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A Flyers Dive Into 2022-23 By The Numbers: Part One

By Marc Polites

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 20: Sean Couturier #14 of the Philadelphia Flyers controls the puck against the Boston Bruins at the Wells Fargo Center on November 20, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 20: Sean Couturier #14 of the Philadelphia Flyers controls the puck against the Boston Bruins at the Wells Fargo Center on November 20, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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The understatement of the season could be that the Philadelphia Flyers head into the 2022-23 season with some major questions. Expectations will be low, and they should be. The Flyers biggest acquisition this off season was the hiring of John Tortorella as their new coach.

The Flyers did not make a major free agent signing. In the first of a series that will help define the Flyers by the numbers, let’s take a look at some that must be improved upon this season, as training camp quickly approaches.

$0- According to CapFriendly, the Flyers have no cap space. One of the main reasons why General Manager Chuck Fletcher could make no major signings or trades was the inability to manage a cap. It was rumored that the Flyers wanted to trade James van Riemsdyk and his $7 million per year cap hit, which could have helped, but found no takers.

In addition, Fletcher has handed out some questionable contracts that have handcuffed the team. Signing Rasmus Ristolainen at five years and $5.1 million per year last season has to top the list. Ristolainen is a fine second or third pairing complementary defenseman on a strong team, but for a team starving for high end skill, this one is a head scratcher.

Then Fletcher goes and signs forward Nic Deslauriers to a four year contract at $1.75 million per season. And if the contract wasn’t bad enough, it includes a modified no trade clause. For a player whose career high in goals is 10 back in 2017-18.

2- The Flyers had two 20 goal scorers last year. Van Riemsdyk had 24 and Cam Atkinson, who played under Tortorella in Columbus, had 23. As a team, the Flyers scored 211 goals. Just ahead of Arizona and even behind the first year Seattle Kraken. To address this issue, Fletcher traded for Tony DeAngelo to help on the back end.

DeAngelo will provide offense, but is not known for his defensive prowess. It was long rumored that Johnny Gaudreau, coming off a 115 point season with Calgary, wanted to come to his favorite team growing up. But due to cap mismanagement, the Flyers could not make it work. The hope is that with some luck in the health department, including the return of number one center Sean Couturier, and Travis Konecny can add scoring to a scoring starved team.

12.6%- The Flyers percentage on the power play last season. Good for last in the NHL. That has to be improved on if they want to remain competitive. The Flyers scored 30 power play goals during the 2021-22 season. Van Riemsdyk led the Flyers, scoring nine of his 24 goals on the man advantage. A healthy Couturier and the addition of DeAngelo to the top power play unit should help. 20 of DeAngelo’s 51 points last season came on the power play when he played with Carolina.

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