We’re almost there folks. The end of the offseason is only a little over a month away. Soon the world will see just how improved this year’s Flyers team really is. Without further delay, here are the answers to your questions.
Maybe not this year, but in two to three years, yup without a doubt. Carter Hart will carry us to the promised land.
If the Flyers miss the playoffs, then one of Claude Giroux or Jakub Voracek will likely be traded. The “core” would be broken up for sure. Giroux has an NMC, so he could void a trade if it wasn’t to one of the teams he selected. Voracek is an option for trade absolutely. Even with his $8 million salary, there would be a number of teams of interest for sure. The Pittsburgh Penguins moved Phil Kessel and his $8 million cap hit this offseason to the Arizona Coyotes, so Voracek would be no different than Kessel.
The Flyers should definitely look into trading Robert Hagg for a pick(s). Like you said there may not be a trade market for Sam Morin, as he was hurt the majority of last season. However, the Flyers will need Morin’s toughness and grit for a team that right now that lacks it. So I think Morin is more valuable than Hagg. Something will give, whether Hagg gets traded or is placed on waivers, with the intent of sending him to the Phantoms.
Wooooooo I freaking love Patrick Laine. My Lord a line with Giroux-Couturier-Laine, let’s go! Love the question.
Oskar Lindblom and Nolan Patrick are entering their third seasons, where Joel Farabee would be a rookie. A very young line for sure, but here’s a quote from Alain Vigneault when he was introduced to Philly, “At our level, there’s not one coach that will not play a player that will permit him to win. I firmly believe that talent has no age. If a guy who’s 19 can step in and help the Flyers win and be competitive, he’s going to play. Talent has no age. You just have to put players, young and old, and your core guys, in situations where they can best help the team. If you do that, then you’re going to win more games than you lose.”
The line of Lindblom-Patrick-Farabee would be a dynamic one. Yes, they are young, but talent has no age. If this line is successful in Camp or the Pre-Season, then why break it up? I think putting Farabee on the first or second line to start the season would add more pressure, than playing with 2 younger players. Let Farabee grow, and earn a bigger role. In the end, I believe Farabee will for sure.
The Flyers will be more aggressive 5-on 5, and on the Penalty Kill. Vigneault will use the attack style system to his advantage. The Defense will be more responsible in their back-end, and transition out of the defensive zone with ease. This will make them a less predictable team, as Vigneault wants to limit the dump and chase system. He wants his players to carry the puck into the offensive zone, with clean entries.
The attack style system will also afford his Defencemen to join the rush at times, whole being Defensively responsible. Shayne Gostisbehere, Travis Sanheim, Ivan Provorov, and Philippe Myers should all benefit from an AV system.
I could not find stats for this, and I also did research with the stats the Flyers provided us (Media) with. However, here are the shot totals from the past three years:
2018-19- 2583
2017-18- 2631
2016-17- 2581
The Flyers have to hit the net more. Missing the net in crucial situations like the Power Play, brings down the success rate of the PP, as well. Finally, it appears the back-end is 100% healthy this off-season, so they should hit the net more consistently this season.
Fletcher believes in the “Core.” He believes with the right group this “Core” could win the most coveted prize in the Stanley Cup. Fletcher did exactly what he said he was going to do at the exit interviews: add a 2nd line Center, add a top 4 Defenseman, and sign a Goalie for Carter Hart. He should get some credit for upgrading this roster while keeping all prospects, and saving the majority of draft picks to upgrade, as well.
Fletcher had a big to-do list this off-season, to include adding a new coaching staff. Let’s see how this plays out before saying it fell flat or was underwhelming. Kevin Hayes was the second-best Center on the market, so that was the big splash.
Hopefully, NAK is an extra Forward if Tyler Pitlick beats him out for the 12th spot. However, I could see Kurtis Gabriel, Andy Andreoff, or NAK being the 13th Forward, if Vigneault keeps 8 Defencemen. I’m really pulling for NAK to win a spot out of camp.
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 #Flyersmail. Thanks to all the fans for another great mailbag, and Let’s go Flyers. Without your support, we wouldn’t be here today.
Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
