Photo Credit: nhlpa.com
An integral part to the nucleus that made the Flyers who they were for so long is missing. A role that few will ever attempt to sign up for and can only be filled by the bravest of the bunch. This player must be a gladiator one who is willing to enter-into the lion’s den (if you will). Someone that is willing to stand in front of the opposing teams net plant his feet and be willing to take on the imminent physical bodily harm that is to come when choosing to set up shop in such real estate. Screening the goalie in order to gain access to rebounds, deflections, and redirections. A role performed so well in years past by fan favorites like Scott Hartnell, and Wayne Simmonds that they were able to thrive in it for years garnering up massive amounts of points. Both Hartnell and Simmonds had the grit and mental toughness to withstand the nightly beatings from rival teams; often playing hurt and not telling anyone until the season had concluded.
Since deciding to trade winger Wayne Simmonds to the Nashville Predators back at the 2018-2019 trade deadline. The Flyers have not been able to fill the void left behind by his absence. A few players since have tried to fill this role, but ALL have ultimately failed to fill such big shoes that were left behind.
So how can the Flyers General Manager Chuck Fletcher try to replace such Flyers legends? By signing unrestricted free agent (UFA) winger Craig Smith that’s how! Smith has played his whole NHL career up to this point with the Nashville Predators. If you watch game tape on him, you will see that he is that GRITTY forward the Flyers so desperately need. One who gets all his mail forwarded to him in front of the other team’s net. Craig who is now 30 and stands at 6’1″ and 208 pounds has made a name for himself working hard in the trenches for every point he gets. If not for this seasons abrupt halt due to this virus, Smith would have obtained his 6th season with 20 plus goals. With totals this season of 18 goals, 13 assists, for 31 points in just 69 games played. It’s easy to see how Smith would bring in some much-needed goal scoring ability.
When not parking himself in front of the net, Craig tends to show off his skating capabilities, which pairs nicely with his willingness to SHOOT THE PUCK! A trait the Flyers could most certainly put to good use seeing that they have a team made up of mostly playmakers.
The most impressive thing about Smith’s game might just be his defensive abilities. Such attributes that have allowed Smith to be a plus player for the last seven years of his career. Managing to maintain a +18 this season, and a +67 for his career Smith will never hurt the Flyers chances to win while he is on the ice.
The Flyers need to place a sense of urgency on filling this vacancy before this coming season. The acquisition of Craig Smith would not only offer further depth to the Flyers offense but also replace the lack of scoring left behind in Oskar Lindblom’s absence. Smith may not come exactly cheap though. Making an adequate amount for his production last year in the amount of $4.25 Million may seem a little steep to the Flyers who have a lot of restricted and unrestricted free agents of their own to resign. However, when you have the uncertainty of a top six forward never returning like the Flyers do in Oskar Lindblom, paired with Nolan Patrick, who still has not been medically cleared for contact. The team shouldn’t bank on the likelihood that a prospect that they have in their system already, or one that they draft this year at their current position (in the draft) will be able to secure a spot as a top six forward next season. With the NHL Salary Cap set to increase from the current $81.5 Million to a possible $88.2 Million. Chuck Fletcher should air on the side of certainty offering a short term lucrative deal to the more then capable veteran (Craig Smith) one that would entice him to move on from Music City to further continue his career in the city of Brotherly Love. Doing so, would allow the team not to have to gamble or rush a prospect that is not yet ready and thus setting them up to fail.
“Chuck Fletcher should air on the side of certainty…”
Are you kidding me? This is what passes for journalism now. This reads like a paper written by a middle schooler.
Very weak article. Needing to sign an over paid old player who will not move the needle is stupid. The Flyers need to continue to grow their own potential superstars and one top line creative scoring winger.
What potential superstars do the Flyers have at winger that could step in next yr and fill a top 6 role left vacant by Oskar Lindblom?
The team already had to convert to natural Centers in Giroux and Laughton into wingers because they had none. Add to that now the loss of Lindblom and the Flyers are back to square one. Who do you suppose fill his spot in the lineup? Radcliffe a wing prospect that is still 2 years away at best? This is not the best situation by any means, but it is the one the Flyers have been dealt. In order to stay competitive until one of our prospects are ready this is what needs to be done.
Signing another high priced free agent is a horrible idea. Fletcher overpaid last summer for Hayes (not that he wasn’t worth $5M) and as this author noted, the Flyers have so many great young players who must be signed this year and next (Nolan Patrick, Phillippe Myers, Travis Sanheim, Carter Hart, Oskar Lindblom, Robert Hagg, Nick Aube-Kubel, Felix Sandstrom, Michael Raffl, Tyler Pitlick, Brian Elliott, German Rubtsov, Mikhail Vorobeyev, Mark Friedman, Nate Thompson, Scott Laughton and Derek Grant. That list doesn’t include Matt Niskanen and Justin Braun. By the way, Chuck Fletcher gave up a 2nd and a 3rd round pick for Braun. Braun was ok, but certainly not worth two high picks.
Fletcher is in trouble as you can see the above list of Flyers coming up for new contract over the next two seasons. He has to learn how to negotiate and learn quickly. Sean Couturier has just three seasons left on his contract and you know that won’t go well (see: Wayne Simmonds contract negotiations with Chuck Fletcher).
Finally. The Flyers under Ron Hextall, were building a team from within. Yes, it was a slow process, but now we can see where Hextall was taking his creation. His draft picks are now becoming outstanding NHL players. It took more time than building through free agent signings, but the results are more long term than overpaying aging superstars. Chuck Fletcher shoul rehire Ron Hextall as GM and simply remain the Flyer’s President. -Gregg Lorenz, Morrisville Pa
Stupid article. Any large pro can and will stand in front of the net. Some are better than others. Van Riemsdyk does it well and he has skill. Have you seen Simmonds lately? Not doing much.