Welp Flyers fans. Who knows what’s going to happen in regards to the Flyers season. They have put themselves in a pretty big hole, and they are drowning in the water in that particular hole. Without further delay, here are our answers to your questions.
The term “Core” of the Flyers is a myth. Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek, and Sean Couturier make up the core of the Flyers. Giroux has a NMC so he will not go anywhere, while Voracek is a possibility, but that would be an offseason move. Unfortunately, due to the flat cap and teams not wanting to take term it would be virtually impossible for Chuck Fletcher to move Voracek before the trade deadline ends on April 12, 2021.
If this team continues their free fall, the Flyers will have an offseason overhaul (A major move or two). This team will have some fresh faces, and a new locker room, as well. This organization does not tolerate losing, nor should they.
1) Alain Vigneault has tried pressing the right buttons. He started by calling out Kevin Hayes a few months ago stating he had to be better defensively, and with the benching Travis Konecny. He has also benched Shayne Gostisbehere as he explained that he wanted him be more focused on the defensive side of things. I do not understand the mysterious benching and demotion to Joel Farabee THOUGH. He was the Flyers most consistent forward until March, I do not think he should have been benched nor demoted.
The Flyers are very talented and they have had numerous young players regress (Nicolas Aubé-Kubel), to include veterans such as Travis Konecny and Kevin Hayes. On the backend Ivan Provorov has struggled, as has Travis Sanheim, Erik Gustafsson, Philippe Myers, and Robert Hägg. Carter Hart has also struggled, it’s like a perfect storm of young players struggling and that become the Flyers motto for this year for some reason.
Sure, Vigneault is responsible for some of this, but he does not deserve all the blame. Special teams has been horrid, to include the coaching of Michel Therrien and Mike Yeo. Now it’s time for them and the players to take accountability for their poor play and coaching, as well. To me there is a fracture in this locker room and the question is where. Unfortunately, we as media are not allowed to enter the locker rooms this year, so I do not have stories to tell. Fletcher and Vigneault know where it is though, and it will be addressed.
2) This year’s motto was start off strong, to which they did not. Yes, they won games they shouldn’t have won, but this year’s team was nothing like last year’s playoff team. They have been far more inconsistent, and the blue line has suffered greatly. The same inconsistencies with special teams has hindered this team greatly, as well.
The biggest let down this year are the special teams and the blue line. Even with Matt Niskanen this team wouldn’t be in a playoff spot. One player does not make this team a contender or a playoff ready team for that matter. That leads me to believe that this fracture in the locker room has impacted the Flyers on ice play more than most think. Fletcher has work to do to correct this special teams let downs, and fixing the blue line. These are the two most important areas of need for the Flyers this upcoming offseason.
3) There are four leaders inside this locker room, and all have been expressed by players throughout the course of the season. Sean Couturier, Scott Laughton, Claude Giroux, and Justin Braun have emerged from players words of trying to aid them or pump them up. Hayes was phenomenal in this role last year, but I have personally not heard of him in this role this season. At times Hayes looks disinterested, and I do not know why.
The only reason I would think about trading Claude Giroux would be to move him to a cup contender, like the Flyers did with Kimmo Timonen a few years ago. Giroux is one of the most underappreciated athletes in Philadelphia…period. He is also having a great season, however, no one is safe in my opinion. If the right offer was made, of course Chuck Fletcher should entertain it, however, Giroux does have a No Movement Clause (NMC), to which he has said in the past he would not waive it.
The plan was to give Kirill Ustimenko the reins with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms this season for the very reason you asked this question. Unfortunately, the Flyers cannot rely on Ustimenko’s services next season with the big club after missing a year of developmental time in the AHL.
Right now Zane McIntyre is outplaying Felix Sandström, so I do not think that Sandström will fill the void of the backup role if Brian Elliott does indeed retire or move on. Ivan Fedotov would be a great backup to Carter Hart, so I wonder if him and the Flyers have had conversations of such. Samuel Ersson has also played lights out for Brynäs IF in the SHL, but he would have to get adjusted to the North American ice like Sandström did. Fedotov is an exception as he is playing in the KHL which is arguably the second toughest league in the world.
I will have to ask Chuck Fletcher this very question in the future, so I can revisit this.
The Minnesota Wild would love a top six forward for Matt Dumba, in particular a bonafide center. However, those type of centers are hard to come by these days, so a package to include high end prospects should suffice. They would definitely want Morgan Frost that is a no brainer, but they might want Wade Allison/Tanner Laczynski or David Kaše, as well. Of course, throw in a first round pick too:
Flyers receive: Matt Dumba
Wild receive: Morgan Frost, Wade Allison/Tanner Laczynski, 2021 first round pick
The biggest let down this year are the special teams and the blue line. Even with Matt Niskanen this team wouldn’t be in a playoff spot. One player does not make this team a contender or a playoff ready team for that matter. That leads me to believe that a fracture in the locker room has impacted the Flyers on ice play more than most think. Fletcher has work to do to correct this special teams let downs, and with fixing the blue line. These are the two most important areas of need for the Flyers this upcoming offseason.
Getting Carter Hart right should ultimately be the top priority now. The season has a feeling like almost over after losing 4-2 to the Bruins. Hart should see a majority of the starts down the stretch here, as he is too valuable to the franchise.
