Proper now, the Philadelphia Flyers have a conundrum with their ahead strains. Head coach John Tortorella has been mixing up issues on a shift-by-shift foundation, however nothing has actually caught—his workforce is 1-4-1 consequently.
Associated: Flyers Line Mixtures
From right here, what can the Flyers do to assist salvage their season? Beneath, I’m proposing 4 offensive strains that may work shifting ahead.
First Line: Joel Farabee, Jett Luchanko, Matvei Michkov
For the primary line, there are some things that Tortorella appears against. Each Travis Konecny and Owen Tippett received trials alongside rookie Matvei Michkov which had blended however largely poor outcomes—it’s Joel Farabee’s flip. Although the 24-year-old winger has been stapled to the third line over the previous two seasons, he’s much more invaluable than his utilization would point out. With the potential to be a real first-line ahead if he simply will get the chance subsequent to somebody of Michkov’s caliber, there isn’t a superb motive to keep away from utilizing these two collectively.
With out query, Farabee is essentially the most clever winger on the workforce behind Michkov. The latter wants somebody who can suppose the sport at a excessive stage and have the ability to use the impartial zone to his benefit. Farabee is a superb creator of rush probabilities and will have a connection along with his 19-year-old associate in crime. On the very least, it’s one thing to have a look at over the course of a full recreation.
As for the middle, I believe 18-year-old Jett Luchanko works fairly nicely. Whether or not it’s been rookie video games, the preseason, or the common season, there was a connection between the 2 youngsters. Michkov and Luchanko have seen restricted time alongside each other, however there are stylistic causes to suppose it might work. They will each play at a pleasant tempo and have proven the flexibility to make fast, good performs transitioning from protection to offense. Farabee additionally has a skillset on this division, so this trio might work as a line.
Second Line: Tyson Foerster, Morgan Frost, Travis Konecny
As for the second line, I’ve Konecny being the lead horse and foremost play driver. In my eyes, he thrives essentially the most when he has the puck on his stick. As an alternative of making an attempt to play to somebody like Michkov’s strengths, he can play to his personal with this format. To me, that’s the key to getting him producing at round a point-per-game stage, one thing he has proven flashes of up to now. His linemates right here may help him attain that, although he’ll be doing many of the heavy lifting.
Tyson Foerster is the opposite winger right here, somebody Konecny performed so much with final season. Whereas they didn’t shatter information collectively, they’d good on-ice outcomes and largely outplayed the opposition. Foerster, 22, is usually a worthwhile two-way contributor.
Morgan Frost is the middle right here, who hasn’t fairly taken the steps essential to earn a long-term extension—he’s a restricted free agent after this season. He has sometimes performed nicely subsequent to Konecny, although, so serving as the middle right here makes some sense. This trio may very well be efficient in each the impartial and offensive zones.
Third Line: Owen Tippett, Sean Couturier, Bobby Brink
Trying on the third line, we see our first demotion. Although it partially has to do along with his scoring drought (zero objectives on 51 tried photographs), Tippett being right here largely has to do along with his strengths and weaknesses as a participant. He has all the time been somebody who takes a ton of photographs however will get turned apart much more ceaselessly than different high-volume shooters.
Associated: Philadelphia Flyers’ Owen Tippett Has an Effectivity Downside
On a 3rd line, Tippett can do many of the work as a substitute of injuring top-six linemates along with his inefficiency. His unorthodox nature might work greatest when he’s free to mainly do no matter he needs. Sean Couturier may help cowl for him within the defensive zone, as one of many captain’s largest strengths is stopping scoring probabilities. Bobby Brink has noticeably improved this season and may very well be a pleasant asset to this line, too. He has some good expertise.
Fourth Line: Scott Laughton, Noah Cates, Garnet Hathaway
To complete off, the fourth line is nothing particular however important to this workforce. Although Scott Laughton has gotten off to a scorching begin, he’s nonetheless a bottom-six participant who occurred to have one actually good recreation (towards the Seattle Kraken). Noah Cates would be the heart for this trio, changing a struggling Ryan Poehling who may simply want some relaxation. Garnet Hathaway has all the time graded out fairly nicely analytically however isn’t rather more than your customary bottom-six grinder other than his promising (however low-event) on-ice numbers. This is usually a stable defensive position that can be utilized situationally.
Though they’ve solely performed six video games, the Flyers are spiraling uncontrolled. Their goaltending and ending ought to enhance over a bigger pattern, however that doesn’t take away from the truth that they haven’t been good. Are these strains a possible answer?
