As the season draws very near and we’re all getting stoked to hear the sounds of the game again, I wanted to offer my projections for defense and special teams. Just as in my forward lines article, I will list the lines then provide a short explanation for each line. As with the forwards, even after Niskanen retiring the Flyers still have tons of depth on defense and are going to, therefore, have some tough decisions to make. It is not going to be an easy task for Alain Vigneault to align his defense for all the right reasons. They have a steady Mark Friedman who developed nicely, along with Braun the vet, and Hagg the bruiser and blocker. Then two offensive wizes at their best in Gustafsson and Ghost. So what matchups and style will Vigneault decide to go with? That is a question that he can only answer, but this is how I feel the lines will shake out at least to start.
#1 Defense Pairing: Ivan Provorov (9) Shayne Gostisbehere (53)
Explanation: The great Bill Meltzer reported that Gostisbehere was not available for the intrasquad scrimmage today. He went on to say that NHL rules prohibit being more specific on his unavailability at this time. Last season we started hearing of Ghost returning to health and now after an off-season, he per reports is the best he’s felt in a while. If this is the case it would behoove the Flyers to see what they have now in a fully healthy Gostisbehere. The best way to do that is to pair him with Flyers top defender Ivan Provorov. Provorov aka Provy has an elite two-way defensive game. Pairing him with Ghost will allow Ghost to be able to pick his spots to fully jump in on the offensive attack knowing the now experienced Provy has got his back. Also, Provorov to me is going to have his full break out this year. He has already been great but in terms of mainstream media has not received much recognition. After this stellar season, I predict him being a Top 10 Dman at least in the Norris Trophy Voting (Best Defenseman). I believe Provy will finally get his well-deserved recognition. If Ghost is fully healthy and ready to go this line with a full-strength Gostisbehere and still amazingly growing Provorov could be a beast to reckon with for the opposition.
#2 Defense Pairing: Travis Sanheim (6) Philippe Myers (5)
Explanation: From reading and listening to different pieces during the offseason. I gathered that this seems like a pairing the Flyers are surely interested in. It is easy to understand why. Myers has become a top-notch scouting success for the Flyers. The undrafted defensemen has now shown himself to have the stuff of a top-four defensemen. Now it is just about being fully consistent. In 2020 compared to his stint in the 2019 season, I believe Myers showed more growth, consistency, and confidence. Still though in his first full season he as expected showed some growing pains. However, with how quickly Myers showed growth from just 21 games in 19 to 50 last season I believe he is poised to take off and prove he is surely a top-four defender at the NHL level.
Then his partner Sanheim at least to me is our mini Provorov who maybe could grow to be right behind Provy in skillset as he continues to grow. Sanheim now entering his third full season after a long 49 game run in 17-18 has only shown more and more each season. He went from being a guy with the immense raw skill to now turning that raw skill into consistency. He still, of course, being only 24 years of age has growing to do but even so, he has already proven consistent enough to be a top-four defender for the Flyers. That is where I think he will position this year in the top four will fellow youngster Myers. Sanheim being with Myers will allow Myers to fully use his shot and big frame in the offensive zone without having to worry about many fast breaks the other way due to the defensive skills of Sanheim plus the Flyers forward group.
#3 Defensive Pairing: Erik Gustafsson (56) Robert Hägg (8)
Explanation: This explanation is pretty simple. Erik Gustafsson in his career has proven to be good and at times very good in the offensive zone. However, other than his top notch 18-19 season, he has not been the example of consistency in the defensive zone. This is why I feel not only for the Flyers but for Gustafsson could be a great move. Maybe Alain Vigneault’s system can make Gustafsson into the best version of himself. He did it last year with Sanheim and Myers growing them immensely. Now it is Gustafsson’s turn for a crack at it. Another guy who AV helped to grow as a defender as well is Gus’s partner in this scenario Robert Hägg. Hägg to me is the perfect partner for Gustaffson. Hägg is a defensive D-Men who can chip in here and there. For Gustafsson who likes to jump up on offense in ways that will remind people of a forward even more so then the Ghost, Hägg could be the perfect partner. Hägg will be in a good spot to get back in case of an opposing rush along with one of our forwards. I feel Robert Hägg has proven himself enough at this point to warrant a top-six spot and a very important one in that. He is tasked with being the bruiser and blocker so that Gustaffson can hopefully recapture some of his 18-19 self.
