Expansion Draft Preview: Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers just endured a tremendously disappointing season.
After finishing 2019-20 with a 41-21-7 record, Philly’s ability to keep the puck out of the net completely evaporated. They finished dead-last in the league in goals against and missed the playoffs with a 25-23-8 record.
The challenges for the Flyers don’t end there as the team will have some difficult decisions to make with the upcoming Expansion Draft. Last time around, they let go of depth forward Pierre-Edouard Bellemare. This time around, they might wind up losing one of their top scorers.
Eligible Forwards
@Claude Giroux (NMC), @Jakub Voracek, @Kevin Hayes (NMC), @James van Riemsdyk, @Travis Konecny, @Sean Couturier, @Oskar Lindblom, @Scott Laughton, @Nicolas Aube-Kubel, @German Rubtsov, @Nolan Patrick
Eligible Defencemen
@Ivan Provorov, @Matt Niskanen, @Shayne Gostisbehere, @Travis Sanheim, @Philippe Myers, @Justin Braun, @Robert Hagg, @Chris Bigras, @Samuel Morin
Eligible Goaltenders
@Carter Hart, @Brian Elliott, @Alex Lyon, @Felix Sandstrom
Exempt Players
@Joel Farabee, @Tanner Laczynski, @Tyson Forester, @Morgan Frost, @Zayde Wisdom, @Isaac Ratcliffe, @Matthew Strome, @Cam York, @Mason Millman, @Wyatte Wylie, @Linus Hogberg
What should they do?
Philadelphia’s decisions in terms of goaltenders and defencemen aren’t too difficult.
Despite posting a paltry .877 save percentage in 2021, Carter Hart is still the goalie of the future for the Flyers. It’s also a no-brainer to use their three defender spots on IVan Provorov, Travis Sanehim, and Philippe Myers, who make up most of their top-four.
When it comes to forwards, things get more complicated. Claude Giroux and Kevin Hayes have no-movement clauses, so that occupies two of seven spots. Sean Couturier and Travis Konecny are also easy choices, so we’re down to three spots for Jakub Voracek, James van Riemsdyk, Scott Laughton, Oskar Lindblom, and Nolan Patrick.
JVR and Voracek were tied for the team lead in scoring but are in their 30s with huge contracts. Laughton just inked a new multi-year extension, which would suggest the Flyers want him around. Then there’s Lindblom and Patrick, a couple of young forwards who could be a part of the Flyers’ long-term plans.
The decision for Philadelphia ultimately comes down to present against future. Would they be better off if Seattle took JVR’s contract off their hands and they kept Patrick, a former second-overall pick who hasn’t lived up to his potential?