Offseason Outlook: Philadelphia Flyers
With the offseason underway for a number of teams, with the remainder to join them in a few weeks, we're looking at what's in store for each club in the coming months.
2016-17 Grade: C-
Entering the season, many around the NHL expected the Philadelphia Flyers to be a legitimate playoff contender. However, their year unfolded in a manner that few expected.
The Flyers showed flashes of brilliance during the 2016-17 campaign, but also flashed an uglier, sloppier side more fitting of a club working a rebuild.
With All-Star caliber names on its roster like Wayne Simmonds, Brayden Schenn, Claude Giroux, and Jakub Voracek, Philly boasts the type of offensive talent that dynasties are built on.
Sprinkle in the fact the Flyers also hold a ton of young talent both up front and on the back end, and it's even harder to understand the recent plight of the orange, black, and white.
Relative to high expectations, this grade could potentially be even lower.
However, Philadelphia's main issue - as it seemingly has been since Ron Hextall retired in 1999 - is goaltending.
The Flyers conceded the 10th-most goals per game while allowing only 28.5 shots per contest - only six teams allowed fewer pucks on net.
With Michal Neuvirth, Anthony Stolarz, and impending free agent Steve Mason as the current options in goal, the Flyers may be in for another year of wondering what could have been.
Free Agents
The majority of the offseason work for the front office will likely focus on the team's back end, where rearguards Michael Del Zotto and Nick Schultz are unrestricted free agents, as is the aforementioned Mason.
With that said, Hextall - now serving as GM - has a few intriguing names to handle up front, namely Jordan Weal and Nick Cousins.
| Player (Position) | 2017-18 Status | Age | 2016-17 Cap Hit | '16-17 Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Vecchione (F) | RFA | 24 | $925K | 0 |
| Roman Lyubimov (F) | RFA | 25 | $925K | 6 |
| Nick Cousins (F) | RFA | 23 | $840K | 16 |
| Chris VandeVelde (F) | UFA | 30 | $712.5K | 15 |
| Jordan Weal (F) | UFA | 25 | $650K | 12 |
| Michael Del Zotto (D) | UFA | 26 | $3.8M | 18 |
| Nick Schultz (D) | UFA | 34 | $2.2M | 4 |
| Shayne Gostisbehere (D) | RFA | 24 | $925K | 39 |
Despite the Flyers' struggles to keep pucks out of their own net, Mason has performed admirably over his five seasons in Philly, amassing a respectable record of 104-78, and will have teams sniffing around for his services.
| Goalie | 2017-18 Status | Age | 2016-17 Cap Hit | '16-17 SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Mason | UFA | 28 | $4.1M | .908 |
2017 Draft Picks
Not only do the Flyers have a talented young core featuring the likes of Travis Konecny, Ivan Provorov, and Sean Couturier, but Philadelphia also has the luxury of owning 12 picks in June's entry draft.
| Round | Picks |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1 (2nd overall) |
| 2 | 1 |
| 3 | 2 (Own + Bruins) |
| 4 | 3 (Own + Islanders + Lightning) |
| 5 | 1 |
| 6 | 1 |
| 7 | 3 (Own + Devils* +Lightning) |
* - Denotes conditional seventh-round pick from NJ.
Summer Priorities
1. Wake Giroux from his slumber
After an up-and-down season, the four-time All-Star and current captain needs to find his MVP-caliber game - and quickly - if the Flyers hope to return to postseason action.
Giroux is coming off his worst offensive showing in four years, managing only 14 goals to go along with an ugly minus-15 rating.
Simply put, the 29-year-old needs to wake up and find his old form or the Flyers' faithful may be calling for the speedy center's name to be mentioned in trade discussions, sooner than later.
2. Deal for a veteran forward
What the Flyers lack in experience they make up for in skill.
But that doesn't change the fact that Philadelphia proved at many points last season that it needs an experienced voice up front to support Giroux and Simmonds in the day-to-day running of the club.
Two free agents in particular would fill that need nicely: Joe Thornton or Justin Williams. Both are proven veteran leaders that would help steady this young and sometimes frenetic group.
3. Lock down the Ghost
Regardless of a dip in offense from a season ago, Gostisbehere remains a crucial piece of the Flyers' present and future.
Few D-men in the league dazzle like the 24-year-old can, and his offensive flair is backed up by his production. In 142 games over parts of three NHL campaigns, the young American has racked up 24 goals and 85 points by throwing 352 shots on goal.
Philadelphia has already benefited from the bargain deal the rearguard is on - $925,000 is an absolute steal - and the club would do well to pay the man his money.
2017-18 Outlook
To most NHL pundits, Philadelphia was an enigma in 2016-17. Its roster had way too much talent, speed, and skill to underperform the way it did.
Fast forward to next season, and expectations and pressure to succeed will be ratcheted up a notch.
With this core of players, Philly is expected to be a perennial playoff threat, and if the Flyers manage to miss the postseason for a third time in the last six seasons, heads will roll in the City of Brotherly Love.
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