number than most fans would have dreamed of. Am I super excited about 7.14 million a year for seven years? No. Do I understand that the market for Kevin Hayes, especially after we traded for his rights, dictated we spend this much? Yes. Love it or hate it, the Flyers went out and got the guy they believe would solidify the top 6. I truly believe that with Hayes reuniting with Vigneault and playing with any number of JVR, Voracek, or Lindblom will lead to this contract not being viewed as bad as it is now. 

    -Flyers trade Radko Gudas to Metro rival Washington Caps for Matt Niskanen  

June 14th, 2019 we dumped Gudas for Matt Niskanen. Now I love this move, Niskanen brings a veteran presence to the back end and will rack up considerably less PIMS and suspensions than Gudas. The cap hit is larger but I suspect Fletcher has already kept this mind, given that a ton of money is coming off the books in two years.

Not going to explain this one but bang:

    -Flyers place Andrew MacDonald on waivers for purpose of being released

On June 18th, 2019 Fletcher continued his plan of making this team into a contender by trading for Justin Braun.

-Flyers trade a 2019 2nd round pick, and 2019 3rd round pick to San Jose for Justin Braun

A stalwart, stay at home d-man. Another veteran presence added to our young and budding d-core. Braun was a fan-favorite in San Jose, often logging tough defensive minutes as he played with Burns and Vlasic. Another solid move by Fletcher here as he clearly wants to add playoff and veteran experience to the back end. We also end up getting a 2nd round pick back in Fletcher’s draft trade so this is basically a 3rd for Braun.

Just look at this projected D-core for the upcoming season: 

Ivan Provorov, Matt Niskanen 

Travis Sanhiem, Justin Braun 

Shayne Gostisbehere, Phil Myers 

Robert Hagg, Sam Morin 

As a Flyers fan you should be fucking rejoicing right now. Let me remind you that we had to watch Hagg, Folin as a D pair last season. This is a six man defense rotation we should be proud of. Just look at it this way: Niskanen, Braun > Andy Mac, Gudas, Folin, Hagg. 

The projected forward line up is also incredible.     

Claude Giroux, Sean Couturier, Travis Konecny 

James van Riemsdyk, Kevin Hayes, Jake Voracek

Oskar Lindbolm, Nolan Patrick, Farabee/Frost 

Michael Raffl, Scott Laughton, Pitlick/Rubstov 

Hayes slots into the second line center position, bumping Patrick to the third line. I am a big believer in Nolan and I expect him to take a leap this season. Even if he doesn’t, we have three forward lines that can score, play defense, and hound the puck. I am excited about our second line. Having big bodies in Jake and Hayes carry the puck with JVR in front will give opposing teams problems.

Don’t be surprised to see our rookies take the leap this upcoming season. I fully expect one or two of the following to be on the opening night roster; Joel Farabee, Morgan Frost, NAK, and German Rubstov. Top flight prospects in Farabee and Frost making the team makes me feel feelings I haven’t felt since seeing Giroux step on the ice for the Phantoms. Top end, mother fucking, talent. 

Let’s talk about Carter Hart for a second. To the surprise of no one, when he was finally brought up to the big team last year, the team looked different. Remember the Nashville game? Where the entire team took Hart in as their child and defended him with life and limb? Hart stopped the eight man goalie carousel, he brought hope to the dead hearts of Flyers fans everywhere. This kid has the stuff, the gumption, everything. Imagine a whole season of Hart in between the pipes, the kind of ardent presence this team has been lacking for decades. This doesn’t count as an acquisition but god damn it may be the most important one. We’ve all seen the likes of what a Hank, Brodeur, or Roy can do for a team. And the Flyers may finally have theirs.  

Bringing back Brian Elliot to backup Hart is incredible. Moose has had success in both the back up and starting role and can mentor Hart. I expect him to play around 20-30 games this season barring any injuries and I don’t hate that. Fletcher also traded Ryan Hartman for forward Tyler Pitlick. Just a bottom six forward who can penalty kill. I honestly expect Pitlick to be our 13th forward but we shall see. 

