By Rob Riches, Sports Talk Philly staff 
Entering his first full season as general manager, Chuck Fletcher will continue to emphasize analytics for the Flyers, the team announced Wednesday afternoon.
Ian Anderson, who joined the club in 2014 as manager of hockey analytics, has been promoted to director of hockey analytics. Jacob Hurlbut, who has been on board since 2016, has been promoted to lead developer.
The #Flyers have made two promotions and two additions in their hockey analytics department, according to GM Chuck Fletcher. https://t.co/bvJMxLGLV9
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) September 4, 2019
Two additions to the department have local connections as well. Both Tom Minton, director of hockey information/video, and Matthew Karliner, analyst, are graduates of St. Joseph's University. Minton previously interned with the Flyers as well as USA Hockey, while Karliner joins after several years with Lockheed Martin, according to the team's release.
During his tenure with Minnesota, Fletcher had a reputation as one of the sharper-minded analytics departments in the NHL. The Flyers embraced analytics under Ron Hextall in 2014, and as the perpetual analytics-vs.-eye-test argument continues among hockey fans, it's nice to see them continue that trend.
The move gives the Flyers the second-biggest analytics department in the League, according to a chart by hockey analyst Shayna Goldman. Only Toronto (eight) has more analytics personnel.
An updated look at the analytical landscape of all 32 NHL teams: pic.twitter.com/LRq1fS5Gzh
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) July 30, 2019
On-ice activities for the Orange and Black begin this weekend, with rookie camp kicking off at Skate Zone in Voorhees, N.J.
