Wooooooooo how bout them smoking hot, pillow fighting, Philadelphia Flyers!!! The orange and black are on quite a tear here as of late, as they’re currently riding a four game winning streak. After defeating the Montreal Canadiens and Columbus Blue Jackets respectively. This team just has a no quit, never die attitude here as of late.
The Flyers appear to be trying to take a page out the Philadelphia Eagles playbook, as they are trying to overcome some adversity. They lost both quality netminders in Brian Elliott and Michal Neuvirth to injury, much like the Eagles suffered injuries to stars Carson Wentz and Jason Peters, just to name a few. However, General Manager Ron Hextall has a never say die attitude much like Head Coach Doug Pederson of the Eagles, “We’re not done…pause…Yet.” Hextall acquired Neuvirth’s replacement with trading two conditional draft picks for Detroit’s Czech netminder Petr Mrazek. This shows the team of the orange and black that the Flyers top brass are more than ready to fuel a push towards the playoffs.
How can the 4th line of Lehtera, Fillpula, and Weise be better than a 4th line of Martel, Vecchione and Lindblom? Can ANYONE seriously answer me that? @NHLFlyers #Flyers #letsgoflyers #Flyersmail
— Kerry (@MusicIsLife_74) February 19, 2018
Kerry what an amazing passionate, die-hard orange clad fan you are. To be honest no one can really argue with you. It was nice to see young prospect Danick Martel return to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms lineup last week. Not only did he return with a splash, but Martel potted the biscuit in the net too.
Mike Vecchione will eventually get his shot to crack this young lineup sometime this season. He has registered 13 goals, and 18 assists for a total of 31 points in 48 games played. Vecchione seems to always be around the puck. He just knows where to be and when. Vecchione can play center or wing, so look for him at some point this season.
Linblom is a puck craving machine that appears to be a natural goal scorer. Like most goal scorers Lindblom is so good along the boards, and getting into opponents sticks. The biscuit will be cooked here shortly with the big club.
With that being said the fourth line of Jori Lehtera, Valtteri Filppula, and Dale Weise really is blah. My ideal fourth line would be Taylor Leier, Filppula, and Vecchione. When Wayne Simmonds returns from injury. We can reevaluate where Lindblom would fit in with the big club, and who stays or goes.
William Baylor- If not goalie what are some realistic trade options for Simmonds?
This is a fantastic question coming from an amazing Flyers fan like yourself. Well, Mr. Simmonds would command a haul. If I’m Hextall I would go right back to the Detroit Redwings, and specifically ask for a 6’4,” 225 pound, lumberjack in Anthony Mantha. Mantha is everything a team would want in a player. The Flyers are in desperate need of a beefy, skilled middle six winger, as Wade Allison, Isaac Ratcliffe, and Matthew Strome are 2-3 years away. For the season, Mantha has registered 20 goals, and 16 assists for a total of 36 points in 57 games played. A trade would look like this:
Flyers Receives: Anthony Mantha, Either RW Prospects Evgeny Svechnikov or Givani Smith, 2nd Round Pick in 2018.
Detroit Receives: Wayne Simmonds, 5th Round Pick in 2018.
With all the scouts at the Phantoms game who do you see the Flyers possibly moving to acquire help?
— Barry (@TheRealCrowhuck) February 22, 2018
Barry coming from a dedicated Flyers fan since their inauguration into the NHL. This is a solid question. Honestly, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms may very well have scouts at the game. But, I cannot foresee the Flyers departing with any of their assets down on the farm. I think this will be a low-key trade deadline for the orange and black. At one point I thought Brandon Manning could be moved, but the Flyers will be in the market for a veteran defenseman. So that would nullify trading Manning. Moreover, at one point I also did foresee the Flyers trading for a skilled middle six winger. However, I think they’re content with the current makeup of the team. With that being said they will be looking to add a veteran defenseman, and maybe a bottom six Winger/Center for more depth.
Hextall will be patient, especially after departing with draft picks to acquire Petr Mrazek. He will be sold on restocking the farm sort of speak.
#flyersmail As far as I’m concerned Lindblom has earned his permanent spot on this team. Who gets sent down once Simmonds returns? @NHLFlyers
— Kerry (@MusicIsLife_74) February 23, 2018
Kerry your passionate die hard Flyers fan. Love your questions. You are 100% right. Oskar Lindblom has played very well for the Flyers in his two games he’s played thus far. He knows where to be and when. Lindblom is an excellent board battler, to go along with his great hockey IQ. He’s yet to hit the stat sheet. However, Lindblom will here eventually, sooner rather than later.
The current roster stands at 23 with Wayne Simmonds included (Brian Elliott and Michal Neuvirth on IR). When Wayne Simmonds returns to the lineup. I would put Jori Lehtera or Dale Wiese in the press box. Lindblom is justifying his case to stay up with the big club. He’s also an excellent penalty killer to boot, so that proves to be a valuable asset come April. Now when Elliott and Neuvirth return from injury. The Flyers will then have questions of who stays and who goes (Depending on what happens before trade deadline expires on February 26).
If you would like to see your questions submitted in our weekly mailbag. Just submit your question on our Facebook page or on Twitter using the #Flyersmail. Thanks to all the fans for another great mailbag, and Let’s go Flyers.
Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
