Philadelphia Flyers 2015-16 Season Primer

Looking at the Philadelphia Flyers heading into this season – outlook, potential lines, roster, top prospects, draft history, stats and season schedule.

2014-15 Record: 33-31-18, 84 points (6th place in Metropolitan Division, 12th in the East, 24th overall)
2014-15 Outcome: Missed Playoffs

Total Cap Hit: $70,816,666
Total Salary: $75,051,190
Cap Space: $583,334

Source: General Fanager

In: Chris Porter, LW (FA – StL), Colin McDonald, RW (FA – NYI), Jason LaBarbera, G (FA – Ana), Chris Conner, LW (FA – Wsh), Tim Brent, C (FA-Europe), Davis Drewiske, D (FA – Mtl), Michal Neuvirth, G (FA – NYI), Sam Gagner, RW/C (T – Ari), Aaron Palushaj, RW/LW (FA-Europe), Evgeni Medvedev, D (FA-Europe), Dave Hakstol, Head Coach (Named), Christian Marti, D (FA-Europe)

Out: Jay Rosehill, LW (FA – minors), Oliver Lauridsen, D (FA-Europe), Blair Jones, C/W (FA – Van), carlo colaiacovo, D (FA – Buf), Jason Akeson, RW (FA – Buf), Zack Stortini, RW (FA – Ott), Zac Rinaldo, LW/RW (T – Bos), Chris Pronger, D (T – Ari), Nicklas Grossmann, D (T – Ari), Andrew Gordon, RW (FA-Europe), Craig Berube, Head Coach (Fired)

Source: Sports Forecaster

Offseason Changes:

The Philadelphia Flyers had a fairly disappointing 2014-15, wallowing under .500 until early February and losing numerous contests to NHL bottom dwellers late in the season that could have moved them into playoff competition.

In spite of having two of the leagues premier scorers in Jakub Voracek and Claude Giroux, the Flyers finished 14 points behind Pittsburgh for the final Eastern Conference wild card spot.

GM Ron Hextall tinkered with the club’s roster after posting a 33-31-18 record, trading energy forward Zac Rinaldo to Boston, swapping defenseman Nicklas Grossman and the remaining two years of future Hall-of-Famer Chris Pronger’s contract to Arizona for forward Sam Gagner, signing veteran KHL blueliner Evgeny Medvedev and adding Michal Neuvirth to replace free agent goalie Ray Emery. They were able to sign Voracek to a eight-year, $66 million deal, center Sean Couturier for six years and defenseman Michael Del Zotto to a two-year extension.

The biggest change is behind the bench, as head coach Craig Berube was dismissed after two seasons. Hextall surprisingly did not bring in a big name bench boss like Mike Babcock, Dan Bylsma or Todd McLellan, instead going off the board with the hiring of University of North Dakota coach Dave Hakstol.

Outlook for the 2015-16 Season:

Philadelphia is in the midst of changing to a club more focused on adding talent through the draft and developing their own prospects after years of dipping into free agency and spending countless millions on players who never seemed to live up to expectations.

Unfortunately some of the damage created by former GM Paul Holmgren at the behest of owner Ed Snider is still present, as declining veteran Vinny Lecavalier is signed for another three years at $4.5 million per season and defenseman Andrew MacDonald is signed through 2020 at $5 million a year.

The Flyers have plenty of offensive talent, as Giroux and Voracek combined for 154 points last season. Wayne Simmonds led the club with 28 goals and sophomore Michael Raffl tallied 21, but the key for Philadelphia will be to get more contributions from secondary forwards like Couturier (15 goals), Matt Read (8 goals), Brayden Schenn (18 goals), RJ Umberger (9 goals) and Lecavalier (8 goals).

The unknown quantity is Gagner, who was traded for the second consecutive summer after seven years in Edmonton, could be in the mix as a top six forward.

It is expected to be a year of transition for the Flyers blueline, as the group of mostly one-dimensional defensemen may lose their place to some of the organization’s top prospects.

Veteran Mark Streit posted best offensive year since 2009, leading all defensemen with 52 points, but turns 38 in December. Del Zotto was a good free agent addition last summer, scoring 10 goals and 22 assists and was re-signed for two years. MacDonald can handle large amounts of ice time, but more was expected than 12 points in 58 games after signing six-year, $30 million contract extension in 2014.

Medvedev, a 33-year-old KHL veteran who played seven seasons for Ak-Bars Kazan, will enter a mix that includes Nick Schultz, Luke Schenn and ex-Tampa Bay blueliner Radko Gudas. That group could be challenged by 22-year-old Shayne Gostisbehere (who came back from an ACL injury to play for the Flyers late in the season), or first round prospects Samuel Morin, Travis Sanheim and Ivan Provorov.

Goaltending has long been a problem area for the Flyers (remember Ilya Bryzgalov), but Steve Mason has gone a long way to put that concern to rest. The 2009 Calder Trophy winner had his second straight solid season in Philadelphia with a .928 save percentage and 2.25 GAA, but encountered injury problems that limited his availability to 51 games and forced backup Ray Emery to be overused.

Neuvirth shared the starting goalie job in Washington and Buffalo before being traded to the Islanders at the deadline and is capable of handling a heavier workload if Mason were to go down again.

