It is too early to write off the Philadelphia Flyers' season, but the writing is on the wall for this being a non-playoff team and a lottery team.
The Flyers are looking at a season that isn't going to benefit the team's lore in any way, but it simply can't be a wasted year for the players. With careers that could end in an instant, players aren't in a position to simply just pack it in, despite the fact that some of them look like they already are.
So if you're in a situation like the Flyers, who are the players who could benefit the most from this year?
Zegras & Michkov can still produce
If you're Matvei Michkov and Trevor Zegras, as long as you're scoring, you're good. Teams that are in the midst of a lost season can still have players who prove to be recession-proof.
So far, it appears that Trevor Zegras and Matvei Michkov might be. For Michkov, we're still trying to find his ice-time sweet spot, but we're clear that he needs to be a volume shooter and stay out of the box. If he keeps that up, he'll end up having a successful season. Both Michkov and Zegras are never going to be defense-oriented, but making themselves the offensive drivers will secure their place in the future and quell some doubts.
Once the expectation of winning is off the table, it really just becomes a race.
Numerous players could be hindered by lack of success
At least once this season, you've caught yourself saying, "Man, Owen Tippett would really help this team."
Regardless of whether it's true or not, Tippett being an unknown quantity this year in a way protects his value and his perception. There were times last season, especially during the playoff push, that Tippett looked like the team's best overall player and like someone who would be a future All-Star.
Now we're left wishing Tippett could get healthy or get traded.
A young player trying hard with no expectations really can't lose in this situation. As long as they keep that energy, they become darlings. You could also lump 2nd-year guys into this, especially with Denver Barkey.
Cole Knuble looks incredible just because he's playing with spark, and he's got some scoring touch. Oliver Bonk is quickly becoming one of the more fun players to watch develop. Hunter McDonald is throwing his weight around and looking like an ideal depth defender.
These guys are playing partially due to injuries but also due to the poor start, forcing a drastic early-season change. The expectation for the rule is Porter Martone, who created soaring expectations with his play coming out of college late last season but has been much more up-and-down this year.
We've reached the point where we're just waiting to see Jett Luchanko back in a Flyers uniform. Objectively, he's played well in the Lehigh Valley, but more importantly, the big club has had a lot of people play poorly.
With Luchanko now looking viable, and the team not, it helps create buzz around a prospect who last season was closer to getting the German Rubtsov treatment than any 1st-rounder in recent memory.
While the team on the ice loses, it might end up being a winning year for a small group of players.
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