Flyers season so far like a box of chocolates

PHILADELPHIA, Pa – Barely 13 games into the 2019-20 season and the Philadelphia Flyers at first glimpse look in the NHL standings a lot like the previous version of the team. If you based your assumptions solely on the standings you would be correct. The truth be told, this year’s version is definitely not the same team that finished out of the playoffs. Oh, don’t get me wrong, if the season ended today that’s exactly what would happen. Thankfully it is an 82 game marathon and this year’s version of the Flyers not only has a new Head Coach in Alain Vigneault, but an overall positive feel to it that some recent Flyers teams have not. Let’s take a look at the Flyers season so far.

Oskar Lindblom #23 and Sean Couturier #14 of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrate teammateTravis Sanheim goal in the third period.

The Philadelphia Flyers are currently 5^th in the Metropolitan Division with 14 points and a 6-5-2 record in 13 games. In the Wild Card standings the Flyers are three points out of a playoff spot behind the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Overall the Flyers are 21^st in points, which means that if the draft were held today the Flyers would have the 11^th pick in the draft (the draft lottery not withstanding). The good news is, because of the slow start to their season, the Flyers have games in hand on both clubs.

Philadelphia have only scored 42 goals, tied for 15^th in the league, and have allowed only 43 goals, good for 16^th in the league. The power play is clicking at 23.5% (8^th overall) while the penalty kill (12^th overall) at 82.5%. The Flyers have picked up where they were last year as the league’s top face-off team currently humming at 56.3%. Another encouraging sign from last year’s teams is that the Flyers are second overall in shots per game with 35, and first overall with shots against with 27.9.

If there are some positives there are some negatives as well. The Flyers do not block shots and are 30^th out of 31 teams, 20^th in hits, and only 10^th in Takeaways. Another bad trend from last year is getting off to slow starts. Philadelphia has scored only 10 goals in the first period and 12 in the second. The good news is they are tied for third overall when scoring in the third period with 20 goals.

Speaking of goal scoring, Oskar Lindblom has been a pleasant surprise leading the team with seven goals, tied for 7^th overall among left wingers in the NHL. Travis Konecny is second on the team in goals with six, and leads the team in assists (8) and points (14). Most of the offense is off to a slow start, most notably Claude Giroux and Sean Couturier. For a team that has once again gone back to their spending ways, that is not a good sign.

James van Riemsdyk #25 of the Philadelphia Flyers scores against Joonas Korpisalo #70 of the Columbus Blue Jackets

The goaltending has not been what it was hoped for. The Flyers started the season with Carter Hart who began his first full season as the starting goaltender. He is only 21 years old and has looked like it. Brian Ellliot has looked at least like a competent backup. The biggest problem right now appears to be on the blueline, which has not helped either goalie.

Justin Braun has looked like a bust with a team worst -10 plus/minus rating. Robert Hagg and Shayne Gostisbehere are both -3 and Travis Sanheim has struggled recently. The good news is Ivan Provorov has gone back to looking like the player the Flyers drafted 7^th overall in the 2015 draft. That year the Flyers passed up players such as Zach Werenski and Mikko Rantanen.

According to capfriendly.com, the Flyers only have $696,111 in cap space. In only one off-season, General Manager Chuck Fletcher has undone what former GM Ron Hextall did in order to get the Flyers out of salary cap hell. Moving forward, if the Flyers decide to make a trade, moving someone such as Jakub Voracek, who’s cap hit is 8.25 with four years left on this contract after this season will be made difficult, especially considering that everyone in the NHL knows how bad your cap situation is.

The Philadelphia Flyers are always an intriguing team to watch. This year is no different. The Flyers are stuck in mediocrity hell standings wise but the statistics show how the Flyers should have a better season that last year. The Flyers do appear to have the right man at helm in Alain Vigneault. The team is definitely heading in the right direction despite its place in the standings.