Chuck Fletcher meant business is all season long as he overhauled the majority of the roster last offseason, and it started as soon as it began, “It’s about trying to create a new group, a new leadership group, new chemistry. All these guys we have acquired besides being good hockey players bring a lot of those qualities, bring a lot of experience, bring a lot of professionalism to our roster.”
Fletcher said he will consult John Tortorella on moves this offseason, “John will be consulted a lot more on pro players and maybe free agents and trades. You always want to get the coaches input on the type of player you’re bringing in from the outside if you’re going to do that. Maybe they have knowledge of the player or certain things they know about the player that you don’t. You would be crazy to not involve your coaching staff on player personnel decisions.”
As mentioned above Flyers blueprint for the rest of the offseason is a backup goalie, another veteran defenseman, and a Center. However, all of this is not possible unless the Flyers are able to shed salary as they only have $118,560 in Cap space. To make matters worse nine players need new contracts that the Flyers offered qualifying offers to: Wade Allison, Zack MacEwen, Morgan Frost, Owen Tippett, Tanner Laczynski, Isaac Ratcliffe, Jackson Cates, Linus Högberg, and Hayden Hodgson
Here are targets for Fletcher and the Flyers
Goalie– Ilya Samsanov, Braden Holtby, Martin Jones, Keith Kinkaid
Center- Dylan Strome, Andrew Copp, Chris Tierney
Veteran Defenseman– Ian Cole, Erik Gudbranson, Justin Braun
Wingers (If they an shed cap in time when free agency begins)- Johnny Gaudreau, Ondrej Palat
The Flyers are in a good spot with some young prospects, whom are knocking on the door with the likes of Egor Zamula, Wyatte Wylie, Tyson Foerster, Tanner Laczynski, Wade Allison, and Isaac Ratcliffe. All of which are 100% healthy at the moment.
Cam York is penciled into the bottom pairing. He has been in Voorhees all Summer, like Foerster. Both of these young prospects want it, and one can sense it, “Just getting stronger here,” Foerster said after Developmental Camp yesterday. “I’ve been here the whole summer so far, so working out with these guys training and working on my legs. That is what I really need to work on. Getting those stronger will help my skating.”
This philosophy above could help push the young players with competition. Competition is healthy and it can be a good thing in terms of production. The Flyers will add via free agency, but do not look for a blockbuster type deal, that has been handled already in the offseason thus far with the acquisition of Tony DeAngelo. The Flyers would love to add Gaudreau, unfortunately they are having some difficulty unloading salary, per a source.
