From Oct. 11 to Oct. 17, the Philadelphia Flyers accomplished a difficult four-game street journey wherein they went 1-2-1. Late-night bouts with the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, and Seattle Kraken had blended outcomes, because the group was outscored 18-13 however had some good moments. What are the largest positives and negatives from the seven-day stretch?
Optimistic One: Jett Luchanko
The primary optimistic of this season’s motion must be Jett Luchanko. His efforts haven’t paid off within the plus/minus division (minus-3), however an on-ice save proportion of .826 mixed with a 6.3 on-ice capturing proportion isn’t doing him any favors. The fact right here is that, whereas he hasn’t been good, he is kind of indistinguishable from an everyday NHLer. Simply 18, he could also be a key middle for the Orange and Black in 2024-25.
Head coach John Tortorella has raved about Luchanko’s recreation this season. Because the teen will get extra snug with what the NHL calls for out of its gamers, he ought to change into extra balanced. He has elite velocity, has proven some chemistry with fellow teenager Matvei Michkov, and is able to dealing with numerous conditions. Proper now, it appears as if his spot is protected on the group.
Unfavourable One: Ivan Fedotov
After a rocky three-game stint in 2023-24, the hope was that lately prolonged Ivan Fedotov may enhance in 2024-25. With a $3.275 million common annual worth (AAV) over two seasons, expectations had been excessive. He had some spectacular campaigns within the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) however subsequent to zero NHL expertise, so this was a boom-or-bust transfer. To this point, it has been the latter.
In his season debut versus the Flames, he allowed 5 objectives on 31 photographs and didn’t look snug within the internet. Given a chance at redemption versus the Kraken, it was affordable to assume that he had nowhere to go however up—he had the worst recreation of his profession. Sacrificing 5 objectives on 24 photographs and pulled on the finish of the second interval, a relaxation day for starter Sam Ersson turned his thirty fifth look within the Flyers’ final 42 video games.
Although I lately argued Fedotov ought to have a decent-sized leash, I additionally didn’t anticipate him to get worse following an uninspiring first 4 NHL video games. The entire level of placing him within the internet is to see what he can present and get Ersson relaxation, however that final half didn’t occur. Fedotov possibly has one ultimate probability to show his value, in any other case, the 27-year-old must regain his confidence within the American Hockey League (AHL).
Optimistic Two: We Might See Alexei Kolosov
With Fedotov’s struggles, there’s a glass-half-full method. Goaltender Alexei Kolosov was set to affix the Lehigh Valley Phantoms within the AHL, however rumors over the summer season urged he would moderately play within the KHL. He didn’t arrive on the Flyers’ coaching camp when it started (by no means signal), resulting in commerce hypothesis with a second-round choose rising because the rumored value per Elliotte Friedman. Over a month later, he’s nonetheless a member of the Orange and Black. With the massive membership’s backup not taking part in effectively, Kolosov would possibly quickly debut within the NHL.
Kolosov joined the Flyers’ camp in its late phases and even suited up for the Phantoms in a 4-3 win. If the Flyers quit on the Fedotov experiment for a bit, the 22-year-old may very well be subsequent in line. His youth coupled with chunk {of professional} expertise make him an intriguing choice between the pipes.
That is the right situation for Kolosov, because it’s what he needed from the get-go. Common supervisor (GM) Daniel Brière said that the younger netminder needed instantaneous NHL time moderately than serving within the AHL. With Fedotov blocking that, Kolosov felt it could be a greater use of his time to return to the KHL. Proper now, a stint with the Flyers seems to be on the desk.
Unfavourable Two: Flyers’ Protection
The Flyers’ successful formulation final season boiled down to some issues, however a rock-solid protection was one of many main keys to almost making the postseason. In 2024-25, their protection has not been as profitable.
With out Nick Seeler on account of damage (and Sean Walker on account of a commerce), the Flyers aren’t shutting down opponents like they used to. It hasn’t been disastrous, however their defensive core appears to be extra middle-of-the-road than good. The forwards and defensemen alike have blown a couple of coverages that led to both high-danger possibilities or objectives behind their internet.
