Flyer’s offseason facelift

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – In an offseason that saw a major move at goal, the center position reset, and size added to the wing, one area the Flyers didn‘t touch was the blueline.
This is part two of a three-part series taking a look at the moves made by Flyers GM, Paul Holmgren, since being miserably bounced from last season’s playoffs in the second round. In part one, I discussed goaltending, this week I’ll take a look at the defense, and next week I’ll wrap things up at the forward position.
To view the previous article on Flyer’s goaltending, click here .
At the 2009 NHL entry draft, the Flyers made a big splash trading for perennial playoff defenseman Chris Pronger, and went ahead and signed him through the 2016-2017 season. His first season as a Flyers was gang-busters, as he led the team in minutes per game, led all defenseman in points, and kept the team strong through to the Stanley Cup finals.
His second season wasn’t near as successful, as knee surgery kept him from starting the season with the team and various injuries plagued him all year. He finished playing only 50 regular season games, and only 3 of a potential 22, in the playoffs.
This summer has meant immediate back surgery for the soon-to-be 37-year-old defenseman, followed by a slow recovery. He’ll likely miss training camp and opening night with the team for the second straight season.
*With Kimmo Timonen, the Flyers can boast two bonafide number one defenseman. The Finnish All Star, will also be turning 37 this season, and the speed and graceful skating that kept his 5’10” frame from being a hindrance has declined in recent years. Nagging hip issues have caused a defenseman, who could once be counted on to casually handle any defensive issue, to struggle in his own zone last season, and appear less than stellar at times.
The depth on the Flyers defense, is one that carries a number of youngsters that can be asked to carry the load, if Pronger or Timonen stumble. Braydon Coburn, 26, is entering a contract year this season, and after the run to the Stanley Cup finals seemed to develop into a player deserving of his first round draft pick status. He’s a big man with great quickness, and when he plays with tenacity, he can be as dominant as Pronger in his own zone. His inability to join the rush keeps him from being a star defenseman.
After Coburn is Andrej Meszaros, 25, who was brought over last offseason from Tampa Bay, where his play had been suffering. After coming over to play as the fifth defenseman, he was an immediate success, laying huge hits and unleashing potent slapshots from the point. With Pronger out of the lineup, he was given greater responsibilities, and often times quarterbacked the powerplay.
Matt Carle, 26, is also in a contract year. His quick skating and puck moving skills made him a great addition to the powerplay and on the offensive side of the puck, but he lacked skill on the defensive side, often not capable of putting a body on a forward moving to the middle. He plays with an active stick and plays the position well, but his lack of physicality hurt the team. It was possibly a side-effect of not having Pronger as his defense pair for most of the season, but he’ll need to show he can play with anyone if he’s to be offered a contract after this season.
The Flyers allowed the contract of 39-year-old Sean O’Donnell to slip away, and instead signed Andreas Lilja, 36, to a $1.5 million dollar contract for two seasons. Lilja is a stay-at-home defender with great size and a Stanley Cup ring with the Red Wings. However, he’s 36 and has a reputation for injuries, having only played 82 games once in his career. He’s definitely a bottom-pairing defenseman, and likely the number seven man.
Oskars Bartulis spent most of last season in the press box, only managing 13 games all season. When the 24-year-old Latvian defenseman did make his way into the lineup, due to injuries, he was sidelined by a Scotty Upshall hit that sent him into the boards, causing left shoulder instability. After being a mainstay at the practice rink, Bartulis could be looking at the end of his time with the big club. He’ll likely be waived and sent down to the Phantoms, the Flyer‘s AHL affiliate.
The feisty blueliner, Matt Walker, at age 31, was brought over from Tampa Bay in the trade for Simon Gagne. He’s as injury prone as a player can get, seeing only 15 games last season between the NHL and AHL. His sizable $1.7 million dollar salary will likely be concealed in the AHL for the second consecutive season.
Two other young defensemen look to make a push for the team’s opening night roster–Erik Gustafsson and Kevin Marshall. Gustafsson, the 22-year-old Swede, saw limited time as a call-up to the Flyers last season in 3 games. He’s a fast skater and a strong puck handler, and his game’s been compared to fellow Flyer defenseman, Timonen. His play on the defensive side of the puck is where he’s lacking. He led the Phantoms in points last season as a defenseman, but struggled with a plus/minus that finished at minus-5. He has a strong chance of making the opening night roster if he can prove he‘s grown another dimension to his game.
Kevin Marshall, 21, is entering his fifth Flyer’s training camp, and has his sights set on making the team. It’s likely this is his last chance to make a big impression, and the stay-at-home defenseman will need to call upon all of his experience to crack the lineup. He’s considered a strong powerful defenseman, who sometimes lacks hockey sense, allowing himself to get into trouble.
How it all shakes out.
If injures were not a problem, the pairings on defense would be: 1) Pronger with Carle, 2) Timonen with Coburn, and 3) Meszaros with Gustafsson, and Lilja being the seventh man in the press box. However, Pronger will not be starting the season with the Flyers, and it will likely be: 1) Timonen with Coburn, 2) Meszaros with Carle, and 3) Lilja with Gustafsson.
Gustafsson, could possibly make a big impression on the team and see some powerplay time down the stretch. If more injuries occur, he could see top-four minutes, and Lilja will hopefully fill the hole adequately.
It will be interesting to watch and see if Coburn and Carle can justify new contracts for the following season. Expect Coburn to earn it, while Carle will slip away or be traded before the trade deadline.
The thing that should be on everyone’s minds, should be, when will Pronger play, and how effective will he be. Back surgery is a debilitating situation, and could keep him from playing his brand of hockey for the entire season.
Next week, we’ll take a look at the forwards…
Contact Chuck.Tay@prohockeynews.com Photographer Lewis.Bleiman@prohockeynews.com