Photo Credit: Zack Hill
The defensive corps was a major area that the Flyers wanted to address in the offseason. The team wanted to add veteran players who brought versatility, toughness, and right handed shooting. The Flyers sorely missed Matt Niskanen who retired right after the bubble and tried multiple pairings with little success last season. Missed assignments, sloppy clears, and bad positioning led to a lot of easy scoring chances, extended offensive zone time, and odd man rushes for the Flyers’ opponents. Chuck Fletcher was very proactive and brought in three veterans to help tighten up the blue line.
During the season the Flyers were connected to a few potential trades. One of the most talked about names was Ryan Ellis from the Nashville Predators. A right handed defenseman with a knack for blocking shots and getting pucks on net had his regular season cut short by injury. Shortly into the offseason Fletcher packaged young players Philippe Myers and Nolan Patrick to acquire the veteran D-man. Ellis will slot in beside Ivan Provorov and provide a pairing that can play major minutes across all facets of the game. Ellis blocked 63 shots in limited action last season and can provide 30-40 points when healthy.
The most polarizing addition of the Flyers offseason is right-handed defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, formerly of the Buffalo Sabres. A lot of fans balked at the price paid to acquire the Finnish defenseman: a first round pick, a future second round pick, and Robert Hägg. Fans will love that Ristolainen is not afraid to use his large frame, he is 6’4 and weighs 218 pounds. He averages nearly 100 blocked shots and 200 hits per season. Rasmus brings a meanness and physicality that fans clamored for all last season. He has gone on record that his goal is for the other team to hate him, I would expect him to enthusiastically clear the crease for Flyers goalies after the whistle. He will need to elevate his game to make the trade worth it, especially with only one year left on his deal. Slotting him into the second pairing with Travis Sanheim should reduce his ice time and hopefully limit some of the plays that exposed him in Buffalo.
The last addition to the Flyers blue line, Keith Yandle, has been linked to the team for a number of years. The current NHL ironman, with 922 consecutive games played, signed a one year deal, and it sounds like Kevin Hayes played a part in his recruitment. Yandle has been brought in for the third pairing with Justin Braun, pairing two veteran defenseman to provide a stable and reliable tandem. He will also play a big role quarterbacking a power play unit after a hole was left by the trade of Shayne Gostisbehere. The addition of Yandle allows young defenseman Cam York and Egor ZAmula to develop over a full year with the Phantoms.
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“It’s one of those things where I’m a team player and it’s all about the team. Like I said earlier, I don’t really think too far ahead. I think for me, it was just getting the best fit for me and a chance to win. Ultimately, that’s why I went with the Flyers.”– Keith Yandle
One of the biggest benefactors of these acquisitions will be the goalie tandem of Carter Hart and Martin Jones. These three defensemen are not afraid to use their body to help their team by blocking shots and throwing hits. They will also help with the penalty kill, clearing the puck from the zone, and solid positioning to aid their netminders.
From all of us here at Flyers Nitty Gritty, our hearts, thoughts and prayers remain with the Hayes family during this difficult time
