Twenty (Not So) Bold Flyers Predictions For 2021: Grading Flyers Forecast from 2020
Ghost is traded (LOSS)
Technically Ghost was traded, but it was after the expansion draft. No partial credit for me in this case. In years to come I expect we look at the 2020 trade deadline as the seminal date in determining the fate of the team. Fletcher’s inability or unwillingness to trade Gostisbehere at the deadline have implications that impact 2021 and beyond.
Flyers Contend for a Top Spot In the Division (LOSS)
After a promising playoff run in the summer of 2020, it seemed the Flyers were ascending and would challenge the Caps and the Bruins for supremacy. It was not so. A poor defensive strategy and a schedule too tight to change it doomed the Flyers. By the end of the outdoor game a flaw in the team’s zone coverage was found. It was exploited for the rest of the season and sealed their fate.
Provorov Finishes in the Top 10 for the Norris Trophy (LOSS)
Provorov suffered the most from the departure of Matt Niskanen and spent most of the season trying to compensate for his many partners’ defensive weaknesses. He did not receive a single Norris Trophy vote. Provorov finished eighth in even strength minutes, fifth in total minutes. He finished 47th in even strength points, 34th in points overall, among defensmen. Despite a down year, I would rather have Provorov over current Norris winner Adam Fox.
Sanheim Sets A Career High in Points (LOSS)
The Flyers defense corps was in a constant state of disruption and turmoil, trying to fill the Niskanen gap. Like Provorov, Sanheim was a casualty of the unsettled pairings. Sanheim played nearly half of his even strength minutes (393:15) with Philippe Myers, who was erratic. He also spent significant time paired with Justin Braun (178.30), Ivan Provorov (167:13), and Robert Hagg (125:19).
While Sanheim’s -22 +/- was second worst on the team, he did not play as badly as that number may indicate. Sanheim was often victimized by mistake made by his partners. In addition, Sanheim was used by the team to stop the bleeding to try to reverse momentum after a bad stretch. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t, like the -6 he took in a 9-0 rout by the Rangers. Given the situation the team faced, Sanheim was given the short end of the stick and was repeatedly put in unfavorable situations.
Nicolas Aube-Kubel Collects 10 goals (LOSS)
Building from a decent 2019, it seemed the rugged winger was going to use his physical style to eat up minutes and fill the score sheet. NAK averaged just over 11 minutes a night and did not factor much on offense. Aube-Kubel spent much of the season saddled with the listless Nolan Patrick, but also had minutes with a more productive Scott Laughton. Overall NAK did not take full advantage of his opportunities, scoring one goal over his final 35 games of the season.
Philippe Myers Sets a Career High in Points (LOSS)
Myers collected only 11 points for the Flyers in a disappointing season, far below the 17 he collected in the previous season. Myers needed to take a step up, particularly on defense and it did not happen. Be it a developmental ceiling or a lack of coaching brought on by the Covid schedule, fans will need to look south to Nashville to watch Myers as he was traded for Ryan Ellis.
Flyers Sign a Value RHD FA (probably from Minnesota or TVR) (LOSS)
The Flyers inability to replace Niskanen turned into prominent and reoccurring challenge during the season, and it dogged them throughout. They Flyers opted not to sign a right handed defensemen. In a strange bit of logic the front office opted to sign Erik Gustafsson, a sub par left handed defensemen, to play the right side. As one might have guessed it did not turn out well.
Justin Braun not re-signed (LOSS)
Yes I lost this, but having to suit Braun up each night made the Flyers the bigger losers. My hope for Braun this season is that Chuck Fletcher stops calling him an “elite” defender. It is not fair to Braun or to elite defenders.