Will The Flyers Look Any Different Next Year?

With the first year of the Flyers new core under their belts, will they take another step forward next year or remain completely the same?




The Flyers are in the middle of a torch passing time between the old leaders and potential new leaders for the Flyers teams of the future. The old core, Giroux-Voracek-Simmonds, are starting to pass the torch to the new core of young promising Flyers. This new core includes Provorov, Gostisbehere, Konecny, Couturier, and rookie Nolan Patrick.

All 5 of those guys have a bright future with the Flyers and management believes this is the group that will take the Flyers to the next level. But, are they being held back? Are the veterans the Flyers are using keeping them from making that next leap?




Before the season started, many reporters had the same Flyers line-up. A roster and line-up led by promising young rookies. However, on opening night and for most of the season, those rookies were being held back.

Why?




Well, according to coach Dave Hakstol, his philosophy this season was to only have 2-3 rookies in the line-up at a time. That may seem like a lot. But, for the Flyers, that is only about 50% of the rookie pool that deserved to be in the line-up this season.

Coach Dave Hakstol chose the old style of hockey, experience and physicality, over the new style of hockey, youth and speed. His failure to realize that is one of the many reasons the Flyers were eliminated from the playoffs.




Look at the remaining teams in the playoffs. Do you see anything in common? Just watch the speed of those games and it makes the Flyers look like they are stuck in the mud.

Therefore, with Dave Hakstol failing to utilize the players he has now correctly, will the Flyers be the same or better next season?




This question has already some answers to it.

During the exit interviews this season, some veteran Flyers were told they would not be back next season. These Flyers include Matt Read, Brandon Manning, and possibly Valtteri Filppula.




Why did I say possibly Valtteri Filppula? Well, GM Ron Hextall didn’t necessarily close the door completely on bringing back the 13 year NHL veteran.

“Fil is the one guys where we have interest, so we’re going to see what happens here. Things can change because we don’t know what happens over the summer.”

If the Flyers do bring back Filppula, it will have to be something that is driven by the future movement hitting the Flyers at the moment. If Filppula comes back to take away minutes from a young promising winger or center, then he should not be brought back. But, if he is being brought back to mentor and be a stable 4th line guy, then I am all for him coming back.




See, I have no problem bringing back Filppula on a contract based to the role he will play. But, with Hextall wanting speed and a better penalty killing unit, Filppula just doesn’t fit that mold.

During his exit interview, Hextall admitted the Flyers had faults and holes which led to them shooting themselves in the foot more than once during the 1st round playoff series. But, at least he admits to them and will look to improve on them in the off-season.




Hextall said during his closing statements that he wants to bring in a 2nd/3rd line center with a good penalty-killing background. Well, he has some in house solutions to make that happen. However, until the Flyers make that one big more to put them ahead of everybody else, they will be fighting an up-hill battle.

Which is why, you saw it in the playoff series, even though he had a great year, Sean Couturier needs to be the Flyers 3rd line center. Just look at what he did, on one leg, in games 5 & 6 against Crosby. If Couturier can produce like a #1 C from the #3 C role, the Flyers can open up a spot for the prize of this year’s off-season, John Tavares.




Now, I know this sounds like a pipe-dream, but with Hextall having “free-rein”, anything is possible. Just look at how much different a Flyers line-up would look if they actually invested in what they have now.

Giroux-Tavares-Voracek

Lindblom-Patrick-Simmonds

Konecny-Couturier-Aube Kubel

Raffl-Laughton-Weal

Giroux-Couturier-Konecny

Lindblom-Patrick-Voracek

Raffl-XXXX-Simmonds

Laughton-Filppula-Lehtera

See the difference?