Philadelphia Flyers 2024-25 Player Preview: Garnet Hathaway

When Garnet Hathaway was signed by the Flyers last year, most hockey fans thought that they were getting a steady veteran presence who'd been to the playoffs and had been signed here to provide some depth. However, the Flyers got so much more than that.

Very early on, it was apparent that he fit with this team. He meshed with Ryan Poehling and Nic Deslauriers. During last year's training camp, it looked as if the Flyers had created one of the best fourth lines in the NHL.

Hathaway isn't a scorer. Last year, he scored seven goals with 10 assists. That may not sound like a lot, but keep in mind, that scoring mostly came in a bottom-six role. More importantly, he took on the role of enforcer. His 326 hits were second in the league only to Nashville's Jeremy Lauzon. He was fourth in the NHL in penalty minutes with 132, getting into three scraps this year while linemate Deslauriers got into 11 fights.

Garnet Hathaway became a fan favorite during his first year in Philadelphia

This is an important line for the Flyers, even if they don't score. There are a lot of guys out there, like Lauzon, Florida's Radko Gudas, and New York's Matt Rempe who want to hit hard. Guys like Hathaway and Deslauriers are important for a team because they can ensure that those guys don't go too far.

More importantly, Hathaway liked what he saw in Philly. The team also liked what they saw in him. They signed him to a two-year extension a year early. He's been a solid penalty killer. In a fourth-line role, he had a respectable -7 going against the top lines of other teams.

When you look at any sports team in any sports, you tend to look at the superstars because they are the most talented. As Phillies fans have been seeing recently, yes, the Bryce Harpers and Trea Turners are vital to the team, but the Brandon Marshes and Edmondo Sosas are the guys you need too. Likewise, Flyers fans will look to Travis Konecny, Sean Couturier, and Owen Tippett to lead the way, but the Hathwaways are the guys who hold down the fort. Those are the guys who end up building the core of the team and the ones who play a large part in winning.

Hathaway wanted to return to Philly and Daniel Briere wanted to lock him in. When you desire to be part of something you believe in, the results will show. This is a great match for both the player and the team. Let's see what good things come out of it this year.