Despite the endless turmoil that has enveloped the Philadelphia Flyers, the 2022-23 season was filled with positive building blocks despite the fact they’re still a bottom-ten team in the league. It was the unofficial first step in their newly declared “rebuild” and sets a very interesting tone moving forward.
Number 5: Goaltending
For a franchise that has spent a vast majority of their history constantly in search of a single goaltender that was capable of leading the team, the Flyers seem to have two at the same time. Carter Hart is the unquestioned starter and Sam Ersson is waiting in the wings to gain the full-time backup role to officially begin to challenge Hart. Their depth in net has dried up behind them with Fedotov’s future uncertain and Kirill Ustimenko leaving the organization, but a 23 and 24 year old starter and backup with high ceilings means they have a few years to restock the pipelines. It’s a good problem to have.
Number 4: Owen Tippett
Owen Tippett had some big shoes to fill as the player they organization received in exchange for Claude Giroux last year. He’s done his absolute best this season potting 24 goals and 45 points in 80 games, far exceeding the expectations many had for him. Whether he’s a legitimate top liner or not has yet to be determined, but he’s given the Flyers hope that he is a legitimate building block for the future if they insulate him with talent.
Number 3: The Youth
Owen Tippett isn’t the only younger player on the roster having a good season. Morgan Frost’s second half of the 2022-23 campaign has been a potential breakout stretch for him. Noah Cates looks like the shutdown center of the future, Cam York will be a top LHD soon enough, and some of the prospects called up through the season seem like potential main roster studs soon enough like Sam Ersson, Tyson Foerster and Elliot Desnoyers. And that’s not even all the young guys knocking on the door that haven’t been given their chance yet. The Flyers’ future is in good hands with the sub-25-year-olds on the roster.
Number 2: Chuck Fletcher’s Gone
After the trade deadline when he failed to move JVR, Chuck Fletcher finally got what was coming when he was relieved of his duties as both GM and president. His reign of terror has come to an end, and while there are still plenty of questions facing the construction of the front office in his wake, there’s a renewed sense of hope for a franchise the desperately needed a change.
Number 1: John Tortorella
It’s been a very interesting season during John Tortorella’s debut year as bench boss of the Flyers. We didn’t quite get the full, unadulterated Torts experience, but we did get about 90% of it. No matter what things roll out of his mouth, the on-ice impact he’s had on the team is undeniable, squeezing every drop of talent from a group of lackluster players. He may not be the friendliest, feel-good kinda guy, but he’s easily the best thing that’s happened to this franchise in many years.
Now for the negative takeaways
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
photo credit: nhl.com
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