Articles by Kevin Fortier (29)
The trade deadline is Wednesday. The Flyers have only two games remaining prior to that March 1 deadline. GM Ron Hextall will have to make up his mind with only two more opportunities for the team to show him if they could be a playoff team or if he should look to unload pending free agents or other players if the right opportunity arises.
When Flyers rookie forward Travis Konecny was injured there was immediate speculation as to who would get the call up from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Many fans were pleased to hear Jordan Weal was getting the call and would have his chance to make an impression on the Flyers brass.
It is now mid-February and the Flyers have been struggling to find not only wins, but goals, and an identity of success for the team along with the struggles.
The NHL All-Star Game takes place this Sunday afternoon. It is an exhibition of grace, strength and all-around athleticism. For kids growing up who did not possess the abilities required to play the game of hockey, and for those who did, the All-Star Game was like watching titans or demigods on skates.
The Flyers bye week is followed by four games and then a break for All-Star Weekend. There are then four weeks until the trade deadline for the NHL. That gives GM Ron Hextall just 10 games in the month of February to determine if he wants to be a seller, a buyer or to just stay put at the deadline.
Over the course of the last eight games the Flyers offense has struggled mightily. During their win streak they averaged 3.5 goals per game. Since then, they are scoring at a rate of 1.5 goals per game. The Flyers have scored a total of 13 goals in the eight game stretch.
For Flyers fans, the World Junior Championships this year is especially gratifying as Philadelphia has a total of nine players competing at the games. No other team has more than five players participating.
As the Flyers win streak came to an end, some weak spots have begun to appear. Could a grueling schedule and injuries be starting to take their toll on the Flyers?
Is this the year the Philadelphia Flyers power forward Wayne Simmonds makes it to the NHL All Star Game? At the ripe old age or 28, Simmonds has become the on-ice powerhouse and leader the Flyers knew he could be.
The Flyers are now in third place in the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference, only 2 points behind the New York Rangers and the Pittsburgh Penguins who are tied for first with 37 points. The Flyers currently are only four points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the most points in the league.