Philadelphia Flyers
Are the Flyers already in trouble to start 2024?
The Philadelphia Flyers are still in a playoff spot and 11th place in the NHL. However, it would be remiss of us not to consider some of the quiet concerns around the team.
To close out the holiday season and start the new year, the Flyers have gone 1-2-2 in their last five games. The one win – a 4-1 triumph in the Flyers game against the Vancouver Canucks on Dec. 28 – was an impressive one, albeit fueled by a monumental mental lapse by the hosts, which allowed Philadelphia to score three goals in two minutes. The Flyers have surrendered four or more goals in three of their last four losses. Suddenly, Philadelphia has the look and feel of a young team experiencing the fatigue of a long season. Even some of the most experienced vets have had their struggles, too.
Cam Atkinson, who missed the entirety of the 2022-23 season, hasn’t scored a goal since Nov. 11. He has just three points in his last 16 games. Tyson Foerster scored four goals in three games to start December but has just one goal in the 32 other games he’s played. Travis Sanheim was dominating the NHL in average and total ice time, but has played more than 24 minutes just once in his last 10 games. Sean Couturier, who also missed all of last season, has two points in his last eight games. All four players play massive minutes for the Flyers but have slowed down immensely in the last three or four weeks.
Noah Cates‘ impending return will help keep legs fresh, but the already tired Flyers are in for a brutal January. This month, the Flyers will play 14 times in 26 days before finishing the month with a winter break. They may fall out of a playoff spot if their troubles continue. The Washington Capitals, New Jersey Devils, and Pittsburgh Penguins are all tied with 40 points and out of the wild card, while the Flyers sit narrowly ahead of them with 43 points. However, those three teams all have games in hand on Philadelphia.
This is why head coach John Tortorella wanted no part of a playoff discussion when asked at a press conference a few weeks back. It’s still way too early to consider the playoffs. If the Flyers struggle in January, the conversation will return to Philadelphia being trade deadline sellers. Whether they go on to succeed or fail, the Flyers will have more than enough positives to take away from this season.
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The Flyers have played above expectations, are competitive in most games, and have developed an identity. However, I still don’t expect them to make the playoffs because the division is so tight and their rivals are regularly picking up points. Even if they do sneak in, they likely won’t go far because they don’t have offensive firepower and still have some defensive lapses. They should keep going with the rebuild and consider whom they may want to subtract in exchange for future assets. Atkinson is the first that comes to mind; we sat around all last season wondering about his mystery injury and he hasn’t contributed well this season.
This club should be sellers regardless of making the playoffs, that is just gravy. This is a rebuilding team, need to stockpile assets.
Trouble? They have been playing superb despite an abysmal PP. The put on their big boy pants and got a point from Detroit in which they should have had two except for a horrible 6th goal let up by Hart. Stomped on the canucks. They are tough 5v5 have 3 lines that can score and have a decent 4th line that lets up too many goals. I’m not saying they are contenders and i would look to trade some of the vets at the deadline but let’s pump the breaks here.