This article is part of our Team Previews series.
Prior to last season, we summed up the Flyers quite simply as a team that had allowed more goals than they had scored. To be exact, in the abridged 2012-2013 campaign, they scored an average of 2.75 goals and allowed an average of 2.90 goals. That translated to no postseason fun for them. Fast forward to this past season. In 2013-2014, the Flyers averaged more goals (2.84) than they allowed (2.77). As a result, they returned to the playoffs. Sometimes, it's just as easy as that.
Still, while the Flyers offense ranked eighth in the NHL in goals scored, their defense was only good enough for 17th in goals allowed. One would have expected Flyers GM Ron Hextall to spend his offseason working feverishly to upgrade the protection in front of the net, but that's not exactly how things played out. Instead, the offseason was plagued with headlines of bad news -- salary cap limits, Kimmo Timonen's blood clots, and Claude Giroux's strange night in jail.
The Flyers' biggest additions to the team came in the form of free agent defensemen Michael Del Zotto and Nick Schultz, who went minus-9 and minus-13, respectively, last season. Their addition and the potential season-long subtraction of Timonen won't bring much solace to goalkeeper Steve Mason.
Essentially, the team stood pat, hoping that second-year coach Craig Berube can squeeze a few extra miles out of the same team he inherited when Peter Laviolette was fired. An optimist might say that
Prior to last season, we summed up the Flyers quite simply as a team that had allowed more goals than they had scored. To be exact, in the abridged 2012-2013 campaign, they scored an average of 2.75 goals and allowed an average of 2.90 goals. That translated to no postseason fun for them. Fast forward to this past season. In 2013-2014, the Flyers averaged more goals (2.84) than they allowed (2.77). As a result, they returned to the playoffs. Sometimes, it's just as easy as that.
Still, while the Flyers offense ranked eighth in the NHL in goals scored, their defense was only good enough for 17th in goals allowed. One would have expected Flyers GM Ron Hextall to spend his offseason working feverishly to upgrade the protection in front of the net, but that's not exactly how things played out. Instead, the offseason was plagued with headlines of bad news -- salary cap limits, Kimmo Timonen's blood clots, and Claude Giroux's strange night in jail.
The Flyers' biggest additions to the team came in the form of free agent defensemen Michael Del Zotto and Nick Schultz, who went minus-9 and minus-13, respectively, last season. Their addition and the potential season-long subtraction of Timonen won't bring much solace to goalkeeper Steve Mason.
Essentially, the team stood pat, hoping that second-year coach Craig Berube can squeeze a few extra miles out of the same team he inherited when Peter Laviolette was fired. An optimist might say that the Flyers will only get better and better the more they play together. A pessimist might point out that the Rangers and other Eastern Conference opponents made bigger moves to continue their dominance. And a realist might point out that adding two mediocre players and subtracting one good player doesn't equate to much improvement.
The Big Guns
Claude Giroux, C (RotoWire Position Rank*: #4): As the saying goes -- to those whom much is given, much is expected. Nowhere does that hold more true than in Philadelphia with Giroux. The Flyers captain is the offensive sparkplug for the team, leading in almost every scoring category. Questions about his linemates will persist throughout training camp, but very few will be raised about him. He may have lost Scott Hartnell in the offseason, but both he and Jakub Voracek will more than likely find success with either Michael Raffl, R.J. Umberger, or whomever is lucky enough to get that job. Giroux is among the best centers in the league and will be drafted by all shrewd general managers very early on.
*RotoWire Position Ranks reflected for points-based leagues*
Mark Streit, D (RotoWire Position Rank: #33): Even though he will be turning 37 this year, Streit is showing the entire league that there is still plenty of tread on these tires. Not only has he played three straight seasons without missing a game, but he's also averaged a half a point per game during that time. Many fantasy owners may shy away from selecting him due to his age, but Streit is a model of consistency and durability -- or at least he has been since his season-ending shoulder surgery a few years ago. There's a good argument for him to be selected among the top 20 defensemen in your draft; if you can get him later, he could be a steal.
Steve Mason (RotoWire Position Rank: #10): Many questions persisted about the state of Philadelphia goaltending heading into last season, but Mason silenced those queries with his stellar play. He was especially locked in down the stretch, as his 12-6-2 record after the Olympic break was one of the key reasons the Flyers were able to make the postseason. Fantasy players would be wise to keep an eye on him; he could slip to the later part of some drafts and will likely be the starting goalie for an over-.500 team. In a perfect world, he's the ideal fantasy backup goalie, so long as he can stay healthy and maintain consistency. All indications are that he's fully healed from the broken finger he suffered in late July, putting him in good shape to open the campaign.
On the Rise
Jason Akeson, RW (RotoWire Position Rank: #70): With Scott Hartnell and Tye McGinn departing for Columbus and San Jose respectively, Akeson will have the opportunity to audition for a permanent role in the Flyers' top-six. At 24, he has put in his time in Adirondack -- scoring 172 points in 208 games -- and looks ready to take the next step. While he only appeared in one regular season game last year, he did play in all seven playoff games for the Flyers, registering two goals and one assist. It's worthwhile to pay attention to which line he ends up on in training camp -- if he ends up in the top six, he could be a gem in the later rounds of the draft.
