The Flyers Are Bullies No More

Gone are the days of the Flyers employing enforcers such as fan favorites Dave Schultz, Dave Brown, Donald Brasher, Todd Fedoruk. These type of players, “goons” if you will, were recruited for the sole purpose of eradicating any threat to one of their teammates. Benefits to this type of player are that they are able to: serve justice to an opposing team’s player that might have committed a dirty hit or play; start a fight when their team is down in the game to get the crowd back into it; or if nothing else, to play with the mindset “if we can’t beat them, we might as well beat them up!”

Sadly, we are all now faced with the harsh reality that the NHL has changed in recent years. The league is more about speed, skill and finesse, rather than the size, strength, and brute force of “the old days,” thus forcing these 4th line prizefighters-on-skates out of the game. This DOES NOT mean that teams no longer need to employ a player that can stand up for his fellow teammates if there is a need to drop the gloves. Most Eastern Conference Teams still have at least one- if not more- player that can throw down if needed. The only difference from the days of old is that now those assertive players can also be among the leaders on the team: In points but also in penalty minutes! When thinking of players who fit the profile, these names come to mind:

In the past, the Flyers drafted one of these type players in selecting the 6’7″ defenseman Sam Morin, who proved his worth in numerous heavy weight bouts at the American Hockey League (AHL) level, but has been limited in NHL play due to his inability to stay healthy. Additionally, this past off-season General Manager Chuck Fletcher thought he might have found another enforcer when the Flyers decided to sign Chris Stewart, but later sent him down to the Lehigh High Valley Phantoms, the team’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate. They tried again with the trade-deadline addition of Nate Thompson from Montreal. Unfortunately, at 35 years of age Thompson revealed he is not as eager to drop the gloves as he was earlier in his career. Alas, all these players failed to live up to the team’s expectations for ‘threat elimination,’ not to mention the kind of point production needed to be grouped with the likes of the above referenced to players.

So where might the team turn to find a skilled forward who will not only be able to put some pucks in the net but be able to defend himself and his teammates if needed? A good place to start is with unsigned free agent Johnny Walker, who plays for Arizona State University. Johnny, 6’1″ and 185 pounds, is a 23-year-old Junior who has single-handedly put the Sun Devils on the NCAA Hockey map (since they joined the Division One ranks back in 2015). Born in Phoenix, this chirpy winger traveled around playing in a few leagues before finding a home at Arizona State. Once there, Head Coach Greg Powers was able whip Walker into shape by instilling into him the importance of a good diet and a strict work-out regimen. In this process Powers was also able to hone Johnny’s massive offensive talents while also managing to harness his eagerness to play a gritty (yet sloppy) game where he took many unnecessary penalties. These efforts paid off, transforming Johnny into the elite collegiate player he is today. Cutting his penalty in half from his days in the United States Hockey League (USHL), Johnny was able to post his 2nd 20 goal season for the Sun Devils this year. Walker’s ability to play at a 1.05 point- per-game pace this season earned this hard-working two-way forward his second Hobey Baker Award nomination. No one has as much fun as Walker on the ice: Whether Johnny is scoring goals, setting up teammates, battling in the boards, talking trash, or fighting the opposition- It makes no difference. Walker is willing to do whatever it takes for his team to win and has shown that he may possibly be ready to make the jump to a professional level; playing a dominant role in wins and a very few hard-fought losses against some of the toughest competition the NCAA had to offer the past three seasons. Playing against Penn State, Denver, Boston College, Boston University, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Providence (just to name a few).

The Flyers (who currently find themselves cap-strapped with all their upcoming unrestricted and restricted free agents) might be wise to add this unsigned, versatile, gifted, offensive talent (who just so happens to revel in this role that the Flyers currently lack). Walker’s addition to the lineup would not only help offensively but would also give his fellow teammates the reassurance needed to not worry about taking a cheap shot from the opposing team without the proper ‘consequences and repercussions’ being divvied out. Whatever happens, the Flyers need to move fast: Walker has already attended two training camps for the Columbus Blue Jackets. With a little bit of redirection perhaps the Flyers can adopt this versatile player as their new-and-improved goon.