Just a quick note on the Restricted Free Agents. I have no insider knowledge and barely any regular knowledge but I fully believe that Provorov and TK will be signed before the season starts. After the Nylander situation last year and the Marner nonsense this year (Hecking Leafs) RFA’s are in an odd position. I can’t even remember a time where so many high profile RFA’s stayed unsigned this long. I imagine the cap is playing a large part as well, plus Paul Marner haha.  

Let me Add Some Hot Fresh Reason-ability

I think it is reasonable to expect Provorov and Ghost to return to form this upcoming season. Provorov as our future and current 1D, and being a Russian cyborg, I expect him to come back as the stalwart/chip in offensively d man we saw two seasons ago.  Ghost is one bad season removed from putting up 65 points, hell even last year he still put up 37. I will not stand for him to be traded and everyone calling for it should stop. I expect both of these guys to benefit from playing and learning with Niskanen and Braun.

I expect Sanhiem to continue his meteoric rise from prospect to top4/top2 defense for the Flyers. In the absence of Ghost and Provy, Travis took the steps we expected to see, especially towards the end of the season. 35 points ain’t too shabby for a young guy forced to play with the likes of Andy Mac and Radko Gudas.

Giroux will continue to be the captain we know and love. I don’t think he sniffs 100 points again but I wouldn’t be surprised if he puts 90 up this year. Jake the Snake really needs to show me something this year. Is he the 80 point guy, or the 60 point guy?

JVR, barring an injury, should pot 30 pretty easily. His scoring touch is refreshing in the decades of pass first teams. Coots will be a Selke finalist, but won’t win it. 

On the other hand…

Hayes starts immediately showing that he wasn’t worth his contract. Maxes out at 50 points this season or misses big time with injury.

Hart gets shook early in the season and we are forced to ride Moose until his inevitable injury.

Penalty Kill and Power Play woes continue to plague the Flyers, resulting in another middling season and limp into the playoffs. 

The Metro solidifies itself as the powerhouse division with every team, including the Devils and Rangers, vying for a playoff spot.

Absolute Worst Case, with Gritty being the only shining light Scenarios 

Please injury gods, mercy on the Flyers… protect all knees, preserve all hands, fingers, and ankles. Please seek to spare us from head injuries.  

One or two injuries could set this team to rest very early. I think a major injury to any one of Giroux, Provorov or Hart could derail the season. We have the offensive and defensive depth but the team will have to rally if anything catastrophic happens.

Or everything I said above could be bullshit. Nolan Patrick is forced to step unsteadily into 2C as Kevin Hayes shows himself to be a defensive and offensive liability. Hart comes in and gets caught by the goalie voodoo resulting in a bad start of 2-7 with 3.21 GAA.  Age catches up with Braun and Niskanen nullifying our defensive additions, forcing Morin and Hagg to play big minutes.

Elliot shows himself unable to be a reliable backup and we trade or acquire someone else through waivers thus bringing the goalie carousel back to life.

Fletcher makes a ridiculous deadline trade sending all of our good prospects for a middling top 9, 30 year old forward who does absolutely nothing. 

Phaithful

I’m excited, I am. I can’t wait for this upcoming season. I no longer have to see the emotionless, surprisingly puppet-like face of Dave Hakstol, and I don’t have to deal with the patience of Hextall. I get to watch a coaching staff with incredible pedigree push our team through the season and hopefully the playoffs. If everything goes right, and I think it will, this team will be fighting for first place in the Metro. Riding Giroux, Hart and a revamped D-Core, this Flyers team has the chance to go the distance and do some damage. Coots, Hayes, Patrick, Laughton is a center rotation to be afraid of. Vigneault, Yeo, and Therrien can right the ship with special teams and boys do we have a stew going. You don’t have to believe what I’ve written just do as you always do and believe in the Flyers. 

Hail Gritty and Let’s Go Flyers.