NHL Season Preview 2016-17: Philadelphia Flyers

Will the Philadelphia Flyers build on their surprising success from last season in 2016-17?

One year ago, everybody felt that the Philadelphia Flyers were a rebuilding team. A variety of factors, including the collapse of the Boston Bruins, allowed the Flyers to make the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Flyers lost to the Washington Capitals in six games, but not before giving them a good scare.

Going into the 2016-17 season, the Flyers are expected to contend for a playoff spot. They have the pieces necessary to do so. On the other hand, they also have to develop several prospects, including 2015 first round pick Ivan Provorov. Will the Flyers be able to balance those two often contradicting goals?

Offseason Review

Here’s a quick review of what the Flyers have done this offseason.

Additions: F Dale Weise (Blackhawks), D T.J. Brennan (Maple Leafs), C Boyd Gordon (Coyotes), F Andy Miele (Red Wings)

Losses: F Ryan White, C Sam Gagner, F R.J. Umberger, D Yevgeny Medvedev

Retained: D Radko Gudas, F Brayden Schenn, D Brandon Manning

The Flyers added Dale Weise to help them increase their production from their third and fourth lines. That was a significant issue for them last season, as the Flyers relied quite a bit on their top two lines for production. Weise is coming off two straight seasons with at least 25 points. As long as he stays in a third or fourth line role, he’ll be fine.

T.J. Brennan is an interesting addition. He’ll likely go to the AHL, but he is an intriguing depth defenseman. Brennan has proven to be an efficient puck mover in the AHL. However, he has never been given a serious look in the NHL (53 career games). He could be one of the first guys who gets a call if the Flyers need help.

Boyd Gordon should serve as forward depth and is a solid penalty killer. He averaged nearly three minutes per game shorthanded last season for the Coyotes. The Flyers penalty kill has been an issue for several seasons. Gordon could be a guy who helps fix it. Andy Miele, much like Brennan, is known for his success in the AHL. He should be a solid depth forward.

The Philadelphia Flyers’ two biggest moves this offseason involved extending two valuable players. Gudas doesn’t get the credit that he deserves. He was arguably the Flyers’ most consistent defenseman last season and his ability to suppress shots provides value. Gudas has a perhaps deserving reputation for being a dirty player, but he’s also a very good player.

Brayden Schenn is quite the polarizing player. He has talent, but his dirty hits during the playoffs give him a bit of a bad reputation. Schenn will need to make sure that those controversial moments become less frequent.

Player Spotlight: Claude Giroux

It is almost criminal how Claude Giroux is rarely mentioned when fans discuss the best centers in the NHL. Over the past five years, Giroux is in the 70th percentile among NHL forwards in points per 60 minutes at even strength. He makes a significant impact on puck possession as well, ranking 32nd among forwards over the past three seasons.

A lot of Giroux’s scoring tends to come on the power play. He ranks second in the NHL in points per 60 minutes with an extra man over the past three seasons. The Philadelphia Flyers center is the focal point of the Flyers power play. He makes it go. When he’s doing well, the Flyers do well. But when he’s off his game, like in the playoffs against the Capitals due to injury, the Flyers struggle.

Since 2013, Giroux ranks eighth among all centers in points per 60 minutes during all situations. He plays during all situations for the Flyers and gets a ton of ice time — over the past three seasons, no forward has spent more time on the ice in the regular season than Giroux. Giroux might not be quite at the level of Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, or Tyler Seguin. But much like Nicklas Backstrom last year, perhaps this will be the season that everybody realizes just how great Giroux is.

2016-17 Outlook

The Philadelphia Flyers made the playoffs in large part thanks to a second half surge. Another factor was the fun ride that rookie defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere took fans on. Still another factor was their excellent goaltending. Both Steve Mason and Michal Neuvirth were stellar in net, as the Flyers led the NHL in team save percentage at even strength.

In order to replicate their success from last season in 2016-17, they will have to continue to play like they did in the second half. As incredible as Gostisbehere is, there’s very little reason to suggest that he can sustain a 10.96 percent shooting percentage. He’ll still be dynamic, but the Flyers will have to get more production from their role players in order to have success.

Keep an eye on Ivan Provorov. He is widely considered the best defenseman prospect in the world. Provorov has the ability to impact the game using a variety of methods, but his calling card is his offense. Despite spending no time in the AHL yet, Provorov could skip the AHL entirely and go straight to the NHL. That could help replace some of Gostisbehere’s probable regression.

The Flyers are still a fringe playoff team. They aren’t as good as the Capitals, Panthers, Penguins, or Lightning, but they will still compete for a playoff spot. Their experience from last year and their goaltending tandem likely gives them an edge over the other fringe teams.