For the previous 10 years or so, the Flyers have simply muddled. There has by no means been any specific path. 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 choose and discovering a foundational piece to construct round. They’ve simply ping-ponged between each ends of the center, unable to depart as a result of they couldn’t discover the door on both facet that may counsel 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 effectively, are the shock crew within the NHL, and it nonetheless won’t be the proper factor to do. They might not have escaped their muddling methods. However we’ll get round to that.
Anyway, Chilly Ones. The Flyers are presently 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, based on their very personal GM. They even employed John Tortorella, which principally screams a crew that’s placing in fundamentals, however is kind 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 quite a lot of yelling and canine.
And but, right here they’re. It will be simple to level out that Carter Hart has put it collectively, lastly, but extra proof that NHL groups do not know how one can develop a goalie, at the least not North American ones. Hart, who by some means continues to be solely 25, has a .917 save-percentage, the perfect 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 fairly stingy crew to attain in opposition to.
There aren’t any caveats to getting Sean Couturier again full time, although. Couts missed practically two years due to again issues and surgical procedures, together with having to undergo again surgical procedure twice due to leaking spinal fluid. Couturier has all the time been the insider’s favourite participant, a middle who does every little thing and does it whereas taking the toughest shifts, beginning an amazing majority of his shifts outdoors the offensive zone. The truth is, 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 practically 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 meet 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 associate Cam York, at simply 22, could be one other who does. Sanheim has grow to be one of many 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 below and contributing, and will be round when the Flyers actually matter once more. As a result of it’s arduous to say they really matter now. Their numbers are actual, they belong the place they’re to date, however nobody sees this crew making quite a lot of noise come the spring.
They’ll be ready on Matvei Michkov, their first-round choose, for an additional 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 middle now, and isn’t going to be in 2026 for positive. Are Poehling or Frost going to grow to be that within the interim? In the event that they had been, we might most likely know by now. Massimo Rizzo (and with that identify, he’ll most likely grow to be the preferred Flyer ever as quickly as he steps on the ice) is thrashing up the NCAA as an over-ager, however that’s no positive 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 guess continues 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 might need groups and gamers with another yr left on their deal like Konecny or Cam Atkinson might 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 do this this season. The query is will it maintain them from doing so in a yr or two or 5? However it’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 trip.
Observe Sam on Twitter @Felsgate and on Bluesky @felsgate.bsky.social