The Florida Panthers do not want Shayne Gostisbehere at the moment, and that might be due to term and cap. They could of had him for nothing but they elected not to snag him off waivers, although I do like the player Vladislav Kolyachonok. Maybe this could be an offseason move, as many teams are scared to take on term and cap.
Minnesota will not trade for James van Riemsdyk, as they would not want his salary. Ian Cole is on an expiring contract it would be highly unlikely that they would trade for JvR, whom has two more years left with a $7 million cap hit. JvR is playing well, but this is a flat cap era, with still some uncertainty for monies (Fan attendance is a big one) next season. Term is a huge problem for the Flyers right now, it would have to be a one for one type deal with around equal term and cap, unless the Flyers want to trade Morgan Frost and/or Cam York as a part of the deal.
The Flyers should be sellers and Chuck Fletcher approach this years trade deadline with next year in mind. Here are a list of players the Flyers could sell:
Michael Raffl- (1.6 mil)
Brian Elliott- (1.5 mil) would hate to move him, but if somebody offers why not
Scott Laughton- (2.3 mil)
Erik Gustafsson- (3 mil) pipe dream
Flyers fans deserve better and Chuck Fletcher knows that. At least one major move via trade is in store if this team does not right the ship, which is highly unlikely at this point. Missing the playoffs is unacceptable, and the Flyers top brass knows that.
Fletcher said last week that teams are not willing to take on term or cap. I expect this deadline to be a quiet one, maybe with one move.
Sellers…
Michael Raffl- (1.6 mil)
Brian Elliott- (1.5 mil)
Scott Laughton- (2.3 mil)
Erik Gustafsson- (3 mil) pipe dream
Best case scenario as buyer or seller is obtaining a right-handed defenseman. The Flyers are stockpiled with young left-handed defensemen in the future with the likes of Yegor Zamula and Cam York to mention a few. Now they need a right-handed defenseman. I expect Fletcher to be in on Jason Demers from the Arizona Coyotes who has an expiring contract at the end of the season.
According to Flyers Head Coach Alain Vigneault, Joel Farabee’s work ethic is great, but he’s hit a wall and he has to fight through it. Vigneault explained that he expects him to come out ahead of it, but stressed the importance of a young player trying to find his game when the production is not there. He really thinks Joel will be a very good player, but stressed patience with the youth.
Farabee is struggling somewhat that’s for certain. I am not a fan of putting him on the fourth line either, but at the end of the day I understand where Vigneault is coming from. Jake Voracek talked to Farabee on the bench last night after he almost potted a goal, and patted him on the back after Farabee was frustrated with himself. That’s what Farabee needs, assurance people have his back, to which everyone does.
I foresee one of a member of the core of Claude Giroux, Sean Couturier, or Jake Voracek to be moved in the offseason. In addition, I could see the Flyers parting ways with Nolan Patrick, whether that’s via trade or what.
Giroux has a No Movement Clause (NMC), but if he was traded to the right team in Canada maybe he says yes (Maybe he could reunite in Toronto with his best friend Wayne Simmonds). Would I like to move Giroux…absolutely not, but this team should not have regressed the way they have Covid or not…period.
Flyers fans deserve better and Fletcher knows that. At least one major move via trade is in store if this team does not right the ship, which is highly unlikely at this point. Missing the playoffs is unacceptable, and the Flyers top brass knows that.
I do not foresee the Flyers using the eight player method of protection. Even if Fletcher obtains a defenseman by the trade deadline which is very possible. I still see the Flyers using the method of a 7-3-1.
Chuck Fletcher will fix the defensive side of the puck via trade or offseason acquisition I will guarantee that 100%. The Flyers defense will not be the same next season, now the question herein lies, does Fletcher add a defenseman by the trade deadline? If the right deal surfaces, absolutely. Does Fletcher want to make a trade…absolutely. The problem is not many teams want cap or term. For instance, look at the Devils-Islanders deal involving Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac. The Devils retained 50% salary for both players to make the deal work.
The most lucrative piece to fix the blue line issues is Scott Laughton. He has a favorable cap hit at $2.3 million, so he is an attractive piece for a contender. Fletcher and his staff has been scouting Nashville and Arizona (Brent Flahr did a few weeks ago), so I would surmise a deal with one of those two teams will take place by the deadline or the offseason, possibly for Jason Demers.
The Flyers should be sellers and Chuck Fletcher approach this years trade deadline with next year in mind. Here are a list of players the Flyers could sell:
Michael Raffl- (1.6 mil cap hit)
Brian Elliott- (1.5 mil cap hit) would hate to move him, but if somebody offers why not
Scott Laughton- (2.3 mil cap hit)
Erik Gustafsson- (3 mil cap hit) pipe dream for someone to trade for him
Nolan Patrick– (RFA $900,000 cap hit)
I would love to get on the ice tomorrow. Let’s see what happens. Flyers fans are the best in the business.
If you would like to see your questions submitted in our weekly mailbag. Just submit your question on our Twitter page @flyersknitty using #Flyersmail, or @JameyBaskow. Thanks to all the fans for another great mailbag, and Let’s go Flyers.
