It is finally that time of year again where we hear the sounds of the boards after a big hit and the sticks collide while battling out on the ice. The hockey season is back and the Flyers are poised to be one of the best in the East this year with tons of depth. That depth makes it harder to predict the lines and much harder for Head Coach Alain Vigneault to position his lines. This is of course a fantastic problem to have and one all fans should be stoked about. This team has a great starting lines and is more than three deep in case of injuries. That’s the makings of a top-notch club. So without further ado, let’s get into how the lines will shake out with my current projections.
Line One: Giroux (28) Couturier (14) Konecny (11)
Explanation: Giroux and Couturier have great chemistry together since they have been on lines together for years now. They also have great chemistry with Konecny from playing with him on the powerplay often as well as five on five at times. I feel like this line just blends well together. Coots brings a Selke winning two-way game with physicality, paired with G’s underrated defensive game coupled with a still good offensive game at age 32, and TK’s elite skating with immense skill and steadily improving defense under Vigneault. Konecny plays bigger than he is at 5’10 while Couturier uses every bit of his 6’3 frame to his advantage in both zones. Then there is the Captain, Giroux who still has immense skill and skating ability in the O-Zone while playing very good defense as well. This line cannot only team up on the Power Play and be successful, but they could be dangerous at even strength as well. With the combined skill and physicality from all sizes and facets of the game that this line would feature, they could wreak havoc on opponents all night long.
Line Two: Lindblom (23) Hayes (13) Farabee (86)
Explanation: Before his diagnosis, Lindblom was on pace for a 30 goal season. Pairing him with the two-way ability of Hayes while adding in Farabee’s potentially elite playmaking and scoring ability could be a killer line. Farabee was showing flashes of being a steady top-six player last season. Now with an offseason under his belt to study up on tape and grow he is poised to take flight this season. He too, we must not forget played well in the defensive zone and is only going to improve under Vigneault. That ascending talent of Farabee combined with the still ascending talent of a potential 25-30 goal scorer in Lindblom, who has top passing ability, can become a real pest for opposing teams. This is especially so when the guy in the middle of them is Hayes. Hayes is a top two-way veteran center, who is only going to make the two youngsters around him even better and help them in their growth.
Line Three: Frost (48) Patrick (19) Voracek (93)
Explanation: Per most Flyers reporters, Patrick is looking really solid in camp and Fletcher has already said if he’s ready they are not going to take it slow. Patrick centering Voracek and the highly skilled young gun Frost could become the top third line in hockey. Yes, I said it, there is that much skill on this line not only with Jake’s skill, but he provides a veteran presence, as well. It should be noted that Voracek showed his best career defensive numbers with Vigneault, as well. He started to use his size effectively in key spots on defense. Then the returning Patrick has always been known to use his body on both ends. I feel that having Voracek who has now become a solid two-way player, paired with a good two-way player in Patrick will help to protect Frost who has elite offensive hands and skill. The one area that Frost really needs to work on is defense. This to me is the best case to get the most skill out of a line that Frost is on, while also having enough defense on the line around him to protect the young budding forward. This line can potentially score and make plays with the best of them, while also providing good protection in the defensive end. In the end it just goes to show fans how much depth the Flyers have.
Frost did say to reporters following practice on Wednesday that he would play the wing if that meant he would make the team, “I am comfortable with trying to play whatever position they want me to play,” Frost said, “I think I’ve obviously played center for most of my life, but I can adapt to wing and whatever gives me a chance to play for this team, I am willing to learn and do. It doesn’t really matter to me. I am just trying to go out there and do my best and work as hard as I can and whatever position that falls under is fine with me.”
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Line Four: Van Riemsdyk (25) Laughton (21) Aubé-Kubel (62)
Explanation: When JvR uses his size he becomes effective at both ends of the ice. I feel with all the Flyers depth he is going to be forced to move down to the fourth line. I, however, feel that is actually a good thing. It does not only add a 20 plus goal talent to the fourth line, but also should push JvR to use his big frame more and play a more physical brand of the game. He will also be centered by the very poised two-way player in Scott Laughton who is coming off his breakout season. A guy coming off his break out season on the fourth line you say? Again, it just shows how stacked the Flyers lineup is. Laughton will add grit and physicality while still being a good scorer and playmaker. Then NAK will bring that mini TK vibe to the fourth line. Where Aubé-Kubel honestly reminds me of a bottom-six version of TK. He plays above his size while having very good bottom-six ability to shoot the puck and score. Aubé-Kubel probably has one of the more underrated shots on the team. This line if all play up to the best of their abilities, can challenge that top Islanders fourth line for best and most effective in the division for sure in my eyes.
Extra Forwards: Raffl (12) Bunnaman (82)
So there you have it. That is my projected forward lines for the Flyers. Please check out my comrade Ryan Renaud’s projections, as well as, stay tuned for my defense and special teams projections. Get stoked everyone the season is almost here.
