Can Flyers hockey return already?! C’mon, as we continue to fight the dog days of Summer. Without further delay, here are our answers to your questions.
The Flyers have the roster to compete with all teams throughout the Metropolitan Division. Finally, they have a Goaltender in Carter Hart, and Goaltending alone can take a team a far way. Moreover, the orange and black finally have a coach with a voice. For these reasons alone, they could very well finish within the top three in the division. If you look at each team in the Metro, some may have taken a step back. For instance, the New York Islanders lost a really good netminder in Robin Lehner, and the Columbus Blue Jackets lost Sergei Bobrovsky, Matt Duchene, and Artemi Panarin. The Flyers should be able to hang with the Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers (Young team), and the New Jersey Devils (Young team).
However, there is a possibility the Flyers improve from last year and tally 90-92 points. This would be an increase from last year’s point total of 82 points, but this may not be enough to make the playoffs. It could very well happen for sure, so the great fans of the Philadelphia Flyers will have to wait and see just who this team really is after the first few months of the season.
In no particular order:
Bobby Clarke
Bill Barber
Eric Lindros
Mark Howe
Eric Desjardins
Claude Giroux is creeping up to Eric Lindros. This is a big year for Giroux, and if he remains consistent for the next few seasons he could surpass him.
Talks are progressing with Travis Konecny. I can say with confidence that Konecny will re-sign sometime this month. Provorov, on the other hand, is a little more difficult. If either hold out it’s Provorov, not Konecny. Moreover, I would not be shocked at all if Provorov held out, but I don’t think that will happen. I can see a deal getting done right around the time that training camp begins.
Talks are progressing with Travis Konecny. I can say with confidence that Konecny will re-sign sometime this month. Provorov, on the other hand, is a little more difficult. Moreover, I would not be shocked at all if Provorov held out, but I don’t think that will happen. I can see a deal getting done right around the time that training camp begins.
I do not foresee any more roster moves taking place before training camp takes place. Chuck Fletcher appears to be confident in this group, and the Flyers will only have approximately $1-2 million left in cap space after Ivan Provorov and Travis Konecny re-sign.
The Flyers have invited Mika Cyr (FWD-Moncton Wildcats) to Rookie Camp, to include training camp. Moreover, Chris Stewart was also signed to a PTO a few weeks ago for training camp, and that appears to be it from Fletcher.
Provorov is difficult to nail down. I would not be shocked at all if Provorov held out, but I don’t think that will happen. I can see a deal getting done right around the time that training camp begins.
When the Flyers selected Cam York with the 14th pick in this past year’s draft. One thing became evident in my mind. Chuck Fletcher was thinking ahead to the Expansion Draft. Yes, the orange and black had to restock the Defensive cupboard at the 2019 NHL Draft, but with a pure sniper in Cole Caulfield still on the board at 14. It became apparent that Fletcher is hoping that York can fill a void if, in fact, a young Flyers Defencemen is lost to the Expansion Draft. Personally, I believe Fletcher will use the 7-3-1 protection, and Philippe Myers, Travis Sanheim, and Ivan Provorov will be protected, thus exposing Shayne Gostisbehere. I love Ghost, so it would be difficult to part ways with him.
York plays well in all three zones, and he is also a better passer than Ghost. Moreover, York is a two-way Defenseman that plays both the PP and PK, whereas Ghost is only utilized on the PP. However, at the end of the day, both Ghost and York will both have good hockey careers in the NHL.
Andrew MacDonald will eventually find a home with a new hockey team at some point this season. Injuries will arise for most teams throughout the NHL, and one position that is always a need before the playoffs begin is Defense. 82 games is a lot of games to be played, it’s only a matter of time before a player gets hurt. With that being said, it may not happen today or tomorrow, but MacDonald will soon find a new home with a new club.
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: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
