Flyers offseason didn't move the needle & fans know it

The Philadelphia Flyers are in the NHL’s mushy middle. They’re not quite good enough to contend, but they’re not bad enough to contend for the top overall pick.

That’s not a good place to be in.

While the Flyers could pull it together under Rick Tocchet and jump back into the playoff race, the wheel could come off at any time. The club could clunker to a halt, leaving fans with another lost season.

However, the Flyers didn’t do much to move the needle this offseason. Tocchet’s hiring was a major step forward. Tocchet’s proven he can be a successful coach. But just how successful could Tocchet be with his current lineup?

The Flyers added Trevor Zegras. That was a savvy move that could pay off big time. But beyond that, there wasn’t much to write home about this offseason.

Christian Dvorak was a decent addition, but not at $5.4 million. That deal was a massive overpay, fortunately, it’s only for one season. Noah Juulsen was a depth signing, with Dan Vladar hardly becoming the solution in the crease.

So, where does that leave the Flyers?

If Zegras and Matvei Michkov set the world on fire, the Flyers could take the next step this upcoming season.

But if the club can’t get it together defensively, the season could go south pretty quickly. So, it seems that we won’t know who the Flyers really are until they’re well into next season.

Flyers are out of runway to maneuver this offseason

Surprisingly, the Flyers are out of cap space this summer. After signing Dvorak and Cameron York to a five-year extension, the Flyers have no more runway to maneuver. Yes, there’s still Ryan Ellis’ contract that could slide into LTIR, but that’s not likely enough to make a major move at this point.

Unless a big contract is shipped out, the Flyers will likely stand pat. That holding pattern could be temporary. If the Flyers get off to a roaring start, the club will be looking to add. But if the club falters out of the gate, big changes could be on the way.

Fans should keep an eye on the goaltending situation, specifically. The Flyers have three goalies on the roster as it stands. There’s little reason to believe that Vladar will be on the outs. So, it will be one of Ivan Fedotov or Samuel Ersson who could hit the road.

While the Flyers technically have enough cap space to keep all three goalies, it’s uncertain they will. So, a move could be coming in that direction.

Perhaps that’s the ace up the Flyers’ sleeve. The club will be looking to capitalize on a club desperate enough to pay up for a goalie.