Is Help on the Way for The Flyers?
By Scott Cole
Let’s be honest, this season has been dreadful. From having many multiple game losing streaks, lots of injuries, COVID, the firing of Alain Vigneault, and the trading away of longtime captain and face of the franchise Claude Giroux, every Flyers fan is impatiently waiting for a merciful end to this year. But is hope on the way? Is the future of the Flyers bright?
If there is any bright spot to this season, it is that the Flyers will NOT finish with their worst ever record, but just barely. That record is still held up by the 2006-2007 team. But look what happened there. In three years, they made a magical run to the Stanley Cup, only to lose to the Blackhawks. In the following season, they won the Atlantic Division before falling to the Bruins in the conference semifinals.
How’d they get there? Part of it was a strong youth movement. Young players like Braydon Coburn, Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, James van Riemsdyk, and the aforementioned Claude Giroux all became part of the team.
They blended this young talent by trading for Scott Hartnell and Kimmo Timmonen and signing Danny Briere, who would become a Flyers playoff legend.
Do we have shades of this happening now? It’s hard to say. But let’s look at some positives.
Youth Providing Strong Play For Flyers
Noah Cates scored twice against the Pittsburgh Penguins this past weekend. In his 13 games this year, he’s found the back of the net five times. Cam York has struggled at times, as a young defender will, but he has shown he can score; at least he could before his season ending injury.
Oskar Lindblom, still only 25, has had his most productive year since being diagnosed with cancer. Likewise, Travis Konency has been on fire lately and has had his best season since the pandemic began. Joel Farabee is very close to setting career highs in points and goals scored. Travis Sanheim, likewise, is also close to setting career marks in points and goals.
Let’s also not forget Carter Hart. The 23 year old netminder has posted career highs in games started and has had better a GAA and save percentage than last season. He still has his ups and downs, as many young goalies do, but he has kept this team in many of the games they have lost. Put a good roster in front of him that can score, defend, and score on the power play. They may just be a contending team after that.