We are three weeks into the 2021 NHL season and the Philadelphia Flyers sit near the top of the newly formed East division. While their record would indicate that the team is rolling, the truth is there is much that can be improved, particularly on the defensive end. There have been some bright spots (namely Ivan Provorov) but the third pair has been different degrees of disastrous depending on who slots in on a given night.
Head coach Alain Vigneault has been pretty transparent about his displeasure with the defensive depth chart, playing multiple variations of Robert Hagg, Erik Gustafsson, Justin Braun, Mark Friedman and Nate Prosser on the bottom pair up to this point. Adding to the issue has been the search for Provorov’s new partner. Shayne Gostisbehere has fit in better than some expected, though his style of play necessitates leaning heavily on Provorov’s defense. Many of the issues with the group stem from Matt Niskanen’s retirement in the offseason which created a hole in the roster was never truly addressed.
On Feb. 2nd, general manager Chuck Fletcher commented on the idea of trying to lure Niskanen out of retirement. “It’s good to stay in touch with Matt. It’s pretty clear he is not returning.” Fletcher said when asked about the possibility of a Niskanen return, also indicating that the team would welcome him back. Even with the poor play of the defense this season, a reunion with Niskanen may not solve the Flyers’ issues in the short term or the long term.
On the surface, Niskanen is the only player to not return from last year’s group, which performed pretty well in the regular season. He played almost all of his minutes on the top pair and brought some much needed veteran stability alongside Provorov. In the playoffs, however, Niskanen did not look like the same player we saw in the regular season, even after the mid-season break that provided many veterans some recuperation time. His decision-making was questionable at best and, simply put, he started looking his age. Sure, it may have been an aberration, but when Niskanen retired, it seemed less like a lackluster showing in a disjointed season, and more like he was spent.
Matt Niskanen, 34, won Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh and Washington prior to joining the Flyers in 2019
Gostisbehere has begun his season with new energy, now entrusted with more responsibility and a spot in the nightly lineup. To delegate him to the third pair or press box in favor of Niskanen would destroy his confidence and squander the potential that the organization still sees in him. Additionally, the third pair may be the only role still suitable for Niskanen at this point. He may not be much more than a bandaid for a deeper issue that will still need to be addressed.
Phil Myers and Travis Sanheim have held down the second pair but it is fair to question if they are solid young players, or franchise cornerstones destined to breakout one of these days. Even if Niskanen were to solidify the group for this season, the team will be faced with the same problem as soon as the offseason.
Travis Sanheim was the Flyers’ first round selection in the 2014 NHL Draft after emerging as one of the late risers from that prospect class
A trade is likely still the more viable option. The Flyers are deep enough and young enough to swing an impactful trade for a quality defender, ideally one that is under the age of 30 and has some years remaining on their contract. Fletcher may have already kicked the tires on Victor Mete in Montreal or Vince Dunn in St. Louis, both of whom drive play, are young and reportedly available, but nothing has materialized. The trouble with Mete and Dunn is that they both fit the offensive defenseman mold of a few players already on the Flyers’ roster, chiefly Gostisbehere and Gustafsson. There are several teams flush with young defensemen that will be faced with some tough decisions in the looming Seattle Expansion Draft, which could present an opportunity between now and then to strike a deal.
Matt Niskanen was a savvy pick up last offseason and gave the defense a major boost, yet all good things must come to an end, some things sooner than others. The Flyers’ best course of action is to move on and focus on acquiring either a two or three year stop-gap to give players like Cam York and Yegor Zamula time to develop or an impact player that will remain part of the core for years to come.
Ron Hextall always stated it plainly: A team never has enough defensemen. Sadly, Wyatt Wylie and Yegor Zamula are a year or two away and Cam York is too small to play in the NHL, maybe ever. York is ok offensively, but nowhere near big enough to take on a solid NHL forward in defensive end. York looks smaller than Shayne Gostisbehere
Note: Claude Giroux makes $700,000 a year and has averaged around 20 goals the last three years (44 goals in 163 reg season games), but what’s worsiht Giroux has just 4 goals in his last 35 playoff games. That is a sign Giroux has become an average player, but he’s being paid like a superstar. The Flyers should find a way to move him, even with his NTC. Gregg Lorenz. Bucks County Pa
Made a mistake. Giroux is making $8.275,000 this year. That means he gets paid over $200,000 for each goal he scores. Ouch! Gregg L