The Philadelphia Flyers have lost an exciting six-game series to the Washington Capitals. For now, the team will be dealing with the stinging side effect of losing in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
However, there are several reasons for fans and, just as importantly, the team, to be excited for the 2016-17 NHL season.
1. Ivan Provorov
Provorov was widely regarded as the best defenseman leading up to the 2015 NHL Entry Draft and the Flyers were lucky enough to nab him with the No. 7 overall pick. Provorov played 62 games for the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings this season and recorded 21 goals and 52 assists for 73 points and a plus-64 rating. He also impressed at the World Juniors this year, with many considering him the most complete defenseman in the tournament.
It’s not hard to see why.
Fun little breakout from Ivan Provorov. https://t.co/c2YjzFU653
— Todd Cordell (@ToddCordell) December 31, 2015
Provorov is too good for the Flyers to keep him in the juniors next season. With Shayne Gostisbehere and Provorov on the blueline, Philadelphia’s back end will take a massive step forward.
2. Travis Konecny
The Flyers have had a deficiency of scoring depth in recent years, so the team traded up to select forward Travis Konecny in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft at No. 24 overall. Aside from Provorov, Konecny could arguably be the Flyers’ most dynamic prospect. Konecny recorded seven goals and 38 assists in 29 games for the Ottawa 67’s this season before being traded to the Sarnia Sting halfway through the season, where he exploded for 23 goals and 33 assists in 31 games. In total, Konecny racked up 30 goals and 71 assists for 101 points in only 60 games.
Despite suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in the postseason this year, Konecny could very well be playing on Broad Street this coming season. Flyers General Manager Ron Hextall typically preaches patience with prospects, but like Provorov, Konecny could be too good to send back to the juniors. Konecny would provide the Flyers some much needed scoring depth and take some weight off the shoulders of Claude Giroux, Wayne Simmonds and Jakub Voracek.
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3. Cap space
For the first time in several years, the Flyers are set to have a fair amount of money to play with during the offseason, thanks to the unbelievable work of Ron Hextall. The Flyers’ defense is still a little leaky and they need more point-producing forwards, so having manageable cap room will certainly benefit the team once free agency comes around.
4. Another year in Dave Hakstol’s system
First-year Head Coach Dave Hakstol was a revelation for the Flyers this season. Despite a rocky start to the season, Philadelphia quickly picked up steam as the team adjusted to Hakstol’s system. The Flyers went into the All-Star break with a 21-18-8 record, but after the break, the Flyers went 20-9-6, which was just good enough to send them into the playoffs. If the final three months of the season were any indication of what’s to come, the Flyers could end up being one of the top teams in the Metropolitan Division next year, thanks largely in part to the work done by Hakstol.
5. More Shayne Gostisbehere
Gostisbehere is one of the biggest reasons why the Flyers made it to the playoffs in the first place. He fits Dave Hakstol’s system like a glove and gives the team a dynamic producer on the power play. With Gostisbehere in the lineup, the Flyers had a 33-19-11 record.
Without him? 8-8-3.
Gostisbehere has become a major asset to the Flyers and an entire year with him in the lineup will give the Flyers an overall better chance to win.