Fansided

Philadelphia Flyers 2015/16 Season Prediction Told Thru GIFS

By Brendan Canney |

Oct 28, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers fan holds up a sign during game against the Los Angeles Kings at Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers defeated the Kings, 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

It’s almost the end of August everyone. The beginning of the 2015/16 Philadelphia Flyers’ season is only a month away. A MONTH. Before we know it we will have actual games to recap and analyze. I cannot wait and I am sure you folks can’t either.

Now, we wouldn’t be much of a sports blog if we didn’t provide you people with a season prediction would we?

So in effort to make this prognostication ritual a little less boring I will spicing it up with some carefully selected gifs. If you have a toaster as a computer or browsing this site on your flip phone I do not apologize for how long this article will take to load.

 The Forwards

Couldn’t have said it better than Larry.

Claude Giroux. Jakub Voracek. Wayne Simmonds. Michael Raffl. Sean Couturier.

  • Voracek is coming off the best statistical season of his career, totaling 81 points. He was rewarded by the Flyers’ brass with a handsome extension that will keep the 26 year-old in Philadelphia until 2024. He is currently in the prime of his career so there’s no reason to think he can’t improve upon his play from last year. He’s going to lead this team in points again.
  • Giroux is Giroux, one of the steadiest point producers in the league and somehow still under appreciated by many of this fan base. He has the best smile in hockey.
  • Assuming Raffl is paired with Voracek and Giroux on the top line I don’t think it’d be unreasonable to see him end the season with 30+ goals. He led the Flyers in even-strength CF% last year so he is more than capable of putting together a strong offensive season. Will be the first 30 goal-scorer the Flyers have had since Scott Hartnell did it in 2011.

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  • The Wayne Train did his thing last year at even-strength and on the powerplay. There’s no reason to think he’ll be slowing down his productivity any time soon and should eclipse the 50 point mark for the 3rd consecutive season.
  • Couts is unarguably the best defensive player on this team but the fans want him to produce offensively as well. A reason for optimism? Couturier had 13 EV goals last year, 3rd most on the team. Perhaps with Hakstol as coach Couturier’s usage will change and allow him more offensive chances. I’d like to see him on the powerplay unit as well.

The Rest

Chris VandeVelde – Scored 9 goals last year. His previous high? 1. Expect regression.

R.J. Umberger – Just going to pretend he doesn’t actually exist.

Vincent Lecavalier – See above.

Matt Read – Healthy again. Hopefully that means we get to see old Read. I’m thinking 10G and 20A for the year.

Sam Gagner – Former top-10 overall pick. Low risk, high reward signing by Hextall. Sam will reach 50 points.

Brayden Schenn – Still only 24 but considered a disappointment. Two differing views from the Broad Street Buzz staff, for and against. I am on #teamSchenn.

Ryan White – 51 CF% and a career high in points with 12. Solid 4th line player.

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare – French grit. Very good penalty-killer. I can finally spell his name without cheating.

The Defense

Yevgeni Medvedev. Mark Streit. Michael Del Zotto. Luke Schenn.

  • Medvedev has to be one of the biggest question marks heading into the regular season. The former KHL star has been described as smooth skating and an elite passer. He should slide right into Hakstol’s system, playing a top-4 role.
  • Mark Streit is unarguably the best defenseman the Flyers have now and it’s not even close. He’s the point on the Flyers’ power-play, placing second in the NHL last season with 26 PP assists. The issue? He’s 37. If the Flyers hope to make the playoffs, Streit needs to stay healthy and productive.
  • Del Zotto was a castoff that Hextall took a chance on last offseason who played himself into a top-4 role. The offensive skills are still there, exhibited by his 10 goals, which tied a career high for him. MDZ gives up a ton of shots though, so if he doesn’t replicate his offensive numbers we may look at his contract extension a bit differently.

I’d mention the absence of Coburn here but for whatever reason people actually thought he was bad. He wasn’t actually.

  • Husky Schenn quietly had himself a good season for the Philadelphia Flyers. He posted a 50.3 CF% and provided the Flyers with a stabilizing presence in their own end with his consistent outlet passes. While it’s clear he will never grow into the player the Flyers had hoped they were getting in the JVR trade, he’s a good, if unspectacular defenseman who could garner trade interest later in the season.

The Rest

Radko Gudas – A bruising throwback defenseman who’s been lauded for his crisp passing. Would be the most effective receiving bottom pair minutes. Good depth player. S/O to @FauxGudas

Brandon Manning – Saw limited action towards end of last season due to injuries and trades. Posted a 51.3 CF% last season in 11 games. Still looking for his first NHL goal.

Nick Schultz – I know why we extended him when we did, but man, he’s not good. Like at all. After Braydon Coburn left, Schultz was absolutely dreadful. And there’s no reason to think that will change.

Andrew MacDonald – There are no words. He will forever remembered in this city as one of the worst free agent signings in Philadelphia Flyers’ history. The fact he will get minutes this upcoming season is depressing.

The Goalies

Steve Mason – What more needs to be said of this guy that hasn’t already? All hail the Ma$ed God.

Michal Neuvirth – A consistently solid backup goaltender throughout his career. While with the Buffalo Sabres last year he actually had a save percentage of .918. Yes, those same Sabres. He will be a significant upgrade over Ray Emery.

Prediction Time

If Steve Mason can replicate his stellar performance from last year the Flyers have a decent shot at getting into the playoffs. I believe though the player that could have the most significant impact on the Flyers’ chances to get into the playoffs will be Neuvirth.

Ray Emery was really, really bad last year, helping Craig Berube in making some pretty bizarre decisions in regards Mason’s usage. Berube either over worked Mase or played him too soon after coming back from injury.

Neuvirth, even if he is just an average backup goaltender next year, could help spell Mason from playing too much and allow him to stay healthy.

The defense as it stands isn’t a significant improvement from last season but even without seeing Medvedev play one minute in the NHL, I am comfortable stating that he will be an upgrade from Nicklas Grossmann. I’d mention the absence of Coburn here but for whatever reason people actually thought he was bad. He wasn’t actually.

The offense is led by the ginger wonder kids with a solid supporting cast. The Flyers will still have one of the most dangerous powerplay units in the league but their playoff chances would increase significantly if they could begin converting more of their even-strength scoring chances. I know that’s a pretty, “DUH!”, statement but how many times did you catch yourself saying, “How the heck did that not go in,” last year? Myself? I lost count.

The Philadelphia Flyers will finish the season with a record of 40-27-15 (95 points). They will be on the outside looking in, finishing 9th and out of the playoffs.

Don’t agree? Sound off in the comments and tell me how wrong I am.

Data mined using War-On-Ice.

Next: Broad Street Buzz Staff Predictions

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