For the first time in years, the Philadelphia Flyers made it to the postseason and advanced past the first round. With this in mind, it's hard not to have high expectations. They are young, hungry, and just as excited about this season as we are.
If there is anything you can feel a little iffy about, it's that the Flyers didn't "make a big splash". It's not for lack of trying. They failed to land Leo Carlsson, but that's because the Ducks matched the offer. There are still some who are trying to link them to guys like Dylan Larkin and Zach Werenski. We'll see.
For now, we're going to make some predictions about how this Flyers team will perform this year. We'll start, as we always do, by seeing where they will place in the Metropolitan Division.
What Place Will the Flyers Finish In?
1. Hurricanes
2. Flyers
3. Capitals
4. Penguins
5. Rangers
6. Devils
7. Blue Jackets
8. Islanders
Some of you are going to accuse me of being too much of a "homer". I get it. I almost didn't want to rank them this high...almost. But let's take a look at this.
First and foremost, the Hurricanes will take this division again. The reigning Cup Champions aren't going anywhere. They will lead everyone by a mile and possibly reclaim the Eastern Conference top seed.
I placed the Flyers in second because they have a good thing going. There is a lot of morale among the young players. There is an air of excitement that hasn't been around in a long time. That will carry over. Matvei Michkov looks great. Porter Martone is ready to go. Even Cole Knuble is driving hard to earn a roster spot. That's hard to overlook.
The Caps made some big additions this year. They beefed up an aging roster by acquiring Jordan Kyrou, Alex Tuch, and Boone Jenner. This is a team that could be strong. But I'm not sold on them being a top-tier team yet. Call it a hunch. This could also be Alex Ovechkin's swan song.
The Pens made the playoffs last year, but were bounced by the Flyers. They'll be good, but will be fueled by the prospect that this could be the last time that Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang are all together. They'll be pesky, but it will be hard to tell. If they are injured, they are done. Like Pittsburgh, the Rangers are looking to climb back. Like the Caps, the Rangers did a lot to improve the roster; more so than Pittsburgh. However, they were a last-place team. Were their moves enough?
Rounding out the bottom three starts with the Devils. NJ completely overhauled the core of its roster. After struggling the last few seasons, it looks as if they may have a plan to move forward. The Devils are one of those teams that could finish fourth in the division or eighth. I split the difference with sixth. The Blue Jackets are still a mess, and while the Islanders are good every other year, this is the "other year". They'll be bringing up the rear.
Flyers Stat Leaders
For the last few years, Travis Konecny has led the team in points. This will happen again, but his points will depend on his linemates. He will break 80 points this year and score at least 35 goals. He should be challenged by several of his teammates.
As for the team lead in goals, it will be Tyson Foerster. If he can stay healthy, he'll lead this team in goals. Porter Martone will be right behind him there, as the Flyers will have three 30+ goal scorers. It will be the first time Philly has had multiple guys hit that mark since 2017-18 when Claude Giroux and Sean Couturier accomplished it. Martone will also lead the team in assists. If all goes well, Michkov could also score 30 goals. I think he and Owen Tippett will each fall just short, but they'll be close.
Flyers Team Awards
The following Flyers will receive the following team awards:
Barry Ashbee Trophy for Best Defenseman: Travis Sanheim
Bobby Clarke Trophy for Team MVP: Porter Martone
Yanick Dupre Memorial for Class Guy: Nick Seeler
Pelle Lindbergh Memorial for Most Improved Award: Matvei Michkov
Toyota Cup Game Star Selections: Porter Martone
Gene Hart Award Work Ethic & Dedication: Sean Couturier
In other predictions, Martone will shatter Flyers rookie stat records. He'll best Mikael Renberg's 82 points and Eric Lindros's 41 goals as a rookie. He'll also become the first Flyer to win the Calder Memorial Trophy. It's going to be in large part because of Martone that the Flyers will capture second place, as his talent and enthusiasm will spread to other lines and ripple out.
I also predict Dan Vladar will have an even better season, showing that last year wasn't a fluke. He'll get some Vezina consideration, but won't be a finalist, finishing fourth or fifth.
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