Fansided

Projecting every NHL team’s chances of hoisting the Stanley Cup in 2019

By Griffin Youngs

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 07: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates with the Stanley Cup after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Five of the Stanley Cup Final during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 07: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates with the Stanley Cup after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Five of the Stanley Cup Final during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 22: Ivan Provorov #9 of the Philadelphia Flyers warms up against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Wells Fargo Center on April 22, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 22: Ivan Provorov #9 of the Philadelphia Flyers warms up against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Wells Fargo Center on April 22, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images) /

14. Philadelphia Flyers

Another offseason down, and another set of improvements on the way for Philadelphia Flyers. Slowly but surely, the Flyers are becoming a force to be reckoned with, but is this year it all comes together?

The Philadelphia Flyers finished 12th in the league with 98 points, earning third in the Metropolitan before losing in six games to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round.

Why they could win

The Flyers made a huge splash in free agency by bringing back James van Riemsdyk for five years. With the addition of Van Riemsdyk this offseason, the Flyers are absolutely terrifying on offense on all fronts.

Remember when Claude Giroux scored 102 points and was second only to Connor McDavid for the Art Ross? Or Jakub Voracek putting up 85 points? What about Sean Couterier more than doubling his production output with a jump from 34 to 76 points?  Not convinced they’re legit yet? How about Wayne Simmonds playing through a torn pelvis, broken ankle, torn ligament in his thumb and a pulled groin and still putting up 46 points? Those are just the veterans of the team. The youth movement is well under the way to support them.

Nolan Patrick found his game late in his rookie season and looks ready to take big step in his development and become a top six regular at just 19 years old. Travis Konecny is massively underrated at 21 years old, and playing next to Couterier and Giroux on the top line this year will do wonders for his ahead of schedule development.

For the defense, a pairing of Ivan Provorov and Shayne Gostisbehere, if the Flyers finally decide to go with it, could turn into one of the leagues best defensive pairings, much like the Jones-Werenski pairing is for Columbus. As long as the youth drafted fills the holes beneath them, they are in good shape.

Why they won’t win

The defense of the Flyers when you look outside of Provorov and Gostisbehere is really rough. Radko Gudas looks like he’ll still be in the top four this season for some reason, but it either that or Andrew MacDonald. The rest of their defense is still young and unproven, and in need of another talented top four player to really become dangerous.

Having a solid goaltender in net would be great to make up for the weak defense in front of him, but Philadelphia doesn’t even have that. Brian Elliot is way too inconsistent to be a reliable starting goaltender, and has track record of terrible postseason performances. As his backup, the Flyers have almost the identical goalie in Michal Neuvirth. Carter Hart can’t graduate to the NHL fast enough for the Flyers, and they’ll have to make due in the mean time.

Conclusion

The Flyers are really starting to look a threat in the Metropolitan Division, and the pieces are there to get into the playoffs for the second consecutive season. But once you look deeper, this team is not a Stanley Cup contender yet. Their offense could take them to a playoff spot, but you need more than a lethal offense to get it done in the postseason, and they’ll be picked apart by more well-rounded teams. In a few years, the Flyers will be a top team in the league, but not yet.

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