With an NHL season like no other on the horizon, our Flyers team at Philly Sports Network decided to tackle a few predictions for the final outcome of this season. Keep reading for the hottest of takes, coldest of takes, and some that just might be right on the money from Alex McIntyre, Ricky Amandeo, Eric Reese, and Matt Stinger as well as CEO, Liam Jenkin,s on scoring leaders, the season record, and division standings.
Who scores the first goal of the 2020-21 season?
AM: The first goal of the season is always a tough one - only because I feel it has always been the least expected guy in the past. Going off of pure gut feeling, I'm going to say Sean Couturier. Coming off a Selke win may give him the guidance to lead his team into an early hot streak.
RA: I think one of the veteran guys makes a statement early this season. I could totally see Kevin Hayes potting the first goal tonight. Honestly, I think he does it pretty early in the game too, like within the first five-ish minutes. Hayes is a guy that's going to want to set the tone early and often, and that'll all start in game one.
ER: I'm all about a feel-good story. From what I can tell, Oskar Lindbom is the 1LW heading into 2020-2021. He evolved into a potent goal scorer in 2019-2020. The only caveat to no fans at the Wells Fargo Center is the roof won't blow off the barn when he pots the first goal this season. He rang the bell last season to finish his Ewings sarcoma treatments. He'll be the first to sound the goal horn in 2020-2021.
MS: Obviously, Oskar Lindblom is going to pot one on his first shift. This is going to send the universe back to its normal pre-2020, Covid-19 state. On a serious note, this would sentimentally be the greatest thing, coupled with a Carter Hart Shutout against the Penguins.
LJ: With the first game likely going to be a chance for both teams to shake off some rust, I think scoring could be down to begin with. I'm going to go with Joel Farabee. He showed last year that he's ready for the next step and what better way to kickstart a sophomore campaign than with a goal?
Who leads the Flyers in goal scoring?
AM: Personally, it would be hard to say a name other than Kevin Hayes in this category. Last season, he was not far behind Travis Konecny for goal leaders. The scrimmage that was aired on Sunday showed that he is ready to hit the ground running.
RA: When looking at the goals leader, I could see Kevin Hayes taking the title of the team's leading goal scorer. Like I said earlier, I think Hollywood is going to take another step forward while in an orange and black sweater. Hayes was second on the team in goals last season, and with what's going to be an unorthodox season ahead, I can see him, as one of the older guys in the locker room, taking full control of this offense.
ER: Again, I'm sticking with Lindblom in this category. Another honorable mention is Kevin Hayes because, in year two of Alain Vigneault, he's the most familiar with his system, and he's going to be more familiar with the forwards. However, I view Lindblom is the dominant goal scorer on the Philadelphia Flyers. Before he missed the rest of the regular season a year ago, he was well on his way, in my mind, to accomplish this feat.
MS: I'm thinking Hayes is gonna lead the team in goals. He was one away from TK's team lead last year and that was with coming to a new team and getting off to a not so hot start. This year he is gonna light the lamp the most.
LJ: Travis Konecny had a huge year prior to the playoffs and a drop in production has lit a fire under the 23-year-old. I think we see another step forward from him in 2021, as he leads the team in scoring for the second year in a row.
Who leads the Flyers in total points?
AM: I want to say this category could go a few ways. Known playmakers in Claude Giroux and Jake Voracek are options that are always there; however, as of late, we've seen a lot more playmaking ability from younger players like Konecny or Farabee. With Travis Konecny having shown improved stats each season, my gut is saying he's going to pot a bunch of goals of his own and set up even more.
RA: By the end of the season, I'm going to say that the veterans play a much bigger offensive role than we all expect. For overall points, I think Sean Couturier will put up a point per game average this season, a feat that the Flyers did not have last season. He's so consistent, and will feast if he is put in between two scorers, whether it's one the first or "second" line
ER: While scoring goals is the most coveted metric in point totals, I will call on a playmaker instead to score the most points, Last season, Jakub Voracek had the most assists on the team. His new role as a 3RW could stunt that production, however. I'm looking at the second line, which was buzzing on Sunday during the Orange versus White exhibition. Everything tells me that Hayes will score the most points, including the most short-handed points.
MS: I'm gonna say this is where G has another great season. He looked really good in the intra-squad and being paired with Hayes and Farabee, that line is going to do damage.
LJ: With so much talent on the roster and a rejuvenated line, I'm predicting Jake Voracek to come out on top. Voracek led the team in assists last year and with Nolan Patrick back at center, that ceiling may only be rising.
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Photo Credit: Alex McIntyre
Which Flyer will find the most success on the Power Play?
