Predicting the Flyers’ 2023-24 Statistical Leaders
The 2023-24 Philadelphia Flyers will have a renewed focus on developing their prospects and allocating more ice time to them. However, with John Tortorella continuing at head coach, there will still be a healthy balance of minutes shared between veterans, young players, and first-timers.
The return of experienced players like Sean Couturier and Cam Atkinson certainly complicates matters, and that means less opportunities for players like Morgan Frost and Tyson Foerster, for example. Trades could always open things up for the younger guys later on, but Couturier and Atkinson are here to stay, strictly because of their contracts if nothing else.
Goals: Owen Tippett, RW, 32 goals
Admittedly, goals will be one of the tougher categories to predict for the Flyers. Travis Konecny comfortably led the team here last year with 31 tallies in only 60 games, whereas Tippett had 27 in 77. Ultimately, Tippett should take another step forward in his second full season with Philadelphia. Konecny remains a hot trade candidate, but if he were more likely to stay put, he would be here instead.
Points and assists: Sean Couturier, C, 40 assists, 65 points
Couturier returns in 2023 as the Flyers’ longest tenured player, but health remains an obvious concern. The 2019-20 Selke Trophy winner has not played more than 70 games since the 2018-19 season, and missed all of last year. Between 2017 and 2021, the 30-year-old was wildly productive offensively, so players like Tippett, Cam York, and Atkinson should help him get back near what he was before the injuries.
Plus-Minus: Cam York, D, +5
In the absence of Ivan Provorov, it is expected that Cam York takes the reigns as the Flyers’ No. 1 defenseman. Travis Sanheim will help alleviate that pressure, but most of the difficult minutes will be deferred to the 22-year-old. That alone will make it difficult for York to post a good plus-minus rating on a bad team, but his underlying numbers have been terrific. His offensive prowess should be enough to help the team overcome their defensive shortcomings this year.
Penalty minutes: Nicolas Deslauriers, LW, 150 PIM
Nic Deslauriers set a career-high in penalty minutes last year with 136, and with a lot of new young players coming through the pipeline for the Flyers this year, his role as an enforcer should grow even more. Although Deslauriers is a stout penalty killer and defensive winger, his focus on other responsibilities will allow the younger Flyers to grow in those areas in his stead.
Wins: Samuel Ersson, G, 19 wins
19 wins seems like a low total, but Sam Ersson will likely be sharing the net with Carter Hart, at least early on. All signs point to Hart being moved at some point within the next year as his contract continues to wind down, which will open up more opportunities for Ersson, Felix Sandstrom, and Cal Petersen. At the end of the day, Ersson likely ends up with two-thirds of the Flyers’ total wins.
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Most of these stat predictions are on the conservative side as the young Flyers continue to gel and learn what works and what does not. The special teams, for example, will be key factors in how many of these play out. That was an area of major concern for Philly last year, and should be one of the team’s top priorities heading into 2023.