Flyers 2021-22 Season Preview: 20 Bold Predictions

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Flyers Fail to Make the Playoffs

Given the strength of the division and still so many question marks on the team, I have a hard time seeing the Philadelphia Flyers making the playoffs. I have been predicting, incorrectly, the Penguins demise for the last three seasons, and while it is fun watching them getting pushed out of the playoffs by the Habs and the Islanders, I think there is more left in the tank than I’ve given them credit for. I am not sure the Flyers could pass the Caps, the Rangers, the Canes, the Islanders and the Pens, especially with a New Jersey team that has been collecting productive young talent for the past half decade. The team will play better, contending for a spot for most of the year, but will fall short at the end.

Voracek Collects More Points than Cam Atkinson

Voracek will thrive in Columbus, where he immediately becomes the Blue Jacket’s best play maker. I expect Voracek to see increased usage and to spend most of his time paired with Patrick Laine, but Nyquist, Jenner and Bjorkstrand are all capable scorers. Any of those players would see increased goals while playing alongside Voracek, which in turn will increase his assist totals. It would not be surprising to see him in the top five for assists at the season’s conclusion.

Cam Atkinson Scores More Goals Than Voracek

While Voracek is the more talented player, Atkinson’s intangibles and willingness to shoot will blend well on a Flyers roster that has been populated with pass-first players. Atkinson’s willingness combined with Jake’s unwillingness to shoot assures us Atkinson’s goal totals will outdistance Voracek’s by a substantial margin. This trade changes the demeanor of the Flyers, they will look hungrier on offense, and fans should be excited to see Atkinson play each night.

Powerplay Finishes in the Top 10

The Voracek/Giroux partnership that dominated the Flyers power play for over a half decade had grown stale. This certainly was part of the reasoning when deciding to move Voracek. With new pieces like Atkinson and Wade Allison, this should be a more aggressive and dangerous PP unit. It may start slowly as the players try to find each other, but the team will find new way to score and finish in the top 10 by season’s end.

Flyers Sell at The Trade Deadline

The extension given to Sean Couturier will make it difficult to sell at the deadline. However, the Flyers may be looking to recoup value from players like Braun and Ristolainen if they don’t think they can make a playoff run. It should be pointed out that Giroux’s contract is also expiring, and could be moved to a cup contender if the player so desired. Maybe Pittsburgh??

At Least One Flyers Coach or Executive will be Fired Before the Start of the 2022 Season

When this season starts to fall apart, someone will have to be held accountable. This is very much Chuck Fletcher’s team, so he is ultimately responsible. After the widely maligned Gostisbehere and Ristolainen trades, Fletcher is in some jeopardy, particularly if the team falters.

The team underachieved last season but it could be attributed to the schedule and coaching, rather than poor decisions by the GM, the Gustafsson and Niskanen situations withstanding.

Someone will need to take the blame for a second year of missed playoffs and it will likely be someone from the coaching staff. If the Flyers struggle on special teams, look for one of those coaches to be jettisoned.

Ristolainen puts up career best corsi and +/- numbers

Trading the Buffalo Stank for the Philly Funk will serve Ristolainen well. He will have more help then he ever had in Buffalo, where he was usually asked to take the toughest assignments and the lion’s share of defensive zone starts. He will be able to share the load with Provorov, Sanheim, and Ellis. This, with the Flyers forward depth, will be the high tide lifting all boats, even a barge like Ristolainen. The bad news is he is in a contract year and the Flyers will have to pay dearly if they want him after he has a career season.

Apr 17, 2021; Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports /

Wade Allison Will Finish 6th or Higher on the Team in Goals

Allison was impressive with the team last season, showing a nose for the net. I expect he may find a home, eventually, next to Kevin Hayes and will get ample opportunities to light the lamp. It has become apparent to me that the front office values shooters, and Allison is just that. Allison’s presence around the net will also get him a look on the powerplay and he may displace some of the old fixtures.

Carter Hart Rebounds Statistically

Hart’s numbers were not great last season, but it seemed to be more of an indictment on the team’s defensive coverage and strategy rather than the young goaltender. Hart was forced to face a large number of uncontested cross ice one time shots, many of which snuck behind him. With a more normal practice routine and playing schedule the Flyers should be much better in their own end, and Hart’s numbers will be buoyed.

Cam Atkinson Leads the Team in Shots

Atkinson has been a gunner his entire career, and that will continue with the Flyers. Atkinson’s desire to shoot will replace Voracek’s hesitance, it should provide more offensive spark to the team. Look for Atkinson to be paired with a playmaker and to be gunning all season long.

