2014-2015 Review

It was a dissapointing season for the Philadelphia Flyers last year. They missed the playoffs for the second time in the past three seasons, finishing sixth in the Metropolitan Division. They never really were in contention throughout the season due to many losses in overtime and shootouts.

The good part about the season for the Flyers is that Jakub Voracek and Claude Giroux had great campaigns, especially Voracek, who led the team in points with 81. Goaltender Steve Mason also had a terrific year, boasting a .928 save percentage despite not being healthy all season.

New Additions

Sam Gagner

The Flyers made one of the more surprising trades of the offseason when they acquired Gagner from the Coyotes in exchange for Nicklas Grossmann and Chris Pronger's contract. Gagner has been traded multiple times within the past couple years and really hasn't found a place to call home. Hopefully, Philadelphia can be that home as he is a very good goal scorer when healthy and can be a good depth scorer for Philadelphia should they choose to put him in their lineup.

Key Losses

Nicklas Grossmann

Grossmann was a part of the Flyers blue line but he was overpaid — the biggest reason why the Flyers made that trade. They wanted to shed some salary and they did just that. Grossmann wasn't really a good puck moving defenseman and wasn't that good defensively either. 

Biggest Strength

Goaltending

Goaltending used to be the Flyers biggest weakness but it's no longer the case. The Flyers now have one of the best goaltenders in the league in Steve Mason and he very well could be an elite goaltender in the next couple seasons. His .928 save percentage was one of the best in the league last season as I said earlier in the article and his GAA of 2.25 was also really good last season. Backing him up will be Michal Neuvirth who is a much better backup then Ray Emery who they had last year. 

Biggest Weakness

Defense

The Flyers defense has been the weak link for a couple seasons now and it's not going to change for a couple seasons when a lot of their best defensive prospects are ready. A defense corps of Mark Streit, Michael Del Zotto, Radko Gudas, Luke Schenn, Nick Schultz. and Bryan Manning just isn't going to be affective during a game. They're going to have to prove that they can shut some teams down before people start to think that this is a decent defensive corps. 

Bottom Line

The Philadelphia Flyers have a very tough task in making the playoffs this season due to how good the Metropolitan division is. Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek, and Steve Mason are going to really have to carry that team if they are to contend for a playoff spot. I ultimately see the Flyers missing the playoffs for the second straight year but I like what general manager Ron Hextall is doing and they should be back in the playoffs in a year or two depending on when their defensive prospects come up.

Fantasy Slant

Most Overrated: Vincent Lecavalier

Vinny Lecavalier used to be a very good player in the NHL but that was with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Since coming over to the Flyers on that massive five year deal worth 22.5 million, he hasn't been the same player at all and just hasn't produced a lot. That may be due to the fact that him and former Flyers coach Craig Berube didn't get along, but it also could be that he's getting older. Either way, he's just not the player he once was.

Most Underrated: Wayne Simmonds

Simmonds is not only the most underrated player on the Flyers, but he's one of the most underrated players in the NHL. Before missing the final seven games of the season last year, Simmonds had 28 goals for the Flyers and would've easily topped 30 goals if he played all 82 games. If hes healthy this entire season, there's no reason not to believe that he will top 30 goals as he plays in the top six with Giroux and Voracek. 

Biggest Surprise: Michael Raffl

Michael Raffl surprised a lot of people last season when he notched his first 20 goal season of his career. He finished with 21 goals and seven assists to add up to 28 points. That breakout season had to do with him playing in the top six for most of the year where he got time with Giroux and Voracek. If he gets more time with them this season, don't be surprised if he gets even more goals then he did last year.