Scratched: Justin Braun (61)
Penalty Kill One: Sean Couturier (14) Scott Laughton (21)
Ivan Provorov (9) Philippe Myers (5)
Explanation: Selke Winner Sean Couturier should surely be on the top PK line giving opposing attackers fits. Pairing him upfront with one of the league’s more underrated defenders in Laughton could go a long way. Both players get into the passing and shooting lanes well. On top of that if Couturier was to get thrown out of the faceoff dot Laughton is more than able to win a draw himself. Then for the defenders, Provorov is self-explanatory. He is our top defender and therefore, should get top PK minutes. Myers on the other hand for me is ready to start getting more PK time. Myers’s speed and developing all around game as well as along the boards skill will pair very well on the PK with the all around Provorov. Myers and Provy both too have the potential to jump into the passing lanes or just pound and block people in the defensive zone. This PK line if all goes right has the skill to become a top one in the league.
Penalty Kill Two: Kevin Hayes (13) Joel Farabee (86)
Travis Sanheim (6) Robert Hägg (8)
Explanation: As stated above, I believe Sanheim is a mini Provorov and is only going to get better. Pairing him with Hägg on PK two could be a real delight for the opposition. Hägg is able to play along the boards, forecheck, hit, and last but not least block shots with the best of them on the Flyers. Pairing Hägg’s skill on the Pk along with the top-notch all-around developing play of Sanheim really could make it a fairly easy task for the forwards on PK two. Those forwards will be Hayes who too is a Selke caliber defender paired with young stud Joel Farabee. Farabee has already played some PK time in his rookie season and after adding some LBs and experience over the offseason is poised in my mind to step up and take a steady role in this department this year. His ability to read the play and use his quick skating ability could also lead to some short-handed opportunities as well. Giving Hayes the speed and defensive effectiveness of Farabee on his wing on the PK is only going to make him even more effective as well. I look for Farabee to be that Pitlick esque pesky penalty killer.
Others to see time on the PK: Jakub Voracek (93) NAK (62) Nolan Patrick (19) Justin Braun (61)- when active
Power Play One: Oskar Lindblom (23) Sean Couturier (14) Travis Konecny (11)
Shayne Gostisbehere (53) Philippe Myers (5)
Explanation: Lindblom before his diagnosis was on pace for a 30 goal season while Konecny had his breakout season last year after getting his payday. Then there is the always steady Couturier who will not only provide great powerplay offense but also help to avoid any short-handed rushes. Putting Lindblom’s scoring, speed, and playmaking ability together with that of Konecny’s could make for a killer PP line. Especially when their center is the big statured elite in skill Couturier. Behind them will be the fully healthy Ghost if he is ready to go due to league protocols. As stated above if he is healthy the Flyers need to see what they have in Ghost. He is an offensive first defender so putting him on the top PP line makes sense to me. I feel Pairing him with Myers will work because when at his best Ghost has an uncanny ability to get shots through traffic. Then in his young career, Myers has already shown a John Klingberg-like ability to get the shot through from sliding along the point until he finds an open slot. Pairing two potentially top PP defensemen with the skill of Lindblom, Couturier, and Konecny has the makings to turn around the Flyers PP woes from late last season.
Poweplay Line Two: JVR (25) Kevin Hayes (13) Joel Farabee (86)
Erik Gustafsson (56) Claude Giroux (28)
Explanation: If JVR is fully healthy in order to get your best value out of him he needs to be on the powerplay in my opinion. He needs to be someone who just commits to parking himself in front of the net to get the dirty goals. Just like former Flyer Mike Knuble. The difference is Knuble was not nearly as skilled as JVR who has very skilled hands in front of the net. If JVR can commit to being a more skilled Knuble he has a chance to have a great bounce-back performance this season. Then there is Hayes who is our mini Couturier. He is not as skilled as Couts but still uses his body very effectively to keep pucks alive as well as provide great net-front presence himself. Then the young stud Farebee’s speed with his quick finesse and hands will be able to set up Hayes and JVR with the best of them while also creating many chances for himself due to great positioning.
Then there is potentially one of the top PP defenders in the league in Gustafsson on their line to go with them. As stated above Gustaffson will not make you shout praises for his defense but for his offense that certainly could be the case. If he can recapture some of his 2018 self, pairing him with Giroux at the point, who has tons of experience there on the PP can be a deadly combination. Both can slide up into the play as well and blast a missile away from the point. I believe getting Gustafsson was mainly for the PP and to improve those damning numbers from late last season. Putting him with these four will give him a great chance at doing so.
Others to see time on PP: Nolan Patrick (19) Jakub Voracek (93) Travis Sanheim (6)
Goalies: #1 Carter Hart #2 Brian Elliott
Explanation: All I have to say about this one is hot dog we got a franchise goaltender with a legit backup in Elliott. Praise the hockey gods!!!!!
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So there you have it the 2021 Philadelphia Flyers defense and special teams article. Please if you haven’t already check out my comrade Ryan Renaud’s line projections on our site as well as my 2021 forward line projections. Hope you all enjoyed the read. It’s the three day count day all. Are you ready for some hockey?!!!!!!
