2024 is here! And for the Philadelphia Flyers, it feels as though they’re standing on the precipice of an upward trend for the first time in many years. 2024 could very well be the beginning of a bright future, but they have some work to do to achieve their goals. So what can we expect from the Flyers in the back half of the season? Well let’s make some bold predictions for the new year!
Number 5: Sell at Deadline, Recall Prospects
If “bold” means the least likely to happen, this may have the worst betting odds on this list. The idea being that the Flyers sell the veterans that are earmarked to be sold at the trade deadline then call up their top prospects in Leigh Valley for the reminder of the season. They *should* be selling their pending unrestricted free agents and they *should* be calling up their top AHL prospects… but as long as they hang around a playoff spot, it’s highly unlikely that call is made, even if it means losing players for nothing during the summer. What happens at the trade deadline? Time will tell, but if the current pace they’re on continues, it could be a quite day for the Flyers, even if it’s not for the better.
Number 4: Their Power Play Finishes Above 10%
It make take an act of divine intervention for the Flyers’ power play to be semi-respectable these days. At the Christmas break, the Flyers have a dead last ranked powerplay at a measly 10.6%, their worst percentage of the last three seasons… which they ranked worst in the league. How do they go about fixing it? A Herculean overhaul effort during the offseason is the only real hope, so they’re just going to have to keep rearranging chair and continue to bottom feed for the rest of the season and hope that change comes in the summer.
Number 3: Make Playoffs AND Win a Round
If the season were to end today at the Christmas break, the Flyers would finish in the third seed in the Metro Division. Though considering there’s just seven points separating the second place Islanders from the seventh place Penguins, the battle for a playoff spot is far from over. But if they Flyers keep up their early season pace, they will clinch a playoff spot for the first time in four years, which seems miraculous enough, but we’ll take it a step further and predict they take down one of the Goliath teams in the East too. It won’t be easy or pretty, but for the Flyers, nothing is ever pretty or easy anymore.
Number 2: Carter Hart Doesn’t Get Extended
Despite the fact that Carter Hart is having a career renaissance in 2023-24, his status as a pending restricted free agent throws his future with the organization into question. Now that Sam Ersson is turning in steady performances and is inked for two more seasons, it seems more likely by the game Hart could be on the way out. Is it a smart move to voluntarily get rid of their 25-year-old starting goalie? Nope. Is “smart” a word that has been used to describe the Flyers’ front office in the last decade? Nope.
Number 1: PHI Acquires Top Talent
Whether it be in the form of a top free agent like William Nylander or trading for a top restricted free agent like Elias Pettersson, the Flyers will make a big splash during the 2024 offseason. Considering it’s been 15 years since the Flyers traded for Chris Pronger, their last true major acquisition, taking a swing on any name of note would be major news. With Chuck Fletcher jr in charge and John Tortorella playing puppet master, it’s even more unlikely a top line forward or defenseman is added to the roster, despite their overachieving status in 2023-24.
Honorable Mention
Laughton is Named Captain
We recently analyzed the ridiculous nature of the Flyers’ leadership structure and Tortorella’s refusal to hand out letters on jerseys. But after two years of serving as the only “A”… which technically makes him the captain anyway… they will finally promote Laughton with a full time “C” on his sweater.
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
photo credit: nhl.com
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