Photo Credit: Photo taken by Jamey Baskow via Zoom
In order for the Flyers to have a real chance to do some damage this coming season they have to improve their Special Teams. The penalty killing seemed to improve during the 2019-20 season under Assistant Coach Mike Yeo, however, it took a major step back this past season garnering a 73.1% success rate that was good for 30th in the NHL. Moreover, the Flyers also allowed six short-handed goals to the Flyers two for. This is unacceptable for a team that was so talented on paper.
Chuck Fletcher made bold decisions to improve the struggling power play that sat 17th best in the NHL this past season with a 19.1% success rate, and the struggling penalty killing unit as mentioned above. Fletcher traded for Rasmus Ristolainen and signed Keith Yandle, to which both will help the once struggling power play unit, “I think he (Keith Yandle) perfectly complements our existing D corps,” Fletcher said this past Wednesday, “A left shot was something we felt we needed. Somebody to help with the powerplay. Keith is very good at moving the puck up the ice. He’s got a lot of experience. Look, neither one of our special teams were great last year. We think we’ve added some things to help the PK. I think Keith in particular is somebody that can help quarterback the power play and bring another option for our coaches for the power play. I think we have several defensemen that can play on the power play. Keith has a pretty good skill set.”
Head Coach Alain Vigneault is never completely satisfied and that’s partially the reason he returns this year as head coach. Especially, after the Flyers Penalty Killing Unit was terrible this past season, to which the goaltending was also subpar. Vigneault was in the meetings with Fletcher, to which Fletcher indicated that losing Nate Thompson, Tyler Pitlick, and Derek Grant last offseason really hurt the club. So-much-so, Fletcher re-signed Thompson, and added Cam Atkinson and Ryan Ellis to the fold. Ellis, Thompson, and Atkinson are extremely good penalty killers, and this should improve that unit mightily:
“Cam Atkinson is what we call a hockey player, and he just loves to play the game of hockey. Tremendous energy. You probably heard that in his press conference today. He’s a player that really can contribute every which way. I think he’s been one of the better five-on-five goal scorers in the league over seven, eight years. He drives play. He’s an elite penalty killer. I think he’s second to Brad Marchand in shorthanded goals going back to 2014. He’s been a really good scorer during the playoffs. There’s really not much he can’t do. For a guy that isn’t that tall, he’s tenacious.” – Chuck Fletcher
Atkinson has tallied 12 short-handed goals dating back to the 2016-17 season, while Kevin Hayes has tallied 11 short-handed goals dating back to the 2016-17 season. The Flyers should not only have a successful penalty killing unit this coming season, but they should be a threat again while short-handed. The Flyers needed a breath of fresh air, new leadership, and players that can get the job done with special teams. Fletcher said at his exit interviews that he would also try to improve the power play and penalty killing units this offseason, well he has done that. Now it’s time for the team to prove it, as their rebound or revenge season depends on it.
