Broad Street Buzz
Fansided

Philadelphia Flyers: Mid-Season Report Card

By Marc Naples

Jan 5, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier (14) and goalie Michal Neuvirth (30) celebrate win against the Montreal Canadiens at Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers defeated the Canadiens, 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 5, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier (14) and goalie Michal Neuvirth (30) celebrate win against the Montreal Canadiens at Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers defeated the Canadiens, 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 9
Next
philadelphia flyers
Jan 7, 2016; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Michael Del Zotto (15) celebrates his goal with forward Brayden Schenn (10) during the second period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

Michael Del Zotto & Radko Gudas

philadelphia flyers
philadelphia flyers /

Michael Del Zotto – A-

Nothing in Del Zotto’s goal numbers, a -6 rating and 0.34 5v5 points per 60, is going to impress you.  Fortunately there’s more to the story.  I might make the case that Del Zotto is having the best season of his career.  His Corsi-for rate is at a career high, his Corsi-against rate is at a career low, for the obvious result that his Corsi percentage is significantly higher than ever.  On top of that, he and Gudas are playing big minutes against the opponent’s best.  This is all new territory for Del Zotto, and indicates a maturing game from a 25-year old defenseman.  The only obstacle for Del Zotto this season has been his incredibly “unlucky” PDO.  Of 183 NHL regular defensemen, Del Zotto’s PDO is 174th.  If his Corsi performance stays where it is, the goals will surely follow in the second half of the season.

Radko Gudas – A

Gudas has gone from being a healthy scratch at the start of the season to the top pair.  Gudas is taking the toughest matchups, and is putting up the top Corsi numbers of all Flyers defensemen.  He is also a physical presence throwing big and frequent hits.  With 174 hits, he is second among all NHL defensemen despite playing 9 fewer games than the NHL leader.

Next: Defense Pair 2 Grades

Home/Editorials