Flyers’ Fletcher States He Will Look to Add Defense Depth. Here’s One Possibility

Recently during an off-season press conference, Flyers’ General Manager Chuck Fletcher mentioned that he intends to at least look to add some defensive depth this off-season. Okkk???? This writer thinks that the defense has an immense amount of depth already in the system; Players like Shayne Gostisbehere (Ghost), Samuel Morin, Mark Freidman, Egor Zamula, and Wyatte Wylie are all signed. Not to mention guys like Cam York, and Mason Millman who are already on a fast track to turning pro, but will go with it.

Analyzing this above-mentioned group further, you can only assume that Chuck will look to try and move on from Gostisbehere after his struggles to stay in the lineup this season. If he is lucky enough to find a trade partner for Ghost, Fletcher might just free up a little cap space, and with any luck get a player in return that better fits into Head Coach Alain Vigneault’s system. Samuel Morin could be that big aggressive 6^th or 7^th defenseman that the team needs, but his health over the past couple of seasons leaves a lot to be desired. Mark Friedman, who will most likely be the team’s 7^th defenseman next year, was signed to a one-year deal in order to bridge the gap until Egor Zamula is ready. Zamula- who was signed as undrafted free agent- has impressed the Flyers’ brass, but the team will look to most likely try to get Egor the maximum minutes possible in his 1^st year as a professional, playing alongside fellow defenseman Wyatte Wylie as the 1^st pairing for the team’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, next season. This would be as opposed to rushing Zamula along and making play 3^rd line minutes in the National Hockey League.

If Fletcher meant that he plans to add to the team’s defensive depth by drafting another defenseman with the Flyers’ first round pick this off season, instead of trying to acquire the pure sniper the team TRULY needs to fix their power play, most fans are sure to have a heart attack right there on their couches. 

Continuing to look at all the angles of this comment by Chuck Fletcher: The Flyers’ defenseman Justin Braun is now an unrestricted free agent. Braun, who will turn 34 years-old next season, was acquired in a trade with San Jose Sharks by Fletcher in an effort to add a veteran presence- someone who could come in and show the teams young defenseman the ropes. Braun helped the defensive young core do just that this season, but now the team is faced with more pressing needs and re-signing this aging veteran to any contract remotely close to the $3.8-Million-dollar salary he made this season is just not practical, let alone possible. 

One player Fletcher should acquire if he thinks the team still needs a veteran depth defenseman to replace Braun until Zamula or one of the others are ready is the long time Ottawa Senators’ blue-liner (and now unrestricted free agent) Mark Borowiecki. Mark, who is 31-years-old, stands at 6’2 and weighs in at 204lbs. Borowiecki would offer the team so much more than just being a player who is there to keep a spot warm on the bench until a star prospect is ready. Borowiecki was an alternate captain for the Senators, and he believes in giving back to the community. With that being said, Mark earned that “A” on his chest in Ottawa by giving the team his all every time he touched the ice. Borowiecki is the type of player that, when he steps on the ice, the other team immediately curses under their breath because they know that they will have to have their heads on a swivel. The reason for this is that Mark enjoys delivering hits that leave opposing players feeling like they have been struck by a bus! He doesn’t care if his victims are along the boards or just skating down the middle of the ice, Borowiecki will just wait for his cue (the player to look down at the puck) and then down they go!  Borowiecki has handed out 1,576 of this type of hits over his nine-year career.  

Mark also uses his body to block more shots than his goalie some nights. Borowiecki is a selfless player and his 603 blocks over his career are evident of that. While Mark is back there blocking shots, he also has no problem taking on the role as a bouncer when needed- slashing, cross checking, cup checking, pushing on backs of skate blades, or just plain out-muscling his unwelcomed guest away from his goaltender’s blue paint: A trait that Flyers’ goaltender Carter Hart would no doubt utterly appreciate. 

The last talent that Borowiecki possesses that Flyers’ fans and the teams’ star players would love is his willingness to drop the gloves: Mark is always willing to stand up for a teammate, or to a willing combatant after he has just annihilated one of their teammates- and this is plainly evident by his smile while doing so. Don’t be scared of his penalty minute totals though, Borowiecki earned just 58 minutes on the season. Mark is an agitator who rarely goes to the box alone because he is a master at coaxing the other team’s best players to join him.   

If you still aren’t convinced of how good of a defenseman Borowiecki is, let’s compare his numbers this season to the rest of the Flyers in a few statistical categories that are important for a defender: 

As you can see, if Borowiecki were a Flyer this season, he would have led the TEAM not just the defense in blocked shots and in hits! Mark also had less turnovers than ANY other Flyers’ defenseman, and 30 turnovers is the highest by far that Borowiecki has ever had during a single season. If you wanted to compare Mark’s offensive numbers to Braun’s (since he could be an option to replace him) they are as follows. 

While Borowiecki and Braun’s point totals are similar, Mark managed to be a plus player while playing for the Senators this season, who were one of the worst teams in the entire NHL. 

Mark Borowiecki would make a great partner for Robert Hagg next season if GM Chuck Fletcher does not think any of his players in the system are quite ready to take on the job full-time just yet. Signing Borowiecki to a one-year deal would bring in the physicality and toughness the Flyers currently lack, while at the same time managing to not stunt the growth of any of their star defensive prospects. Additionally, Mark would be an upgrade from Justin Braun who Mark had more blocked shots than, amassed more hits than, turned over the puck less than, averaged more ice time than, scored more goals than, and had a better plus/minus than. Borowiecki managed to do all of this while playing for just $1.2 Million dollars this season: That’s $2.6 Million less than what Braun made for the year! 

If Philadelphia could bring this Bully to Broad Street for somewhere around $1.5-$2 Million dollars next season they would manage to upgrade the defensive unit while at the same time be saving money to help re-sign the team’s restricted free agents and/or sign other potential unrestricted free agents. Mark would be an instant fan favorite the minute he stepped on the ice at the Wells Fargo Center, and would bring the physicality needed to help the Flyers achieve their goal of raising Lord Stanley’s Cup next season.

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