After missing four games due to injury, Tyson Foerster returned to the Flyers' lineup last Wednesday night in their matchup against the Edmonton Oilers. This allowed Rick Tocchet to reunite his most effective forward group before the injury.
Noah Cates, Bobby Brink, and the aforementioned Foerster continued their growing chemistry from the previous season and dominated the opposition early on. Their ability to drive play in the offensive zone and stifle any counter rush was second to none. The trio took their newfound responsibility and ran with it, reaching a level of play that was previously thought to be out of reach.
With that being said, the rest of the Flyers forwards (with the obvious exception of Trevor Zegras) haven’t quite adapted to Rick Tocchet’s possession-focused style of coaching. The players they rely on to generate quality scoring chances appear to be stuck in first gear.
This has led some to wonder if the answer to the Flyers' scoring woes lies in splitting up their most reliable asset on offense. Cates, Brink, and Foerster have all thrived under Tocchet's new system and seem to be tailor-made for his particular brand of hockey.
Could spreading their talent across the lineup assist in jump-starting some of the other forwards who are off to slow starts? Or, would dismantling the only line that has remained a consistent net positive for the team cause more issues than it would solve?
Today, we’ll be breaking down both sides of that argument and determining which course of action will benefit the Flyers for the remainder of the season.
The Case For Keeping The Line Intact
It’s easy to see why this particular line has been relied upon so often in the early goings of the season. They play a tight-checking, responsible style that allows the coaching staff to put faith in their abilities, no matter the situation. It’s not uncommon for the three to be matched up against the likes of Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, and Sam Reinhart on a nightly basis, nor is it uncommon for them to win these matchups on both ends of the ice.
In the past, their status as “role players” seemed to limit their ceilings in the NHL, being forced to play sheltered minutes alongside career bottom-six fringe talent. As trust was earned and ice time was increased, it became evident that these three guys were capable of a higher level of play.
Admittedly, some of the credit for the emergence of Cates, Brink, and Foerster as key contributors to the team’s overall success is owed to John Tortorella. Despite the many shortcomings that ultimately dominated the narrative of his time in Philadelphia, he was able to recognize untapped potential in certain players that the fans and media alike were ready to toss aside. After proving they could handle themselves at the NHL level, he allowed them to showcase their talents more consistently by playing them alongside each other.
This would prove to be the right call, as all three set new career highs in point totals and time on ice. Cates solidified himself as one of the better two-way centers in the league, Brink started to capitalize on the chances he was creating in the o-zone, and Foerster was beginning to emerge as a legitimate scoring threat, possessing the skillset of a first-line winger.
We have seen nothing but growth from these three players since the line was constructed. Point totals, underlying metrics, and even the eye test have all improved the longer they’ve stayed together. Despite a few cold streaks and growing pains in their first few years as pros, they have never given the team a reason to truly doubt their effectiveness.
The Case For Splitting Them Apart
You would have to be amongst the most jaded of Philadelphia hockey fans to be disappointed with Cates, Brink, and Foerster this season. They may not be an elite first line to build a roster around, but they’ve been able to elevate each other's play consistently since they were brought together. The only scenario in which it would make any sense for the coaching staff to split them up would be if the rest of the team’s forwards forgot how to score entirely.
While they aren’t quite at the point yet, it has been a rocky start for many of the Flyers' established offensive talent. Their shot totals have been among the league’s lowest, and a pass-first mentality has been limiting the number of higher danger chances they can create in the other team’s zone.
Owen Tippett continues to be his frustrating self, opening the season with five goals in his first six contests, only to be followed up by a single assist in his next ten. Despite keeping on pace for his usual point total, Travis Koncey has struggled to find the back of the net. Even the Russian phenom himself, Matevi Michkov, hasn’t played up to his usual standards (which the entire fanbase has had a very reasonable and appropriate response to).
Whether it's players not gelling with the new system or Tocchet failing to deploy the offense in a way that maximizes their talent, something is clearly amiss with the Flyers' forward core. A potential solution to these offensive woes could stem from the three players not named Trevor Zegras who have benefited the most from the hiring of Rick Tocchet. It may be time to try and spread the dependable play of Cates, Brink, and Foerster throughout the lineup in hopes of sparking chemistry with some of their struggling teammates.
Foerster’s strong defensive instincts and plus-shot have proven to be effective when he’s surrounded with elite talent. This leads me to believe he could be the missing puzzle piece to bring Michkov and Zegras together on the same line. His awareness off the puck would allow the pair to be able to create freely in the offensive zone, without fear of causing a game-breaking turnover.
Cates can be the second-line center on any playoff-caliber team. Emulating the play of a younger Sean Couturier seems entirely within reach for Cates at this point in his career. He has not only improved with each year of experience, but has unlocked parts of his game that were previously thought to be untenable. Having Cates center a line with two scoring wingers that would benefit greatly from his two-way, 200-foot game (Tippett, Konecny, Grebenkin, etc) could result in a career year in terms of point totals.
Brink has remained a fan favorite since his debut for the big club all the way back in 2022. Not only for his endearing personality off the ice, but for the amount of skill he possesses in such a small frame. His ability to create offense (especially off the rush) has been apparent since day one. Once he was able to keep up with the pace and aggression of the NHL, Brink has emerged as one of the more talented playmakers that the Flyers have to offer.
His style of play would be a perfect fit for a talented third line comprising himself, Couturier, and Nikita Grebenkin. This would allow Brink to be the driving force behind the entirety of the line’s offense, potentially seeing him eclipse the 50-point mark for the first time in his career.
While nothing is imminent, it does feel like a change to the lineup will begin to unfold sometime during the next handful of games. If Tocchet and co decide that the rest of the forwards need a different look to jumpstart their seasons, trying any number of these combinations could yield at the very least interesting results.