Is The 3rd Line The Key To The Flyers Season?
Over the years, the Flyers style of play his been physical and slow. When the Flyers went outside the box to select their new head coach, the belief was to change their style of play.
The Flyers are known to be a physical and fighting team. Mainly, this title and philosophy is due to the Flyers history of physicality. Dating back to the start, the Flyers were marked as a physical team. The reason for the Broad Street Bullies tag.
In Dave Hakstol’s first three seasons, this change has started to take shape. When Hasktol arrived, his style of play was seen as a breath of fresh air to a team stuck with a history of physical play.
Over his first three seasons, Hakstol has moved away from the Flyers old style of play. Rather than a top line, two average lines, and a physical 4th line, Hakstol has used a more of top 6 approach with two balanced bottom 6 lines.
However, when you look at the cream-of-the-crop in the NHL, this is an old philosophy. The elite teams of the NHL all have one thing in common. All of them are three lines deep and some are four lines deep.
This is something the Flyers took a big step towards during the offseason. At closing press conferences last season, GM Ron Hextall and Coach Dave Hakstol, both made it known the Flyers were looking to improve their top 9 during the offseason.
They did just that with the signing of former Flyer James van Riemsdyk. With the addition of van Riemsdyk, it has created a ripple effect that will strength the top 9. However, one key position is still unknown heading into training camp. That position will be a key to the Flyers season.
Even with the addition of van Riemsdyk to improve the top 9, the Flyers are still missing a 3rd line center. A center that will create a nightmare matchup each and every night.
Therefore, is the Flyers 3rd line the key to the season? Well, lets dive into just how important the 3rd line will be.
With a top 6 consisting of Giroux-Couturier-Konecny and van Riemsdyk-Patrick-Voracek, the Flyers need a complementary center to go alongside big, physical wingers Oskar Lindblom and Wayne Simmonds. But, how do you complement them? Do you find a big, physical center? Do you find a smaller, speedy center?
Both questions have answers that will be in camp battling for the job. The 3rd line center battle will be between many faces. But, the 3 guys that have the best chances are Mikhail Vorobyov, Jordan Weal, and Morgan Frost. All three guys bring something different to the table. However, all three guys also leave something on the table.
Vorobyov is the biggest out of the three. Standing a 6’2″, his game is more in the line of defense first. This complements his two potential wingers in the offensive sides of their games. Weal and Frost are both in the smaller category. But, both bring speed and offense first mentalities.
Therefore, whichever way Hakstol views his 3rd line, is the direction he will go in. If Hakstol wants a more defensive first thinking, then Vorobyov will be seen as the leader for the 3rd line. If Hakstol wants a more offensive and speedier center than Weal and Frost will be considered heavily.
No matter how Hakstol views his 3rd line and whoever is the center, the Flyers 3rd line will play a key role in balancing out the Flyers top 9 and will hopefully give them a three line combination rivaling some of the leagues elite.