Wayne Simmonds, RW (RotoWire Position Rank: #10): Simmonds enters this season looking to prove to critics that his career-best showing in 2013-14 was not a one-time occurrence. His 29 goals and 31 assists were good for third on the team behind Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek, and with Scott Hartnell's departure, his production will be relied on more than ever. Simmonds should be held in high regard heading into this season -- not only is he able to put the puck in the net, but he is also prolific in taking penalties and sees ample time on the power play. This triple threat will likely ensure that he goes within the top 50 in most fantasy leagues.
Two To Watch
Jakub Voracek, RW (RotoWire Position Rank; #21): After a number of successively better seasons, Voracek appears to be finally ready to take the leap into the league's elite group of wingers. Following a phenomenal strike-shortened season where he scored at almost a point-per-game pace, his 2013-2014 season started with a whimper, just like most of his Flyer mates. Once the team was back on track, Voracek's game also took off. Barring a similar collapse this season, it seems natural that he will eclipse his career records in most offensive categories this year. Plan on a 70-point season and draft him accordingly.
Brayden Schenn, C (RotoWire Position Rank: #39): After a prolific junior career, the younger Schenn brother has yet to definitively prove he can live up to his hype. His 2013-2014 was a good start -- his 20 goals and 21 assists were career-bests, and his chemistry with linemate Wayne Simmonds helped the latter attain career-bests, too. This year will be a watershed moment for Schenn. At 22, he is expected to take the next step in his evolution and assert himself as among the better centers in the league. Considering he'll likely have Simmonds and Read as his linemates, he should be able to do just that. But the offensive explosion might not come until 2015-16.
Don't Overrate
Sean Couturier, C (RotoWire Position Rank: #71): Couturier was hailed as a gifted two-way player in the mold of Patrice Bergeron when he came into the NHL three years ago. In fact, his 223 points and cumulative plus-141 rating in 184 games in junior were indicative of a future Selke winner. While his offensive game hasn't yet fully matured in the NHL, he is still very good in his own end of the ice and a great shutdown center. His biggest problem will be finding ice time behind Claude Giroux and Brayden Schenn. A long-term injury to either of those players would elevate Couturier up the depth chart and certainly help his numbers, but that sort of promotion obviously isn't guaranteed. For the time being, it's probably best to forget about the hype he entered the league with and temper expectations about his potential fantasy production.
Vincent Lecavalier, C (RotoWire Position Rank: #51): After he was the subject of persistent trade rumors last season, Lecavalier remains in the fold for the Flyers for his second campaign. While he was used to top-line minutes during his prime in Tampa Bay, he had a difficult time adjusting to his new role on the third line in Philadelphia. With Scott Hartnell's departure to Columbus, Lecavalier will have an opportunity to audition for a wing spot on one of the top two lines, but we wouldn't hold our breath. Lecavalier's best days are behind him and his minus-17 rating last year just wasn't good enough to justify his usual ice time. Many will get drawn to his name like a moth to a light bulb and draft him earlier than they should. Let those individuals add this possible, fourth-line anchor -- we mean pivot -- on their rosters. Draft him only if you're willing to gamble.
Top Prospects
Shayne Gostisbehere, D (RotoWire Prospects Rank: #33): Following his graduation from Union College, Gostisbehere joined AHL Adirondack for the last two games of their season, registering a minus-2 with no points. It's expected that he'll start the upcoming season in the AHL and look to put together a solid rookie campaign in his first full year as a pro. He had a very successful NCAA career -- he ended it by taking home the ECAC Player of the Year and Best Defensive Defenseman awards -- and will look to show that he can translate his collegiate experience into success at the much more difficult minor-league level. Keeper owners should remember his name even if they can't spell it -- he has top-four stalwart and power-play QB written all over him.
Scott Laughton, C (RotoWire Prospects Rank: #52): Laughton is the Flyers' top offensive prospect heading into training camp. He's coming off a solid year in the OHL where he registered 40 goals and 47 assists in 57 games, and he has a real shot at making the Philadelphia roster this season. Just don't expect a ton of offense from him right away -- he'll probably be a pain-in-the-butt, fourth-line smasher who'll immediately win over the Philly faithful. His easiest path to making the team is likely on the wing -- the Flyers are stacked down the middle and are in greater need of depth on the outside.
Samuel Morin, D (RotoWire Prospects Rank: #59): After he was selected with the 11th overall pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Morin has shown promising growth in the last year, as evidenced by his 31 points in 54 games in the QMJHL. He's not just a scorer -- Morin tallied 121 PIM and a respectable plus-12 rating, indicating he can impose his will on his opponents. Just remember that defensemen take longer to mature than other positions, especially ones who play with his type of physicality. The expectation is that Morin will be promoted to the AHL level this upcoming season.
Anthony Stolarz, G (RotoWire Prospects Rank: NR): The Flyers' second-round pick from 2012 has had two great seasons with OHL London, but he comes carrying the shame of a Ron Hextall-esque suspension for stick swinging. Last March during a playoff game, Stolarz lost his head and chopped his stick down the back of an opponent's head. He was suspended for eight games, but was later reduced to six. But the shame remains. He's talented and tall, and that's enough to put him on the fast track to Philly. He's pencilled in to start the season in the AHL, but he's just an injury from his NHL debut. Remember his name. And stay away from his stick.
