Philadelphia Flyers
James: Cates Line Comes Through, Two Vets Have Not
After two games of the season, the Philadelphia Flyers are 0-1-1. Both losses were close games against excellent teams. The first loss was to a tough, physical, and talented Florida Panthers team. Their second was in overtime against yet another uber-talented squad, the Carolina Hurricanes.
In the first game, Noah Cates scored the lone goal for Philly, and Tyson Foerster earned an assist.
In game two, the Cates line – Foerster, Cates, Brink – generated two goals, one scored by Bobby Brink, the other by Travis Sanheim. Each member of the line earned an assist on Saturday night as well.
The Flyers’ other goal of the night was a power-play goal, scored by Owen Tippett. It was assisted by Travis Konecny and Trevor Zegras.
Foerster, Cates, and Brink seemed to be a critical part of whatever success the team had last season. This year, they have been the only line buzzing.
Read More: Flyers Report Card: Vladar and Cates Line Stand Out in Loss vs. Panthers
Foerster, Cates, & Brink Have Stepped Up for the Flyers
If the Flyers have generated offense this year, there is a 75% chance someone from the Cates line is credited with a point. No, seriously, of the Flyers’ four goals this season, all but one have been scored by or generated by someone on that line. The Flyers have 11 total points this season, six of them, or 54% of the team’s points, have been earned by that line.
That sounds crazy, right?
Well, the Cates line has been the only line stepping up for the Flyers. In the first game against Florida, it was really only Cates and Brink creating dangerous looks or sustained possessions. Foerster got involved, too, but it was really Cates and Brink who popped.
In the second game, they again were the only line really buzzing. Though they did not break through and score first for the Flyers, it was their impact that had them going.
Cates’ hot start to the year should be no surprise. He had a phenomenal season last year. Foerster’s early success is not a shock either. While it’s not surprising that Brink is playing well, what is coming off as a bit of a shock is the fact that he has looked like one of, if not the Flyers’ best player, this season.
Maybe it’s a contract year swagger. Brink could just be building off of last season. No matter what it is, he has been fun to watch.
Others That Are Playing Well
The Cates line players are not the only ones grooving to start the year.
First, the goaltending has been a pleasant surprise. Dan Vladar was excellent Thursday night, exceeding the early expectations. Sam Ersson had a shaky second period, but he was stellar in the first and third periods. A 36-save night is not too shabby for Ersson. He stood on his head in crunch time and prevented Carolina from extending its lead throughout the third period.
Travis Sanheim is yet another Flyer playing well early on this season. The newly dubbed alternate captain skated nearly 30 minutes on Saturday after a 27-minute game on Thursday. You’d think the mass usage would have the Flyers’ top defenseman a bit run-down. You’d be wrong.
It feels like Sanheim has a big season ahead. With the Olympics coming up and the momentum he built after 4 Nations, Sanheim will certainly be making a case for the Canadian blueline.
I do want to mention Nikita Grebenkin as well. He only played in Saturday’s overtime loss; however, he came just as advertised. The Flyers’ rookie played tough along the walls, getting into puck battles, coming away with it, and extending possessions. His zone entries were really smooth, and his stick work was better than expected.
If he continues to play like that, Grebenkin will not be a fourth-liner for the Flyers for long.
Read More: James: How I’d Shuffle the Lines After the Season-Opening Loss
Flyers Need More from Michkov and Konecny
Early-season struggles are usually not cause for much concern. We’re two games into a very long season. However, you have to wonder if the Flyers’ start to the season would look any different if their stars, Matvei Michkov and Travis Konecny, were firing out of the gate like the Cates line.
The Flyers’ pair of stars have a combined stat line of no goals, one assist, -2 rating, four penalty minutes, four total shots, and five giveaways, all in a combined 92 shifts. Konecny has been averaging a TOI right around 16 minutes, while Michkov has had steadily less time, averaging around 14 minutes.
The lone point from those two was Konecny’s primary assist on Owen Tippett’s power-play goal. Though it looked like the assist was just a shot that went wide, it had a fortuitous bounce toward Tippett. However, a point is a point, no matter how it got there.
There are some obvious early-season struggles from the two. Michkov seems to be dragging behind early in the year. Last season, even if he wasn’t scoring, he was still noticeable during every shift. This season, Michkov has blended in. He is not noticeable when he’s on the ice.
Konecny is a little more noticeable, but he is still not impacting the game like he has in the past.
It makes you wonder how different the first two games would have gone if either or both of the Flyers’ stars were playing at their typical high level. The Flyers need more from Michkov and Konecny.
Read More: Flyers Postgame: Tocchet Explains Michkov’s Absence in Overtime
And Luchanko looked very forgettable while Buium has already scored his 1st goal. Wtf was Briere thinking passing on Buium to reach for Luchanko? Not to mention B. Cootes looked MUCH better then Nesbitt has already getting NHL action and looking right at home.
Need to see something WAY MORE out of Michkov if this is the guy you’re going to build a team around instead of a Celebrini or Fantiilli. Like many of us think you should have already aquired in a draft.
So lost Gauthier for Drysdale.
Passed on Buium for Luchanko.
Passed on Caufield for York. (Ewww.)
Passed on a plethora of guys for Nesbitt. And I’m not impressed with Bonk.
Honestly. What in the world is Philadelphia’s management doing here?
You’re 100% correct on the drafting, and it’s becoming a broken record. The Caufield pass was bad enough but then there was Buium. Last year the reach on Luchanko, whose ceiling will not be first round pick.
Drop the Buium nonsense. The team was NEVER going to draft him. He has the same agent as Cutter Gauthier. Complain about the Jet reach, but drop the Buium alternative.
KO Sports not a welcomed entity in Philly.
ABSOLUTELY!!!
WTF…….and our drafting F ups have gone way back with HEXTALL!
Plus we’ve been royally screwed a couple times……had to settled for Van Riemsdyk instead of Patrick Kane and of course Nolan Patrick!
Lets not forget the Bobrovsky, Williams and Sharp trades…….
Which team is more snakebitten/Fd up in regards to the draft… Flyers or Sixers???
Brink is outplayed your “star” players SOLIDLY.
I personally don’t think that’s really a good thing.
We can’t undo previous drafts, but we can sure do better with putting players together on our lines.
I think the main problem is that Couturier is bringing rest of the top line down.
Zegras should be playing with Michkov, as he did in preseason, with Konecny on the other wing. I know Konecny and Michkov both play the same side, but one of them can flip.
Luchanko should be moved to the line with Tippet and Dvorak/Grebenkin.
Put Couturier on the line with Hathaway and whoever is left out of Dvorak/Grebenkin.
Then let all the lines stay set and build chemistry, like the Brink/Cates/Foerster has.
Minutes can then be more evenly distributed among the four lines.
Yo Mike, is the four points from Coots tonite satisfactory to you?