Flyers Ranked Last In Sportsnet’s Midsummer Power Rankings

Sportsnet likes the Philadelphia Flyers’ recent draft but the team overall, not so much.

The Philadelphia Flyers were ranked 32nd — out of 32 — in Sportsnet’s midsummer power rankings.

Ouch.

Sportsnet’s comments on the Flyers: “The Flyers are in Phase 1 of a complete teardown. Selecting Matvei Michkov was a wonderful way to start a new era of Flyers hockey and Philly figures to be drafting one heck of a player again next June.”

Yes, the Flyers figure to be in the lottery mix next season. They improved year-over-year under coach John Tortorella last year but with a younger roster, they might take a step or two back before they move forward.

The Flyers finished with the NHL’s seventh-worst record last season, so they either sunk or other teams have risen since the regular season ended in April, in Sportsnet’s mind.

General manager Daniel Briere has rolled up his sleeves and gotten to work on putting the Flyers back together. In fact, we praised his efforts here yesterday. He moved on from some players the franchise no longer wanted — Kevin Hayes, Tony DeAngelo — and traded an in-his-prime Ivan Provorov for a healthy return of draft picks, two veterans and a prospect.

He has behaved judiciously in the free-agent market. Briere has what is considered a good first draft class, beyond Michkov.

He’s done what’s necessary, the hard work. That might not translate into immediate success — and Sportsnet agrees.

The top five on Sportsbet’s list: Colorado, Vegas, Edmonton, Toronto and New Jersey.

ESPN ranked the Flyers 29th in its way-too-early power rankings for next season. BetMGM’s odds for winning the Stanley Cup have the Flyers are tied with the Blackhawks, Coyotes and Sharks for the 27th-worst odds at +15000.

Here’s how Sportsnet ranks the rest of the Metro Division:

5. New Jersey Devils

7. Carolina Hurricanes

12. New York Rangers

15. Washington Capitals

16. Pittsburgh Penguins

18. New York Islanders

21. Columbus Blue Jackets