Philadelphia Flyers
The guys are back to look back on the offseason, the impact on the James van Riemsdyk signing, prospects they are watching in training camp and expectations for the upcoming season.
The Flyers have a number of players who put together solid seasons in 2017-18, but still have something to prove or need a big season in 2018-19. Here are five players who need a big season in 2018-19.
For the Flyers, the conversation seemingly grows every year with more and more prospects nearing the NHL level. That is no different this season, as training camp will feature a number of prospects vying for the chance to make the NHL roster. Here are five prospects to watch throughout training camp.
Carter Hart wore the number 31 in the AHL with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and will keep the number this season, should he be in Allentown. In juniors, he wore No. 70 and that figured to be the number he would take to the NHL. But it seems a new number will be Hart’s choice whenever he makes his NHL debut.
Wayne Simmonds addressed his contract and a possible extension with the Flyers for the first time on Wednesday in a meeting with reporters in Toronto. “We continue to talk,” Simmonds said, but directed more attention to getting healthy first.
In total, the Flyers will have 62 of their 82 games televised on NBCSP and eight more broadcast on NBCSP+.
Ron Hextall’s goal from the day he took over as GM has been to build the Flyers into a Stanley Cup contender. With the roster where it is now, how close are the Flyers to being a true contender?
Six years ago, then Flyers GM Paul Holmgren made a trade that is widely regarded as the worst in franchise history when he sent James van Riemsdyk to Toronto for Luke Schenn. The Flyers president is among the many in Flyers management excited to have JVR back in Orange and Black.
With the Flyers offseason plan essentially complete — with the exception of training camp happenings — have the Flyers done enough to show improvement in key areas from a season ago?
Over the years, when Sean Couturier has not been in the lineup, there is a significant drop in talent and the Flyers lose depth as a result, greatly altering the level of play on the ice. So does that make Couturier the Flyers most valuable player?
