For the previous 10 years or so, the Flyers have simply muddled. There has by no means been any specific route. Typically they’ve been kinda good, however nowhere close to adequate to do something that mattered. Typically they’ve been kinda dangerous, sometimes actually dangerous, however by no means by design with their sights set on a prime decide and discovering a foundational piece to construct round. They’ve simply ping-ponged between each ends of the center, unable to go away as a result of they couldn’t discover the door on both facet that will recommend the crew had a plan or vacation spot. They had been simply that man sitting at some random gate on the airport that appears like he’s been there since final week. They muddled alongside.
The humorous factor is that the Flyers are enjoyable now, are taking part in properly, are the shock crew within the NHL, and it nonetheless won’t be the precise factor to do. They could not have escaped their muddling methods. However we’ll get round to that.
Anyway, Chilly Ones. The Flyers are at the moment second within the Metro Division, the fifth-best points-percentage within the East, in a season the place they had been extensively predicted to be cheeks. And cheeks by design, in response to their very personal GM. They even employed John Tortorella, which principally screams a crew that’s placing in fundamentals, however is sort of able to lose a ton of hockey video games. Hiring Torts would by no means be described as forward-thinking. It’s normally simply loads of yelling and dogs.
And but, right here they’re. It might be straightforward to level out that Carter Hart has put it collectively, lastly, but extra proof that NHL groups don’t know learn how to develop a goalie, not less than not North American ones. Hart, who in some way remains to be solely 25, has a .917 save-percentage, the very best of his profession. However Hart has solely saved 2.3 targets above anticipated, suggesting the Flyers’ protection has been fairly good.
Which it has been! They’re fifth within the league in anticipated goals-against at even-strength, and even higher on the penalty kill, the place they’re second. Even getting common to average-plus goaltending from Hart, which they’ve, has made them a reasonably stingy crew to attain towards.
There are not any caveats to getting Sean Couturier again full time, although. Couts missed almost two years because of again issues and surgical procedures, together with having to undergo again surgical procedure twice because of leaking spinal fluid. Couturier has all the time been the insider’s favourite participant, a middle who does all the things and does it whereas taking the toughest shifts, beginning an amazing majority of his shifts outdoors the offensive zone. In truth, nobody on the Flyers takes extra attracts within the defensive zone than Couturier, and he’s second on the crew in scoring. Because of his return, Travis Konecny has been almost a point-per recreation. The Flyers unfold out the scoring, with 11 guys having 10 or extra factors, however Couturier and Konecny are the point of interest.
The Flyers have teased having a dynamic blue line for an extended whereas now and but the gamers inside it by no means actually flourished to satisfy that promise. Shayne Gostisbehere, Robert Hagg and Ivan Provorov are only a pattern of gamers who flashed at a younger age, however then by no means actually put all of it collectively.
Travis Sanheim appears to have damaged that streak on Philly’s prime pairing and his companion Cam York, at simply 22, is perhaps one other who does. Sanheim has become one of the premier puck-movers from the blue line within the league and York, his free security. Sanheim has 21 factors in 27 video games.
However with no matter inexperienced shoots are on show now in South Philly, it’s pure to marvel how this matches into any long-term plan that Daniel Briere had. Couturier is already in his 30s, Konecny will flip 27 in March. Sanheim is already 27. Joel Farabee, Owen Tippett, Bobby Brink, York and Yegor Zamula are all 25 and underneath and contributing, and may be round when the Flyers actually matter once more. As a result of it’s onerous to say they really matter now. Their numbers are actual, they belong the place they’re up to now, however nobody sees this crew making loads of noise come the spring.
They’ll be ready on Matvei Michkov, their first-round decide, for one more two years earlier than he can get out of his KHL contract (although he’s lighting up that league at 18). Couturier isn’t actually a No. 1 heart now, and isn’t going to be in 2026 for certain. Are Poehling or Frost going to develop into that within the interim? In the event that they had been, we’d most likely know by now. Massimo Rizzo (and with that title, he’ll most likely develop into the most well-liked Flyer ever as quickly as he steps on the ice) is thrashing up the NCAA as an over-ager, however that’s no certain factor both.
Already the Flyers have taken themselves out of the highest of this season’s lottery, although it’s extensively considered a weak draft anyway. The wager remains to be that the Canes and Devils will get their act collectively, leaving the Flyers scrapping for only a wild-card slot. Which feels just like the ceiling for this roster
However now that they’re in it, they’ll’t be tossing something overboard on the deadline. Sean Walker may need groups and gamers with another 12 months left on their deal like Konecny or Cam Atkinson may have fetched one thing noticeable, too. Now the Flyers can’t actually give it some thought.
It’s all the time higher when groups are good and win and play video games that matter, and the Flyers will try this this season. The query is will it hold them from doing so in a 12 months or two or 5? But it surely’s all the time been the Flyers factor to be unable to comply with a thread to its conclusion. With the Flyers, you purchase the ticket and take the experience.
Observe Sam on Twitter @Felsgate and on Bluesky @felsgate.bsky.social
