The holiday season is upon us! It’s a time for giving, and the Flyers have quite the wishlist this year. So Danny Briere sat down on ol’ St. Grit’s lap and disclosed what he’s most hoping for during the Gritmas season for his hockey club!
Number 5: Therapy for Torts & Frost
Do you think these two have worked out their differences yet? It was an early struggle for Frost, who often found himself as the odd man out until injuries forced John Tortorella to play him every night. For a heavy preaching of culture, it was a very not positive stance for Torts to remain steadfast to. Hopefully they’re working things out, either behind closed doors in the locker room or in a shrink’s office twice a week.
Number 4: “A” Few More Alternates
Considering the Flyers are undergoing a culture-based rebuild, it’s probably time to hand out some more letters to players that are now cornerstones of the franchise. Scott Laughton retained the only “A” on the team heading into the season, but with guys like Sean Couturier, Travis Konecny and Travis Sanheim carrying the team, it’s time to share the leadership wealth. It may be too early for a captain, but there’s no reason to name a few more alternate designations on the squad moving forward.
Number 3: Adding a Top Scorer
The Flyers may be off to a better start than anybody would’ve imagined, but that doesn’t mean they’re a perfect team built for success. Top scorer Travis Konecny is currently 70th in the league with 27 points in 33 games, and it only goes down from there. The Flyers need a legitimate top line with high-end, consistent scoring ability if they want to have real success. It’ll be the make or break difference come playoff team when they’re going to need a little more than just playing with “balls” as Torts so eloquently phrases it.
Number 2: Play the Prospects
It may take a Christmas miracle for John Tortorella to play Olle Lycksell and his fellow prospects banished to Lehigh Valley. Most of the top guys with the Phantoms, most notably Ronnie Attard, Emil Andrae, Samu Tuomaala and Lycksell are excelling on the powerplay, an area where the Flyers continue to struggle big time. Tyson Foerster has been the only fresh young guy to get copious opportunity, with Egor Zamula sitting in favor of 36-year-old vet Marc Staal, and Bobby Brink being a regular scratch until injuries forced Tortorella’s hand to play him. It’s the kind of thing that some folks can justify now because things have been going well enough were it hasn’t been a glaring problem yet, but one day this mishandling will come back to bit them if there isn’t a shift in mindset soon.
Number 1: Fix the Powerplay
The Flyers’ powerplay has finished dead last for two consecutive seasons, and they currently once again sit in last with a measly 10.6% through 33 games in 2023-24, which by percentage is their worst of the last three seasons. The team lacks high end offensive talent and the powerplay is where it’s most obvious. They’ve reached the point of just rearranging deck chairs with the players on hand because nobody on the current roster has proven consistent on the man advantage. If they don’t plan on playing their prospects who are excelling in Lehigh, the front office needs to go outside the organization in search of big time help this summer.
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
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