Examining A Dilemma For The Flyers In The Offseason

In the first edition of examining offseason moves, let’s take a look at Flyers forward Tyler Pitlick. Pitlick was acquired from the Dallas Stars for fellow forward Ryan Hartman last June. After getting off to a slow start in October leading to a minus four, and some healthy scratches (Following offseason wrist surgery). Pitlick hit the ground running ever since, and became a valuable member of the team. Since October, Pitlick’s only other minus month all season was November, and that was only a measly minus one while having a total of two goals and two assists on the month. Pitlick started to really adjust to coach Alain Vigneault’s system starting in November, and became a very valuable asset for the team on both ends, while playing valuable bottom six minutes. Pitlick’s average time on the ice for the season was 12:03 MPG (Minutes Per Game).

Pitlick and Laughton also compliment each other well. While on the ice together, both being very solid two-way players, with one in Laughton coming from the Left side and Pitlick of course the right. Pitlick’s solid two-way play lead him to getting time on the penalty kill, and answering that call with success. Now let’s get into the Nitty Gritty details of this seasons stats for forward Tyler Pitlick, who has proven Chuck Fletcher right as good pick up by the Flyers GM. 

Pitlick on the season in 63 games played registered eight goals, and 12 assists for 20 points, with a +/- of + 11 to go along with it. He also has been very responsible only accumulating 12 total penalty minutes on the season. Moreover, Pitlick also served time on the penalty kill, and had a very solid +/- especially for a bottom six forward. Pitlick has done everything you could ask of a bottom six forward. He has been effective on the forecheck, as well as, using his underrated ability to read the play to bounce on mistakes and use his solid speed and passing ability to lead a counter rush up ice. Pitlick is also one of the Flyers best plus minus guys at home with a +/- of + 12. The rest of his home stats are two goals, and seven assists for nine total points. On the road, Pitlick was a minus one, but very effective on offense as a bottom six forward, as he tallied six goals, and five assists for 11 points before the season halted. Furthermore, his lone game winning goal on the season was at Washington on March 4^th, and it can be seen below:

It is safe to say Tyler Pitlick has become a very good pick up by Chuck Fletcher. As said above, after one slow month to start the season, while Pitlick was adjusting to the new offense and his new team; he has since become a very valuable member of the team. Pitlick has been a great cheap pick up for the Flyers for at least one year. This year he has a one-million-dollar total cap hit according to sportrac.com. He is surely going to be asking for a raise coming off his best overall season, in my opinion, to date. The Flyers, like other teams throughout the NHL, face uncertainty with the salary cap and will have to adjust, but Pitlick deserves a raise. Pitlick has earned that raise of say an up to a two, two and a half, or even three-million-dollar contract for a few seasons. Pitlick is still only 28 years of age, and has already proven to be a highly effective two-way player for the Flyers, since acquiring him in the offseason.

This 28-year-old in Pitlick is likely someone Fletcher would not want to lose. However, you cannot keep everyone, so if the Flyers are unable to keep Pitlick, as fans we should have confidence Fletcher and his staff will find the appropriate player to slide into his role. For instance, Linus Sandin is a player that comes to mind that could possibly fill Pitlick’s role, followed by Connor Bunnaman and Carsen Twarynski who both showed some promise this year in bottom six roles of their own while being called with the big club. The list goes on and on of in house options while of course, there is always the possibility of going out and signing a similar player to Pitlick in free agency. These are answers we of course will not know until season end, and a decision is made on the contract on Tyler Pitlick. If it were up to me, I would bring Pitlick back with how well he fit into the Flyers system. As previously mentioned, however, hockey is a business and I would understand if he is not brought back. It is clear that at least for this season, Tyler Pitlick has been a perfect bottom six pick up for the Flyers.