3 Reasons to Pay Attention to the Rest of the Flyers’ Season

The Philadelphia Flyers are in an odd spot as they enter the 4 Nations Face-Off break. With 25 games remaining, the Flyers are six points away from having the best odds for the No. 3 overall draft pick. At the same time, the Flyers are six points away from the Detroit Red Wings, who entered the break with the second wild card spot in the east.

The Flyers are a winning streak away from being right back in the hunt, yet a losing streak could put them in a prime position to get a playmaker in the upcoming draft. If the trade of Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost indicates anything, the Flyers are on the outs. To further the point, the Flyers have roughly nine games remaining against the teams they’d realistically be fighting for a postseason chance against. They play Ottawa, Montreal, and Pittsburgh twice in those nine games. While that could help create separation against some of the teams with a lesser chance at the postseason, they don’t have enough games against teams they’re chasing to close the gap without some help.

Mushy-middle hockey is no fun. With the Flyers seemingly out of the hunt and losing games seems more likely than winning–that kind of hockey is not all that entertaining either. With all that said, here are three reasons to pay attention to the Flyers as they close out the season.

Do you remember how fun and exciting it was to watch Matvei Michkov when the season began? The excitement of beginning his NHL career likely played a role in his fast start. Michkov had nine points in his first 10 games. He has 36 points in his first 55 games.

He hit a plateau in his scoring for a little while. In the final nine games before the break, Michkov tallied two points, both of which came against Washington.

Head coach John Tortorella has mentioned that Michkov is tired. While he mentions that it is mostly mental, the NHL season can be physically draining, too, especially for a rookie. Not counting international play, 55 games is the most Michkov has ever played in a single season, including playoffs. He has already played 55 games with the Flyers, and there are still 25 games remaining for Michkov and the Flyers.

The break has come at an excellent time for Michkov. It will allow him to rest and refresh himself for the remainder of the season. A rested Matvei Michkov could be nothing but pure entertainment, and alone, it should be enough reason to pay attention to the rest of the Flyers season. His ice time started to rise as the break came closer. If that is a sign of things to come, Michkov will be a must-watch moving forward.

Building a competitive roster is no small task. Not only do you need goal scorers, but you also need a solid core of blueliners, along with arguably the most important player on the ice, a real number-one goalie.

Sam Ersson broke onto the scene last season and put himself in the running to take more and more time as the Flyers goalie. He was unexpectedly thrown into the Flyers’ number-one goalie role, and the workload was just too much for him. This season, Ersson did not start too well, but since the holiday break, Ersson has played out of his mind. His .920 save percentage, 2.26 goals-against average, and 9-4-1 record is one of the reasons the Flyers are not in a worse position.

After the Flyers’ 3-2 win over the Penguins before the break, Tortorella said that Ersson would get “the lion’s share” of the final 25 games.

If Ersson can continue this hot streak out of the break, it will help answer a big question for the Flyers. The Flyers were put in a weird position that sped the “rebuild” process up when Michkov arrived earlier than expected. The Flyers also were not expecting to be looking for a new goaltender this season.

Sam Ersson has a chance to prove to himself, the Flyers organization, and the fan base that he can be a number-one netminder and a solution to one of the team’s most significant issues. This will be an important storyline as the Flyers round out their season.

It would be naive to think the Flyers’ roster won’t look any different come March 8th. While a “roster-changing” move may not be imminent, veterans like Scott Laughton and Rasmus Ristolainen could be on the move.

If they are traded by the deadline, their replacement will likely be an in-house player or prospect. Noah Cates could see a more significant role, especially on the penalty kill. Laughton’s absence could propel a guy like Tyson Foerster into a bigger share of time, leading to more production.

Jakob Pelletier, who has not yet suited up for the Flyers, could also benefit. Pelletier would likely take plenty of time as a bottom-six left-winger. Rodrigo Abols is another player you could see take a step. Like Laughton, Abols plays both the LW and center position. While he is a 29-year-old and is not quite the young star they’re looking for, Abols has built some chemistry with Michkov and could grow into a solid middle-sixer.

Let us not forget about Jett Luchanko, either. If Luchanko were on the Flyers at this point, he very well could be a top-six center. Guelph Storm’s season ends March 23rd, and assuming a miracle doesn’t happen and Guelph misses the playoffs, he would be eligible to join the Flyers right after.

If Ristolainen is moved, Helge Grans’ return could be in play. Grans played a stretch of games with the Flyers earlier in the season but has been Emil Andrae’s primary linemate in Lehigh. The two reuniting in the NHL could benefit both of their developments.

The development and improvement of some of the Flyers’ young talent is another reason to pay attention to them when their season resumes on February 22nd against the Edmonton Oilers.