Articles by Kevin Durso (5321)
While this season holds some different circumstances, the importance of getting off to a hot start remains the same. With only 56 games on the schedule and every one within the division, there is little room for off nights and none for lengthy losing streaks for the Flyers.
The Flyers were relatively inactive in free agency, adding newcomer Erik Gustafsson on the blue line, but not making any other significant additions. Perhaps that’s because the significant additions that could come may be internal.
Alain Vigneault’s second season as Flyers head coach will begin next month on Jan. 13, when the NHL opens the 2020-21 season. The 56-game condensed schedule, realigned divisions, empty arenas and shortened training camp present a new set of challenges.
After weeks of negotiations and planning to conduct the 2020-21 season in the midst of a pandemic, the NHL and NHLPA officially announced their plans for the season on Sunday evening.
According to a report from Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet Canada, the NHL and NHLPA have a tentative agreement on a 56-game season. TSN’s Renaud Lavoie adds that an announcement could come in the next few days with the 2020-21 season beginning on Jan. 13.
Defenseman Mason Millman has signed an entry-level control with the Flyers, GM Chuck Fletcher announced.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman spoke in a panel discussion on Wednesday morning and said the NHL’s target remains a mid-January start and talks are mainly regarding COVID-19 protocols for the season. That start date is far from certain as more time passes.
Flyers forward Oskar Lindblom is 369 days removed from the diagnosis that changed his life and supposedly ended his 2019-20 season. One year later, he not only managed to return to the ice, but remains cancer free following his most recent scans.
The Flyers will be tasked with finding a way to replace Matt Niskanen’s 20 minutes or more a night and produced points at a solid rate. On the surface, newly-signed Phil Myers could see his role increase and play on the right side of Ivan Provorov on the team’s top pairing.
2019 first-round pick Cam York and 2019 second-round pick Bobby Brink will play for Team USA and 2020 second-round pick Emil Andrae will be on Team Sweden’s roster.