Trending Up:

Voracek improved his scoring output by 25% and finished fourth in the NHL with 81 points, while Raffl joined the group of Voracek, Giroux and Simmonds that scored over 20 goals. Del Zotto rediscovered his offensive mojo and hopes to continue on that path after struggling with the Rangers and being non-tendered by Nashville.

Trending Down:

Umberger was acquired in a deal last summer for popular winger Scott Hartnell and the 33-year-old forward broke down physically in his return to Philadelphia and scored just 15 points. Lecavalier did not mesh with the style of former coach Berube, but still managed to score 20 goals in his first year with the Flyers. Last season, the 35-year-old scored in single digits for the first time in his 16-year NHL career.

Trade Deadline Outlook:

The Flyers have less than $1 million in available cap space, which would make it a difficult task for Hextall to make significant additions at the deadline if his club was in contention. If Philadelphia struggles as they did last season, would-be free agents Gagner, Raffl, Luke Schenn and Medvedev will likely be trade options in March.

Playoff Chances: Bubble

 Prediction: 6^th in Metro

Written by Michael Augello, who can be found on twitter @MikeInBuffalo

Flyers: Outlook | Lines and Roster | Top Prospects | Draft History | Stats | Schedule

Potential line combinations, defensive pairings, and goalies.

Michael Raffl – Claude Giroux – Jakub Voracek
Brayden Schenn – Sean Couturier – Wayne Simmonds
Matt Read – Scott Laughton – Sam Gagner
Vincent Lecavalier – Pierre-Edouard Bellemare – R.J. Umberger
Ryan White – Colin McDonald

Nick Schultz – Mark Streit
Michael Del Zotto – Luke Schenn
Evgeni Medvedev – Andrew MacDonald
Radko Gudas

Steve Mason
Michal Neuvirth

Flyers: Outlook | Lines and Roster | Top Prospects | Draft History | Stats | Schedule

Some top Philadelphia Flyers prospect lists heading into the season.

* Different sites have different guidelines for who is a ‘prospect.’ Dobber Prospects bases their rankings on future fantasy value.

1. Ivan Provorov: Defence – 6’1” / 202 lbs – The Flyers already had a rich pool of defencemen in their prospect system when they entered the draft, but when Provorov landed in their laps at seven and they were more than happy to select him. The Russian was ranked as the top defenceman in the draft by many including TSN scout Craig Button. The “Russian Factor” was a non-factor with Provorov who joined the WHL last year out of the USHL the year prior. He has been acclimated to North America for years now. He produced over a point a game in his rookie season in the WHL with Brandon, a defenceman factory, and another 13 points in 19 playoff games. Of all the Flyers coveted defence prospects, Provorov may have the best chance to earn a roster spot this year.

2. Travis Sanheim: Defence – 6’3” / 190 lbs – In his draft year, Sanheim began to rocket up the draft rankings, going from a mid-round pick to a first round pick. It was an impressive development rate to be sure, but he has raised the bar even more last year. Sanheim had a breakout year with the Calgary Hitmen tripling his goal totals from five to 15 and leading all WHL defencemen in scoring with 65 points (four more than Provorov). He then raised the bar yet again in the playoffs as he breached the point per game pace scoring 18 points in 17 playoff games. With a log jam on the Flyers roster and being too young for the AHL, Sanheim seems bound for another season of dominance in the WHL and a top role with Team Canada at the WJC.

3. Travis Konecny: Centre – 5’10” / 175 lbs – Taken first overall by the Ottawa 67’s in the OHL draft, won rookie of the year, Captained Team Canada to a Gold medal at the Ivan Hlinka, and scored 68 points in 60 games in his draft year. Konecny is a decorated and talented player with leadership qualities, playing a physical game as well. The problem is he is small and because of his size and aggressive nature, he can be injury prone. But, at 18 years old he may not be done growing and will see another year at least in Ottawa developing and bulking up before he joins the pros.

4. Samuel Morin: Defence – 6’7” / 207 lbs – Morin has completed his junior career after a Memorial Cup appearance with Rimouski last year and won a WJC Gold Medal with Team Canada. Morin will turn pro this year, but will likely start the year in the AHL. Morin is a massive, and mean physical defenceman, but is not just a defensive shutdown player. His offensive ceiling is nowhere near Sanheim or Provorov, but projects to be close to Braydon Cobourn. 

5. Shayne Gostisbehere: Defence – 5’11” / 160 lbs – With so many quality defencemen in the system, Gostisbehere needed to prove he is a NHL quality player. He got off to a tremendous start, impressing in training camp and made the Flyers to start the season. He played in two games before being sent to the AHL, where he played in five more games until he suffered a torn ACL which cost him the rest of the season limiting him to just seven games played. He will try to comeback this year and crack the Flyers roster again, but with so many players and a year of development lost, it will be difficult. Gostisbehere likely starts the season in the AHL and if he shows he is healthy and strong, he will be a call up.

Flyers: Outlook | Lines and Roster | Top Prospects | Draft History | Stats | Schedule

A look at the Philadelphia Flyers drafting from 2010 to 2015.

Flyers: Outlook | Lines and Roster | Top Prospects | Draft History | Stats | Schedule

Philadelphia Flyers 2014-15 player stats.

Flyers: Outlook | Lines and Roster | Top Prospects | Draft History | Stats | Schedule

A look at the Philadelphia Flyers 2015-16 schedule.

Flyers: Outlook | Lines and Roster | Top Prospects | Draft History | Stats | Schedule