PHILADELPHIA – With the potential end of the Philadelphia Flyers season, there are quite of few feelings both good and bad when reviewing their season overall. The rebuild is still in progress, despite not only making it to the second round of the playoffs, Philadelphia ha shown that at least for one season has shown that they are making progress.
Ryan Shea #5 of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Noah Cates #27 of the Philadelphia Flyers look down at the puck in midair just before it get past Pittsburgh goalie Arturs Silovs #37 Photo Credit Lewis.Bleiman@prohockeynews.com
Let’s face facts, no one thought the Flyers would make the playoffs, much less than get to the second round. They’ve done it behind a goalie who was seen as a backup goalie, not a starting goalie. A league worst power play unit 5 years in a row, can barely shot the put on a regular basis, a center core than can barely win face-offs, and a suspect bottom 4 blueline. Matvei Michkov had a down year, but still managed to be tied for fourth on the team in points and scored 20 goals. Travis Konecny hasn’t looked like the teams leading scorer in the playoffs. Trevor Zegras has been a solid pickup at center despite not winning face-offs. Owen Tippett has shown his value now that he isn’t in the lineup. Noah Cates and Christian Dvorak had 18 goals each. Sean Couturier has taken his role as a fourth line center to heart, and is still the Flyers best centerman in the face-off circle.
Their defense has been solid all season led by Travis Sanheim. He has shown that he is a 1D but could use someone that can take the pressure off him. Emil Andrea, despite being 6’ 9” can handle the NHL but going forward might be on the outside looking in come next season if the Flyers insist on getting bigger with Oliver Bonk, Hunter McDonald, and David Jiricek close to making a roster spot next season. This +15 rating is tops for all Flyers defenseman which will help his case, if only as part of a package to acquire a 2D in a trade. Jamie Drysdale has been the most improved player but he has struggled in the playoffs. Rasmus Ristolainen has been solid despite the trade rumors. Expect his stock to be high in the off-season since he is heading into his last year of his contract.
Dan Vladar was clearly been the team’s MVP but Sam Ersson is a less than stellar .867 save percentage. All eyes are on Yegor Zavragin, the Flyers top goalie prospect, to see if he will finally be able to make it to North America next season.
The Carolina Hurricanes are standing in the Flyers way of extending their season. Looking at how Carolina play and has built their team, the Flyers can look into the mirror and see where they need to be. Yes, they are improved, but they are a work in progress. The future looks bright. In the meantime, Philadelphia has a hockey team the fans are proud of once again.
Brian Jennings covers the Philadelphia Flyers for prohockeynews.com and can be found on twitter at @Flyersfan22.
