It would seem that Flyer’s General Manager Chuck Fletcher read a how-to-retool-your-team manual this offseason and I have to say I am hyped. After an intensely disappointing playoff exit in game seven to missing the playoffs completely, Fletcher has had enough. No more middling, no more collapses, no more bullshit. Address the D core, restore Carter Hart’s confidence, and shake up the forwards. All checked off by Chuck’s wild offseason ride. This team is set to make a deep run, so let’s take a look at why.

Key Additions

• Ryan Ellis, 30 years old, D-man, 6.25 mil cap hit  
• Rasmus Ristolainen, 26 years old, D-man, 5.4 mil cap hit 
• Cam Atkinson, 32 years old, Winger, 5.875 mil cap hit 
• Kieth Yandle, 35 years old, D-man, 900k cap hit 
• Martin Jones, 31 years old, Goalie, 2 mil cap hit

Ellis and Atkinson headline a group of skilled players added to the core of the team.

Key Departures

• Jake Voracek
• Nolan Patrick 
• Phil Myers 
• Shayne Gostisbehere 
• Robert Hagg  

Sad to see Jake and Ghost go, but their time in Philadelphia has reached its end.

Looking at the above moves I believe Chuck Fletcher has made his intentions clear; go for the Stanley Cup now, this season. After the initial trades for Ellis and Ristolainen I thought Fletcher was throwing down the gauntlet to his team. We were in a position to put all our chips in for this coming year and if we didn’t succeed we had outs to completely rebuild/reshape the team. But following the Coots and Farabee extensions, I tempered my extreme reaction. Fletcher wants this year to be a defining year for the Flyers moving forward. He addressed the major issues that plagued our team over the last few years and committed to revamping the locker room with key veterans.

I have to imagine that the team as a whole is more ready to compete for the Stanley Cup this year than they were the last two years. A revamped defensive core and hopefully a bounce back year for Carter Hart spells a deep playoff run for the team. Ellis and Ristolainen are the key pieces to our defensive renaissance, two guys who I believe will be immediate contributors both in the offensive and defensive end. I understand the skepticism surrounding Ristolainen but his physical presence on the blueline will win over many fans quickly. Our defensive core is no doubt more skilled, physical, and flat-out better than last years which is all I wanted from Chuck. Fix the defense so that our young goalie can bounce back and our forwards don’t feel trapped in our own end.

Fletcher didn’t stop at the defense though, he shook up the forward core as well. Moving Jake Voracek hurt, and I will miss his contributions on the ice and his absolute sass in the pressroom. I see it as a necessary evil as I think moving him from the team will have more positive results than negative. Bringing in a guy like Cam Atkinson though will certainly bring energy to the team as the guy is an absolute workhorse. High energy, shoot first guy that this Flyers team has needed for years. He may be a step behind his 40 goal season but I think he’s going to thrive in our system and especially on our beleaguered power play. 

The Martin Jones signing didn’t really move the needle for me that much. I thought it was time to move on from Brian Elliot and Jones is a safe bet in the back up position. A former starter who needs a change of scenery and a reduced role, here take this seat behind Hart. I also think if Hart struggles a bit, Jones is a guy who can give you a couple wins or at least some solid starts.

Contract Extensions

• Sean Couturier – 8 years at 7.75 mil annually 
• Joel Farabee  – 6 years at 5 mil annually 
• Travis Sanhiem – 2 years at 4.675 mil annually 
• Carter Hart – 3 years at 3.979 mil annually

I just wanted to mention these contract extensions as Chuck Fletcher has masterfully extended key pieces of our core moving forward. The Coots discount along with a solid bet on Farabee makes me excited for this season and the coming seasons. Locking in these particular players now gives us both a chance to win and hedges our bets against a possibly disappointing upcoming season. I do see some issues concerning the potential Ristolainen extension as I would like to see how he plays in Philadelphia before we pay him. Also captain Claude Giroux will need an extension this coming year and if the team doesn’t do well, he may be looking for an out. However this is pure speculation, I believe Giroux will stay here, and eventually retire as the greatest Flyer of all time. No offense to Bob Clarke. 

Underrated Moves

Two of the more underrated moves Fletcher made this season are the signings of Derek Brassard and Keith Yandle. Two players who are likely heading towards the end of their respective careers but still have enough in the tank to help the Flyers. Particularly two young Flyers in Morgan Frost and Cam York. These two signings are insurance for our younger guys if they aren’t quite ready to eat big time NHL minutes. Veteran, locker room presence guys who can step up for an injury or help motivate our younger players. I think Frost will make the team out of camp again so this is all conjecture, but I have to acknowledge Fletcher covering his bases for the upcoming season. 

Season Expectations

Playoffs or bust, Stanley Cup or bust. The above moves have made it perfectly clear, the Flyers want to, nay need to,  win this year and they need to do it in the playoffs too. I will not stand for odd year out, even year playoffs that has plagued the Flyers for ten plus years. Chuck addressed the perceived problems of last season and it now rests on the players to step up and perform. A reinvigorated D core, some strong locker room guys, and an infusion of youth will propel this team through a rugged, and competitive Metro division. I fully expect a playoff berth, I’m talking about a clinched spot in April or we have to take a long, hard look at this team and what a rebuild will look like as we cry salty tears over Giroux’s wasted brilliance.  

In Hart We Trust.

Go Flyers. 

A Side Note

In reference to my former post The Ideal Flyers Offseason, Chuck ticked all my boxes. Most of my ideas were completely histrionic and unlikely but we did accomplish my main goal of revamping the defense and shaking up the forward core. I can’t wait for the upcoming season and a chance at the Cup.