Jakub Voracek was a key acquisition for the Philadelphia Flyers in a bold 2011 offseason by then-GM Paul Holmgren. Out were franchise leaders like Mike Richards and Jeff Carter, and in were the likes of Wayne Simmonds, Brayden Schenn, and Voracek, who had the longest Flyers tenure of the three. It was a tenure that seemed to be on the downside after a few inconsistent years for the franchise until an electric campaign that surprised many across the league.
The 2017-18 season put Jakub Voracek back on the map in Philadelphia
Expectations were high from the start for Voracek, who was drafted seventh overall by Columbus in the 2007 NHL Draft. The Czech winger played three seasons for the Blue Jackets, which were nothing more than solid. It was the Carter trade with Columbus that sent Voracek and a first-rounder, which turned out to be future captain Sean Couturier, to Philly.
Just 22 years old at the time of the trade, Voracek never tallied more than 20 goals and 50 points in the same season. He came close with 16 goals and 50 points in 2009-10. The first year he accomplished both feats was 2013-14, with an ensuing 23-goal, 62-point season. He followed that up with a 22-goal, 81-point output, earning Voracek a juicy eight-year extension after his first and only All-Star selection in the most productive showing of his career to that point.
Voracek struggled the following year, missing nine games and posting 11 goals, his lowest total since his rookie season with Columbus. He was able to hit the 20-goal mark again in 2016-17, something he did six times in his career. His point total rose from 55 to 61.
He stepped up big time in 2017-18, setting a career-high of 85 points in his second consecutive season of 82 games played. He was enormously clutch that season as an elite setup guy who netted a handful of game-winners.
He tied it with 1:25 left. He won it 1:26 into overtime. Jake Voracek is clutch. pic.twitter.com/FEbqAAnq2G
— Flyers Nation (@FlyersNation) February 21, 2018
His 65 assists were fourth-most in the league behind linemate Claude Giroux's league-leading 68 helpers. By switching to the left wing, Giroux also had a career-best season, with his 102 points helping him place fourth in Hart Trophy voting in the weird year that Taylor Hall won the award with New Jersey.
The 2017-18 Flyers finished the season third in the Metropolitan Division with 98 points, their most since 2011-12. They, of course, succumbed to their rival Pittsburgh Penguins, in the first round in six games, ending what was one of the most enjoyable Flyers seasons in recent memory.
Voracek stayed with the orange and black for three more seasons and was a part of the franchise's last playoff appearance in the 2020 Toronto bubble. He battled concussion issues towards the end of his career, and was shipped back to Columbus in the July 2021 Cam Atkinson trade, where he would play his final two seasons with the Blue Jackets.
Voracek officially retired in 2024, after tallying 604 points as a Flyer with 427 assists, the fifth-most in franchise history. Flyers fans everywhere still remember how fun that 2018 team was and how much of a playmaker "Jake the Snake" had blossomed into in his age-28 season.