Building A Philadelphia Flyers Team With Tri-State Area Players

Philadelphia itself has only produced five total NHL players, the most recent being Eric Tangradi. He last played six games for the Devils in the 2018-19 season. The state of Pennsylvania has produced 30 total NHL players, with five still playing.

So while we can't build a Flyers team made up of Philadelphia athletes, we can branch out slightly further. Even using the state of Pennsylvania is not enough considering there are five active players: four forwards, and a goaltender.

To make this work, we will have to look a bit further to make a team. Using New Jersey as well, we can look at players who may have considered the Flyers their hometown team or are close enough to call local. It's not ideal, but it's what we have to go with.

Building a Flyers roster with "local" players

Vincent Trocheck - Pittsburgh, PA

Yes, the first player is a Pittsburgh native. Trocheck was likely a Penguins fan growing up, but we won't talk about that. He is currently playing for the rival New York Rangers. But imagine him and his 519 career points on the wing.

Trocheck has posted over 50 points six times, registering 70+ in two of those seasons. He is typically good for 20+ goals a season and adds damage to any power play. 11 of his 25 goals and 24 of his 77 points last season came on the man advantage.

He brings plenty of experience with 719 games under his belt. He may not have a Stanley Cup to his name, but he has appeared in 56 career playoff games with 37 points. Trocheck was a star in the playoffs last season despite the Rangers falling short. He posted a career-high eight goals and 20 points in 16 games. The Flyers wouldn't mind having that resume on their team.

Johnny Gaudreau - Salem County, NJ

Is this a local player list if Gaudreau isn't involved? The 30-year-old has an extensive list of things that tie him to the area. He often comes to Voorhees in the offseason to take part in the Checking for Charity tournament. His father ran the hockey program at Hollydell Ice Arena in Sewell, a place Gaudreau knows well.

Fans have long wanted the player they call "Johnny Hockey" to suit up in the orange in black. There was a chance he almost did. Before signing with the Columbus Blue Jackets in the summer of 2022, there were rumors that he wanted to "come home" and play for the Flyers. For reasons we don't truly know, that never happened and instead, he has been in Columbus ever since.

Gaudreau spent the bulk of his career with the Calgary Flames and shined during his nine seasons. He posted 20-goal campaigns five times and even reached the century mark in his last season with the Flames, totaling 115 points. He has 42 playoff games to his name where he's recorded 11 goals and 33 points.

James van Riemsdyk - Middletown Township, NJ

Hey, this one happened already! James van Riemsdyk was drafted second overall by the Flyers in 2007 and had two separate stints in Philadelphia. He may be most known for breaking out with the Toronto Maple Leafs after the Flyers traded him for Luke Schenn before the 2012-13 season.

In the lockout-shortened season, van Riemsdyk posted 18 goals and 32 assists before breaking out with 30 goals and 61 points the following season. He posted 36 goals in 2017-18 before signing a five-year deal with the Flyers in the offseason. Could he bring that same scoring ability back?

van Riemsdyk did score 27 goals in his first season back, but injuries cost him time in four of the next five seasons. He managed to post over 40 or more points in his first three seasons and did play all 82 games in the 2021-22 season. He was a net-front presence on the power play as well. But after a disappointing 2022-23 season, he left for Boston in free agency. He remains a free agent after 11 goals and 38 points in 71 games for the Bruins.