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The Three Biggest Questions Facing the Flyers Heading Into the 2022-23 Season

By Scott Cole

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 24: Ronnie Attard #47, Owen Tippett #74, Morgan Frost #48, and Ivan Provorov #9 of the Philadelphia Flyers react against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Wells Fargo Center on April 24, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-1. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 24: Ronnie Attard #47, Owen Tippett #74, Morgan Frost #48, and Ivan Provorov #9 of the Philadelphia Flyers react against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Wells Fargo Center on April 24, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-1. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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Well, it’s been an offseason. Whether or not you agree with the moves the Flyers made or didn’t make, this is what we got. Training camp is just a few weeks away. We’ll soon see what we truly have on this team.

It’s no secret that the rest of the teams in the Metropolitan Division bulked up this year via draft, trades, and free agency. But does that mean all is lost? Let’s look at three of the biggest question marks facing the Flyers as the season begins to get underway.

1: Healthy Team = Healthy Play

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock this past year, you know that the health of the team is what killed its chances right off the bat. Granted, the Metro is the toughest division in the NHL, but when you are down four-six starters at any given point, you aren’t going to do a whole lot. Even loaded teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning couldn’t have performed well going months on end with so many top players down.

It begins with a healthy Ryan Ellis and a healthy Sean Couturier. Without those guys playing, this team was doomed. Losing Kevin Hayes didn’t help also. To start this season, we are not sure how healthy Ellis will be. The news on Couturier has been encouraging so far. Joel Farabee is down, recovering from neck surgery. Nobody knows for sure when he will be back. This is a big blow as Farabee was one of the Flyers lone bright spots last season.

If this team can stay healthy with its core players, they may stand a chance at being competitive. If they can’t stay off the injury report, look for a repeat of last season.

2. Young Guys Steppin Up

Farabee made great strides last year. Travis Sanheim, another bright spot, had the sort of season we were all hoping for. The Flyers have a lot of young players on this team. They need players like Owen Tippett, Morgan Frost, Tanner Laczynski, Bobby Brink, Noah Cates, Cam York, Egor Zamula, and others to really showcase what they can do.

If they are successful at the NHL level, this team will be solid for years to come. If these guys left their best at the AHL and junior levels, we’re in trouble. The Flyers are cash strapped by the salary cap and are most likely not going to be players for any top level free agent for years to come.

It’s the 25 and under gang that need to get it going. If they can contribute, you are looking at a potentially deep team. If not, you’re looking at one, maybe two, solid lines to throw out with perhaps one decent defensive pairing. That’s not going to cut it.

3. Torts and the Team

Some fans loved the hiring of John Tortorella as the coach of the Flyers. Some decried it. Out of all the moves this year by the team, this is one of the most polarizing. It’s not because of his credentials, which are substantial. It’s because of his history with his attitude and temper.

First of all, Torts really seems to be excited about being here. He claims he has wanted to coach here and has leaned a lot on Cam Atkinson during this process. If that passion can rub off on the players, watch out Metro!

However, his passion can enflame players. Will players like James van Riemsdyk, Travis Konecny, and Hayes respond well to Torts or will they be the objects of his disaffection? Time will tell.

One thing is for sure, if they buy into what he is selling and perform up to his expectations, the Flyers could sneak their way into a wild card berth.  We’ll see how the team does by Christmas. That will give us a great insight into how well this team is going to play down the stretch.

If they struggle and there is turmoil in the locker room, we got a problem. If the team is playing as gritty and tough as Torts wants, we could be in great shape.

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