Apart from Cam York, it’s arduous to seek out a powerful participant on the again finish. Even he hasn’t been good, so some new mixtures could be in retailer. The group had some dangerous moments initially of their earlier marketing campaign, so all hope shouldn’t be misplaced. Nonetheless, this isn’t precisely supreme.
Optimistic Three: Flyers’ Energy Play
One of many largest undoings for the Flyers over the previous few seasons has been their energy play, but it surely has reached new ranges with Michkov. The 19-year-old is tied for fifth within the NHL with 4 power-play factors, giving the group a 26.3 p.c effectivity price. As I suspected following the preseason, it may very well be a strong season for the person benefit.
Associated: Matvei Michkov Can Take Flyers’ Energy Play to the Subsequent Degree
It’s not an exaggeration to say that there was by no means a four-game stint in 2023-24 the place the Flyers’ energy play regarded nearly as good because it did in the previous couple of days. There are small quirks to determine, as established zone time has been a difficulty for the primary unit at instances, however that’ll include extra expertise. By season’s finish, this may very well be a top-10 unit.
Unfavourable Three: Daniel Brière’s Current Contracts
Brière hasn’t precisely been energetic when it comes to including and subtracting expertise for the reason that 2023 offseason concluded, however he has actually dedicated to gamers. Throughout the street journey, among the bets he positioned aren’t precisely dwelling as much as their contracts. It’s early, after all, however a GM desires to see his choices repay straight away—they haven’t fairly carried out that.
Getting Fedotov out of the way in which, Brière made an enormous gamble to amass the Russian netminder and it simply hasn’t labored out. Whereas an AAV of $3.275 million isn’t crushing, it may forestall the Flyers from making a transfer sooner or later. They’re cap-strapped, and a deal that appears much more more likely to be buyout-bound than legitimately helpful isn’t supreme. Some followers criticized this contract when the pen was put to paper—there’s nonetheless a number of time, however these folks would possibly find yourself being proper.
Brière additionally introduced again depth gamers reminiscent of Seeler, Garnet Hathaway, Ryan Poehling, and Egor Zamula on multi-year offers. Saving cash might need been the most effective plan of action, however that’s nitpicking territory. These choices are satisfactory.
The actual issues right here lie with Owen Tippett and Travis Konecny. Signed to eight-year extensions that may take them till they’re 33 and 36 respectively for a mixed $14.95 million AAV, these had been enormous dangers to take for a group explicitly in a rebuild. It’s method too early within the course of to make a conclusive judgment on both participant, however the two haven’t performed significantly effectively.
Tippett has all the time been iffy on his accuracy, however that has value the Flyers in some ways this season. He has let grade-A alternatives slip up, which has reached the purpose of injuring the group. Although his on-ice metrics are fantastic, if he’s a $6.2 million participant, he has to begin scoring objectives once they’re being fed to him. Amongst gamers with 50 minutes of ice time, his particular person Corsi per 60 minutes (iCF/60) is the second-highest within the league. He’s making an attempt extra photographs than Nikita Kucherov, Auston Matthews, and David Pastrnak, but he nonetheless has zero objectives. Whereas there needs to be hope for the 25-year-old, he has returned to some dangerous habits.
As for Konecny, he hasn’t precisely struggled however he positively isn’t dwelling as much as the huge $8.75 million AAV he’ll obtain in 2025-26 and past. On-ice metrics aren’t totally helpful simply 4 video games right into a season, so he deserves some grace there, however Konecny hasn’t been an important contributor like he often is. He has been helpful on particular groups and continues to be a key top-six participant, however this looks as if a step beneath what he was a season prior. Maybe he simply wants time to get right into a groove—he tends to be fairly streaky.
It’s greatest to offer the Flyers a while earlier than figuring out how this season will go. 4 of among the hardest video games on the schedule might not be the most effective pattern for long-term assertions, however their play continues to be value discussing. Does this roster have what it takes to make the playoffs?
Stats courtesy of Pure Stat Trick