Pictured: Brayden Schenn surprisingly led the team in scoring this year
FLY ER DIE: SEASON WRAP-UP
Despite an improved record, the Flyers have ended up in the same position as last season; out of the playoffs and nowhere close to a top draft pick. Finishing above .500 with a 43-34-5 record, the Flyers fell victim to a very strong Eastern conference, in particular the stacked Metro division that holds 7 playoff-calibre teams. Signs of hope are there though, as the team posted the best powerplay in the East and hit the 80% benchmark for the penalty kill. The team will be looking for upgrades next season, and doesn't stand to lose any key players this offseason.
Forwards:
Grade: A-
Yet again, the Flyers top line was fantastic. Brayden Schenn, Claude Giroux, and Jakub Voracek posted 79, 77, and 76 points respectively, helping the team finish with more goals for than 3 of the Eastern playoff teams. Depth scoring struggled a bit more than last season; Sean Couturier notably regressed by about 10 points thanks to increased defensive responsibility. Travis Konecny had a very good rookie season on the 2nd line, posting 48 points. Konecny figures to be a key part of the Flyers future top 6. Late acquisition Laurent Dauphin and Nail Yakupov also posted 40+ points. Perhaps the most impressive member of the bottom 6 was Tom Kuhnhackl, who put up 17 points and a +2 rating in a grinder role. Despite the relative offensive success, there are rumours that Flyers management are already talking trades with another team, in a deal that could bring in a top 6 upgrade on Nail Yakupov. Prospects Santeri Virtanen and Andrei Altybarmakyan continue to develop in Europe.
Defence:
Grade: B-
Big strides were made on the restructured blueline this season, as all 4 new members fit right in and produced well. The 2 returnees, Shayne Gostisbehere and Radko Gudas were more of the same, with Ghost hitting 50 points again and Gudas bringing his reliable brand of physical defence. Acquired from Columbus, David Savard stepped right on to the top pairing and did a fantastic job, putting up 45 points and noticeably improving his oft-criticized defensive game. Rookie Ivan Provorov put up 36 points, and looks like he could be one of the best defenceman in the league very soon. Jordie Benn and Mac Weegar formed a steady bottom pairing, with the steady Benn allowing Weegar's offensive game to blossom, evidenced by a 30 point rookie campaign. The Flyers will likely enter next season with the same defence, and should be set for a long time with Philippe Myers and Jacob Larsson knocking on the door in the AHL.
Goaltending:
Grade: B-
Philipp Grubauer has truly seized his chance as a starter. Acquired for a 1st rounder at the last entry draft, Grubauer had big expectations to fix the Flyers biggest weakness. He was an absolute workhorse, playing in 68 games for a 36-25-4 record. He also posted 2 shutouts and a 0.910 save percentage, giving the team a chance to win on any given night. Backup Louis Domingue continued his poor play, and will likely be shipped out this offseason when an upgrade becomes available. Carter Hart continues to develop in the AHL and could be seen in the NHL very soon.
Awards:
Leading Scorer: Brayden Schenn
MVP: Philipp Grubauer
Most Exciting Player: Jakub Voracek
Best Defenceman: Shayne Gostisbehere
Unsung Hero: Jordie Benn
Offseason Plan
Brayden Schenn - Claude Giroux [C] - Jakub Voracek
xxx - Sean Couturier [A] - Travis Konecny
Michael Raffl - Laurent Dauphin - Tobias Rieder
Tom Kuhnhackl - Scott Laughton - Jannik Hansen
Shayne Gostisbehere [A] - David Savard
Ivan Provorov - Radko Gudas [A]
Jordie Benn - MacKenzie Weegar
Philipp Grubauer
xxx