It’s quite obvious this season was a season of disappointment for the Flyers. It was a season that started out with high expectations. However, the defense was bad, the goaltending was subpar, and the youth regressed in most cases.
Nolan Patrick under performed one year after removed from a migraine disorder that sidelined him for the 2019-20 season. Patrick taking his time and easing back into the rigors of a full NHL season was to be expected. He managed to stay healthy for the most part for the entire season, but unfortunately Kevin Hayes is now recovering from core muscle surgery. The same surgery that took Brian Elliott over a year to recover from, and we all know how that ended (Used eight different Goaltenders and Former Flyers General Manager Ron Hextall was fired). The same surgery that Claude Giroux and Shayne Gostisbehere had that kept them from performing early in the season.
Moreover, the same can be said for Morgan Frost. Frost missed the entire season this past year, and it is unfair to rely on Frost to just come back 100% and excel. Especially after missing an important year in his developmental stages of his career.
Flyers’ General Manager Chuck Fletcher is now faced with a predicament of either banking on Hayes to come back 100% for the 2021-22 season, or not. He cannot rely on Patrick to return to form before his migraine disorder. Now, much like solidifying the defense, finding a third line Center NOW becomes a priority in a revenge season. So much so, there is one name that would be a perfect fit with the Flyers, and that is an unrestricted free agent in an energizer bunny Casey Cizikas.
Cizikas’s motor never stops running. He hits, he forechecks well, and can play in any situation the coaching staff asks of him to include penalty killing. For his efforts, he tallied seven goals, and registered seven assists in 56 games played this season, not eye popping numbers but his numbers do not tell his whole story properly. Cizikas is a more talented version of Tyler Pitlick, and he is just 30-years-old.
How many times have Flyers fans seen Cizikas back check, negate icings, and pot big goals. Every single time the Flyers play the New York Islanders Cizikas seems to make big plays, and just be a pain in the arse for the Flyers. He’s fast, never takes a shift off, and would be a great addition for the orange and black. Cizikas won’t pot 30 goals, but one thing is certain he’s a good two-way player.
He will fight and stick up for his teammates, and Cizikas would be a breath air for this young orange and black team. Cizikas provides plenty of checking ability. He excels on a checking unit and can also kill penalties, but he is a gritty player, as well. He is an agitator and given his size plays well, and does not get worn down. Cizikas is exactly a player the Flyers could use right now.
The Flyers could use more physicality, grit, and toughness in the lineup. Well Cizikas is exactly that player. Cizikas made $3.35 million this past season, maybe he is due a raise, but maybe not. Has he done enough to warrant a raise, possibly, but if I’m Fletcher I would inquire about his services regardless. The Flyers missed the services of Tyler Pitlick this past season, and Cizikas would be an upgrade over him.
Cizikas’ salary would have gotten us TWO years of Pitlick, who was otherwise deemed too expensive for a team that loves to jettison it’s heart and soul hustle guys Anything but more high-priced signings of defensemen who don’t defend.
Say it man!