Oskar Lindblom Scores at Least 40 Points

A year further away from the ravages of cancer and chemo, look for LIndblom to play more like the budding star he was before his cancer diagnosis. With a full year of conditioning and a schedule that will allow more time for rest I expect Lindblom to look strong on and off the puck. Lindblom can expect more help from team mates this season as well. Last year he was paired mostly with the anemic Nolan Patrick. A productive center will be just the tonic Lindblom needs.

Ivan Provorov Collects More Points than any Other Flyers’ Defensemen

Despite all the hype about Ellis, Provorov will log the most minutes of any Flyers defensemen. This will include a healthy serving of power play time. With a power play which looks to be more potent, and featuring more snipers, Provorov will see his power play assist totals sky rocket.

Felix Sandstrom Will Make his NHL Debut

Sandstrom will finally get a chance to play in an NHL game. Flyers hockey means goalie injuries and controversy. This year Sandstrom will use the tradition to his advantage. Look for Sandstrom to get the first look in the event of a goalie injury. The Flyers need to see what Sandstrom looks like in the NHL, as they consider whether to re-sign him. I actually think the prospect will stick and earn himself a role as Hart’s backup in 2022.

Morgan Frost Will Play in More Than 50 Games

Frost has battled injuries and roster log jams up to this point in his career. With Nolan Patrick now in Vegas and Jake Voracek in Columbus, it looks like Frost just needs to stay healthy to claim a roster spot. In a rare moment of optimism, look for Frost not only stay healthy but to become a key cog in the Flyers’ powerplay.

Nate Thompson The Sequel Will be Worse Than The Original

Just when I had peeled the images of Nate Thompson playoff effort from my mind, the ones where he was slowly plodding behind opposing forwards, the Flyers bring him back. Is anyone else psyched?

Look for Thompson to see action early in the season as the team sorts out its young players. Be warned, you probably won’t like it. As the season grinds on it is safe to expect to see less of Thompson. It would be shocking if the team was in playoff contention with Thompson getting significant minutes. If the team is out of the playoff picture, the Flyers need to see if their prospects can make it in the NHL, hence eliminating the need for Thompson.

Cam York Plays More NHL Games than Igor Zamula…

York was the first pick of Fletcher’s tenure with the Flyers, and the GM is eager to show off what York can do. I look for him to play in about 40 games. Unfortunately I see him struggling with the physical nature of the game, being overmatched and outmuscled by the league’s bigger forwards. While this will diminish the team’s playoff chances, and York’s confidence, the growing pains are going to happen for York at some point, and he will be better for it.

…But Probably Should Not Have

While I expect York will struggle in his first season, Zamula, in the limited playing time he gets will prove to be the steadier and more productive defender. There are less questions about size and strength with Zamula, who looks to have about four inches and twenty pounds on York. With Zamula it will come down to confidence, awareness in his own end and the desire to win the one-on-one battles. Look for Zamula to post stronger +/- and relative numbers than York.

Apr 11, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports /

Travis Konecny Does Not Score 30 Goals

Konecny will find himself fighting for ice time with other players, most notably Cam Atkinson. Konecny, after leading the team in scoring in 2019-2020, was slated to be the team’s top sniper last season, but finished with only 11 goals. He was 6th amongst Flyers forwards in power play time and finished third in PP goals. This would seem to indicate some kind of disconnect between the coaching staff and TK. His spotty usage, even with the departure of Voracek, makes me question if he will get significant time on the man advantage, which will hurt his chances to break 30 goals.

Farabee Does Not Lead the Team in Goals this Season

After inking an extension, with a hefty raise, Joel Farabee will look to continue his ascent to NHL stardom. Last season he led the team with 20 goals and showed some flashes of being an extremely dangerous scorer. Despite the excellent results his usage was puzzling. as he was 8th amongst forwards (11:57/game) in 5-on-5 average time on ice.

Despite his strong performance last year, it does not appear that Farabee is one of Vigneault’s preferred players. His lack of ice time will cost him opportunities. In addition, the team added Atkinson who will likely take away minutes from the young star.

Kevin Hayes Will Struggle

Hayes is coming back from a sports hernia injury that dogged him last year. He is also trying pick up the pieces in the wake of his brother Jimmy’s sudden death. It would be unnatural for Hayes not to be distracted by what has happened outside the rink, with family obligations and sorrow understandably taking his attention. We send our prayers to the entire Hayes clan and give him latitude to have the occasional off night.

There are so many variables in a NHL season that well thought-out and reasoned predictions are accurate as frequently as ones decided by a coinflip. But the Flyers will be must see TV with so many changes to the roster and an exciting brand of hockey!

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