5 takeaways from the Philadelphia Flyers season as it stands
By Mike Zawisza
4. A pair of former Rangers make their mark
Who would’ve thought that the two most popular men on Broad Street were yuckin’ it up on Broadway just a year ago.
Kevin Hayes and Alain Vigneault, once cornerstones of the dominant Rangers teams of the mid-2010s, are now paving the way for a new era of Flyers hockey. It’s a sentiment that seems absurd considering how divided public opinion was when the two joined the team.
Vigneault was far from the fan favorite option. After dubious reports that Joel Quenneville was set to sign with the Flyers back in December 2018, fans had all but assumed Quenneville would circle back around by season’s end. However, Fletcher inked Vigneault to a five-year contract just days after the 2018-19 season came to an end, quashing any hope.
The main critique of Vigneault was his track record of favoring veterans over young talent — an issue fans had grown quite sick of during the Hakstol years. After putting up with Jori Lehtera, Chris VandeVelde and Valtteri Filppula playing crucial minutes over the past handful of seasons, the Philly faithful shuddered at the thought of a coach who consistently sat Pavel Buchnevich in favor of Tanner Glass.
However, Vigneault proved in short order that he was a changed man. He has shown a patience and nurturing nature around the young players — specifically with Joel Farabee. Vigneault also trusted budding stars Oskar Lindblom and Travis Konecny to skate alongside Sean Couturier on the first line to start the season.
Vigneault also got the veteran leadership on the team to buy into his system and has even shown a willingness to crack down on said veterans when necessary. Though there was an adjustment period, Vigneault’s system with a heavy emphasis on forechecking has lead the Flyers to the sixth highest point total in the NHL prior to the pause.
Similar to his coach, Kevin Hayes was met with a heavy dose of skepticism when he joined the team. Seven years and $50 million seemed a bit steep for a player who had only topped 20 goals once in his career. Through the first year of his contract, Hayes seems to be worth every penny.
Hayes has been electric in his inaugural season in Philadelphia. Showing a mix of offensive creativity and defensive responsibility, Hayes has more or less laid out the blueprint for what Vigneault’s brand of hockey entails.
With 23 goals through 69 games this year, Hayes was on pace to shatter his previous high of 25 before the season went on hiatus. He’s also been proficient, scratch that, lethal on the penalty kill. The Flyers are 11th in league with a 81.8 percent kill rate, up from 78.5 percent last season. On top of that, Hayes leads the league with four shorthanded goals.
Hayes’s impact on the Flyers extends off the ice as well. Quickly earning an “A” on his jersey for his leadership, Hayes has brought a sense of levity and fun back to Flyers hockey. Whether it’s brandishing his teammates with ridiculous nicknames, palling around with his friend Gritty or his dead-pan postgame interviews, Hayes has cast away the dark cloud that hung over the franchise during the Hakstol years.
A pair of Rangers have helped rehabilitate the Flyers. What a weird sport.