The Flyers rebuild isn’t complete, but the expectations have been raised. After making it to the second round of the playoffs last year, there’s proof the team is capable of competing. And they’re doing so while integrating younger players into the lineup.
Porter Martone burst onto the scene and played an integral role in the stretch run. Alex Bump and Denver Barkey have each shown at different times that they are capable of playing in the NHL.
For David Jiricek and Nikita Grebenkin, there’s an added wrinkle as both will lose waiver exemption status this upcoming season. Jiricek’s situation is tougher due to his former top-prospect status. The Flyers also won’t want to lose him for nothing after acquiring him last season.
The problem now isn’t that the Flyers don’t have enough young talent. It’s that they don’t have enough spots for players who could legitimately deserve one.
It’s a good spot to be in, but only if the Flyers handle it correctly. They’ll need to make decisions that prioritize winning while also focusing on the long-term development of their young core.
So what does that all mean?
The Flyers can't force the issue on roster decisions
The problem is that Danny Briere can’t just force players into the lineup or bury them on the depth chart to get them NHL minutes. Playing in the NHL and being ready are two different things. That’s why a situation like Jiricek’s will have to be handled carefully. His previous track record raises questions about whether he can establish himself as an everyday NHL defenseman.
But because he will have to pass through waivers, the Flyers can’t just try to squeeze him through and hope for more developmental time in the AHL. That also doesn’t mean Jiricek will just be given a spot either. That’s just one example of the tough balance Briere will have in a few weeks.
There’s also the notion that veterans deserve roster spots simply because they’re under contract. Briere has been open about players needing to earn their roster spots and how no one will be handed one. While that may be more relevant to the youth, the same should apply to the veterans.
The Flyers can’t fall into the trap of keeping someone in the lineup because they’ve played longer or because they’ve earned the benefit of the doubt. They need to be willing to give a younger player the opportunity if they have proven to be the better option. Development is important, but so is putting the best possible lineup on the ice any given night. That has to mean that veterans are held to the same standards as everyone else.
This would be a scenario the aforementioned Barkey, Bump, or even Jett Luchanko could fall under. Barkey and Bump have more to prove, but they have begun to show they can handle the bigger moments. While it is more likely that Luchanko will start the season in the AHL, the Flyers have kept him in the NHL lineup for four games in two consecutive seasons and debuted him in the playoffs. The former was more likely because they had to send him back to juniors when they felt he wasn't ready. This time, that threat is gone.
In Luchanko's case specifically, this is where the issue of long-term development becomes important. As much as they need him to show more than he has recently, they can't force him into a situation he isn't ready for. If he comes into training camp and blows everyone away, that's a different story. But he can't be on the roster just because they want him to be ready.
There's a distinction between being on the roster and actually developing. Playing limited minutes or bouncing in and out of the lineup won't help a player learn if it becomes constant. It's a situation where they'd have to determine if that is better than playing significant minutes in the AHL. It's about putting a player in the best situation they can be in to help the Flyers down the line.
The Flyers are in a good position in their rebuild. While they could always add to strengthen their roster, the young core is in a good spot to produce. Training camp and beyond will be about deciding which players deserve opportunities because they're ready for them and which need more time to develop.
It's a good problem to have. Now, the Flyers have to make sure they don't turn it into a bad one.
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