Flyers 2016-17 Preview
When the chill in the air arrives and leaves start to turn colors, it's time for hockey season. This year takes the excitement from last season's playoff run, and takes it up a notch. With some new additions the Flyers are looking to do big things. Let's take a look.
The Flyers opening night roster remains largely unchanged from last year. Gone is most notably Ryan White. Key additions include Boyd Gordon, Dale Weise, and Roman Lyubimov. Gordon is expected to be a major contributor in the faceoff circle where he excels, and also on the penalty kill, taking pressure off Captain Claude Giroux's shoulders in those situations. Weise will take 3rd like duties and figures to contribute alongside Nick Cousins and Michael Raffl for the most part. A looming Braden Schenn suspension will put Raffl on the first line for the west coast trip to start the season. Wayne Simmonds will start the season with Claude Giroux centering line 1 in what looks like a very dangerous first line.
The defense returns the same starters as last season, with the elder Mark Streit and a full season of Shayne Gostisbehere to look forward to.
Now, for the most exciting part of this season, Travis Konecny and Ivan Provorov. Konecny will partner with Jake Voracek to center Sean Couturier in a very intriguing second line. If Voracek can regain the point per game form he showed only a season ago with the sheer playmaking talent of Konecny and physicality of Couturier, the Flyers may boast some of the best secondary scoring in the league which they have desperately needed.
Ivan Provorov has the size and skill to step in and immediately be the best defensman the Flyers have. He has drawn comparisons to Kimmo Timmonen, and will undoubtedly show that throughout the season.
The goalie tandem remains one of the top 1-2 goalie situations in the league. The only concern here is the health of both Steve Mason and Michael Neuvrith, as both have shown the ability to be the workhorse in net.
Given the talent, and another year under coach Dave Hakstol's system, there is no reason the Flyers should not be able to make the playoffs this season. A 3rd place finish behind the Capitals and the Penguins is a realistic expectation which I think the Flyers will meet. This season will be another season in the right direction under general manager Ron Hextall's lead, and the future looks very promising. Let's go Flyers!
