The Flyers rookies may have hit the ice on Monday, but tomorrow marks the start of training camp for the rest of the Flyers regulars.
As the start of a new season begins — the preseason is just five days away — there are several questions facing a team that was expected to contend for a playoff spot last season, but struggled with consistency.
How the Flyers address those questions and respond to that challenge will be what determines their success in the upcoming season.
Here are five questions facing the Flyers as training camp begins.
What do you do with the veterans?
See Lecavalier, Vincent; Umberger, R.J.; MacDonald, Andrew. All three are NHL veterans that, based on their contracts, should have guaranteed roster spots. That’s what they are being paid for, to have a place on the team. However, there are a lot of questions facing all three and what the Flyers can both expect to get out of them and how they can motivate them to adjust to new roles.
Lecavalier is the real question. Umberger was injured for much of the year. So was MacDonald. When all was said and done, both looked like easy choices as stop-gap players while other future stars are molded. But Lecavalier may not be. He might actually be the placeholder for one of the kids from the Phantoms, whether it’s Scott Laughton proving he belongs in the NHL full-time or another forward making a statement, Lecavalier could be on the hot seat as camp starts.
How long will the defensive prospects last?
I think there’s a fine line on some of these prospects. Travis Sanheim and Ivan Provorov are essentially in the same position, both facing a return to juniors if things don’t work out perfectly in the NHL. But I think Provorov has a longer leash, maybe because of the NHL-ready projections. He might stick around longer than Sanheim just for that.
The other three defensemen are all very interesting in their own way. Robert Hagg is a very under-the-radar name, but he could be the most NHL-ready of the three with a place on the Phantoms guaranteed.
Sam Morin was one of the final cuts last year, but he also has to prove that he has improved in his final season of juniors to a new coach. With no real professional experience, it’s hard to see Morin make the jump, but he almost did a year ago, so it’s possible.
Lastly, Shayne Gostisbehere, the lone prospect with NHL experience, played two games with the Flyers and looked like he fit. There were rookie woes and obstacles to overcome, but he certainly looked ready. That said, he’s coming off an ACL injury and has just seven pro games to his name. Even with the limited exposure to the NHL, he might need just a bit more time in the minors.
Overall, I think all of these prospects impress in some way. Ron Hextall’s going to have his hands full juggling the options and trying to make cuts.
Will Michael Raffl fit in on the top line?
In short, yes. The top line of Claude Giroux and Jake Voracek were at their best when Raffl played left wing. That said, an 82-game season is a grind and all players go through slumps. If Raffl cools down, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Dave Hakstol reward other players with top-line time. It is a season-long question, but one that could get an answer sooner rather than later if Raffl starts the season hot.
Last chance for yesterday's prospects?
There was a time a few seasons ago that both Matt Read and Brayden Schenn were rookies and still considered prospects. Now, they are both NHL veterans who may be on their last leg with the Flyers. Hextall has even said as much. He needs more out of Schenn, Read and Sean Couturier. There’s just one difference: Couturier is already locked into a six-year contract. He’s safe beyond this season based on that. Read and Schenn are far from that. They can earn a spot by raising their level of play in a system that should boost everyone’s offense.
How does Hakstol adjust to the NHL?
So far, most of Dave Hakstol’s work with the Flyers has been watching last season’s game tape or getting live looks at prospects through development camp and the early days of rookie camp. That can only say so much, and while Hakstol can be admired for traveling overseas in some cases to meet with the players he expects to be leaders, he won’t know too much about this team until they hit the ice. And he’s admitted that.
Now comes the adjustment phase. How does he change the system that many of the Flyers were used to under Peter Laviolette and Craig Berube to increase the Flyers scoring prowess while keeping them defensively alert? It might be the biggest question facing the Flyers and threatening their hopes of a playoff season.
Kevin Durso is managing editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.
