It is my favorite time of year, where the Flyers are not yet out of playoff contention and there is hope to fill all hearts, bad predictions to fill every ear and more than enough cheap shots to go around, so gird your loins!
I have to admit, being over the cap with only 41 players under contract (11 forwards with the big club) whilst players like Wade Allison remain unsigned might make things a little less sunny in Philadelphia, but take heart, we have Nicolas Deslauriers, and we have him for four whole years!! So exciting!! Let’s get started.
Player Predictions By the Numbers
Ivan Provorov Leads the Flyers in Minutes
Provorov has taken a lot of criticism over the last two seasons, not coincidently it has coincided with being paired along side Justin Braun. It is still unclear if the Flyers have solved the Provorov situation as the Ryan Ellis status is in question. We will see how Tony DeAngelo impacts the defensive pairings.
But it will be clear to Tortorella that his prize blue liner is Provorov. As the rest of the defensive unit tries to meet the Torts standard, Provorov will be made to play in every situation. I hope Provy has worked on his cardio, he will need it.
Ivan Provorov is paired with Justin Braun for over 25 % of his TOI
I hope I am wrong, I am making this prediction so I will be wrong. Please God, please let me be wrong. But gosh darn it after two full seasons of seeing the Braun/Provorov pairing not work, how can the Flyers pass up a third try. It is an opportunity of Deslauriers proportions!
Despite my violent reaction to bring back the once traded Braun there is a way this could work for the Flyers. Braun would be the 7th defensemen who would be put in when Torts was “communicating” with one of the youngsters by benching them. This will not happen. I expect Braun will find his way back to Provorov like a bad penny and we will be entreated to a third season of this not working.
Tony DeAngelo Leads the Flyers Defensmen in Scoring
I like DeAngelo as a player, and advocated signing him in the summer of 2021. All he did was lead Carolina defensemen in scoring. DeAngelo will not have as much help in Philadelphia as he did on the Canes, but he will add some additional fire power from the blue line. I expect Tony D to get the first stab at the power play, mostly because it will give a minutes heavy Ivan Provorov time to rest. DeAngelo should have ample opportunity to pick up points on the PP1.
Carter Hart’s Numbers Improve Again
Under Tortorella the Flyers will play hard in their own end. That can only benefit Hart who was alone in trying to stop high percentage shots from the slot. Based on my analysis the only problem Hart has had is a bout of shaky confidence when the team hung him out to dry. If he can keep his confidence is his game, he should see an improved save percentage and goals against numbers.
Sean Couturier plays Less than 60 Games
The Flyers have not been the picture of health since, ever. But I believe that the 29 year old Couturier is entering the “multi layered injury” phase of his career. As much as modern medicine has advanced in the last decades, the joints and backs are still something that are hard to repair. It will not be easy for Couturier to regain his best form.
He plays a physical game where his body’s ability to take abuse is key. He will be asked to do more, with less help, than at any point in his career. Tortorella would already be tempted to over use him in the best of circumstances, but with the Flyers’ current roster make up the coach will often feel as if he does not have a choice. I expect Couturier to break down multiple times in the season, missing at least 20 games.
Ryan Ellis Plays in Less than 41 games
I think Ellis may not make it back from his injuries. The fact that Nashville was willing to deal him should have been a hint that there was something amiss. I am beginning to wonder if “multi-layered” is comcast speak for “we found several problems, and there are probably more we don’t know about”. Based on last time my internet went out it seems reasonable. The Flyers need Ellis to be healthy, and Ellis is not. In fact he is multi-layered unhealthy. My guess at least one of the layers will need surgery before the end of the season.
Ronnie Attard players Less than 41 Games for the Flyers this Season
There is some hype around Ronnie Attard, and that is not a bad thing. Maybe he can turn into that homegrown 2nd pair RHD the Flyers have coveted since trading away Phil Myers. I have concerns about Attard, specifically his balance. Attard in his brief stint with the team seemed to get pushed off of, and away from the puck with alarming regularity. Further it was not just losing a puck battle, Attard was often wiped out, knocked to the ice, and left completely out of the play.
Players fall all the time, well AMac fell all the time. Players do fall at times and there could be reasons, bad ice, a miscommunication, a really well timed hit, but to me it looked like there may be some skating remediation needed. Keep in mind Attard is 23 years old. He had been playing in college with players who were not as physically mature. He will need time to adjust to the pro game and to improve his skating, and he will spend his time doing it in the AHL.