AM: Old reliable on the power play unit has always been Claude Giroux. His more recent PP success came when he played on the right side and, if that's where he sees most of his PP minutes again, I don't see him slowing down this season. Whether it is powerplay goals or assists, Giroux typically has a hand in each special teams point acquired.
RA: In terms of who is on each unit, I honestly have no idea. However, I do think that we get some different looks than we had last year since it was evident that nothing that they were doing was working at all. I think Ghost has a bounceback year since he'll have some more opportunities to be on the powerplay.
Along with him, Giroux will probably lead the team in power-play points as he always does. On another note, Ivan Provorov has a chance to further solidify his case for being an elite defenseman since he'll likely be playing 5v5, powerplay, and PK as well. Look for G to lead the team in points, but also look to see a number of different combinations to see if they can get their power play corrected before it's too late.
ER: The Flyers are enlisting four forwards and a defenseman on both powerplay units this season. Claude Giroux is a great pick here, but Chuck Fletcher sought a defenseman who is a powerplay specialist. By the season's end, I believe Erik Gustafsson will prove his worth. Ivan Provorov is on the first powerplay unit, but don't be surprised if that changes through the course of the season. Gustafsson will be a powerplay force and win me over as to why he was brought into Philadelphia.
MS: if you're talking goals, TK as he will be the down-low guy pouncing on loose pucks. In terms of points, it's gonna be G or Provy at the point.
LJ: I'm going to go with a wildcard here - Ivan Provorov. Donning the 'A' for home games this season, I think he has a great chance to continue to contribute heavily on that first power-play unit. If he's at the point, we could see more assists than I've had cups of tea this week!
Who tallies the highest PIM?
AM: I want to leave PIM to the young guys. They often draw the most penalties whether they mean to or not but it all comes with growing as a player. My mind instantly goes to Philippe Myers as he's usually in the mix with a good or bad penalty taken. Last season, Myers had a good amount of clean up to take care of. Should the careless minors pile up again, I'd say Myers is a lock.
RA: The Flyers did not take many penalties last year, and their discipline definitely played a factor in their success. AV doesn't have time to deal with that nonsense, and has made that clear in the past. Strangely enough, Farabee led the team in PIM with 39 despite playing 17 less games than the team's second most penalized guy, Kevin Hayes. This year, I expect the Flyers to primarily stay out of the box, but I could see Phil Myers dropping the gloves a few times and being the team's brute if Morin can't crack the lineup consistently.
ER: This is a double-edged sword of sorts. While the Flyers were remarked by Vigneault as not being physical enough during the last postseason, he concocted a plan to make Samuel Morin a winger. He is on the taxi squad, so it's likely he won't see enough ice time to lead in penalty minutes. If Vigneault employs his strategy, however, Morin could be on the ice more than we all think. He wants to model his game off of the New York Islanders' Matt Martin, who finished sixth on that team in PIM last season. It's a dark horse candidate, but if Morin sees the ice time and plays physical, penalty minutes usually correlate.
MS: I am gonna say that it will be a toss up between Sanheim and Farabee. They were up there last season, Farabee may have developed more discipline to go along with his increased muscle and that could bring his PIM down. Sanheim is going to continue to battle against some of the best forwards and is in the position of all the defensemen to have high PIM.
LJ: Phil Myers very much became the Flyers' janitor last season and as a result took a lot of penalty minutes on the chin. I can't see that changing this season, although I think an extra-chirpy TK could be a close runner-up.
Which Flyer will have a breakout season?
AM: My optimism is showing here, but I have to say Nolan Patrick. I think Patrick has the most to prove and the gall to do it. He stepped into training camp not playing a game in 600-some odd days, played well, and scored in the scrimmage. He impressed the beat writers on sight and even had Brian Elliott saying things like, "that natural talent doesn't just go away."
RA: All bias aside here, this is the year that Lindblom has his breakout. We literally started to see him breakout alongside TK before his Ewing's Sarcoma forced him off the rink. He's going to be alongside two very talented players. He'll be paired with TK on the wings with either Coots or Hayes centering them. Kevin Hayes is going to do Kevin Hayes things, and TK will likely draw more defensive attention this season. Not only is Oskar in a prime spot to sit atop the team in nearly every offensive category, but he's going to continue to inspire us each and every time he touches the ice.
ER: In thinking of this, is Lindblom or Nolan Patrick a cop-out answer? Both are returning to the lineup this season after missing a lot of time in their career due to medical reasons. With the depth the Flyers have, all the forwards are due to have a productive season. Patrick will have a breakout season in the sense that he will prove his one-year contract as "worth the investment" and likely receive an extension (perhaps even a slot on Philadelphia's protection list before the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft.) My pick is Patrick, but another good one to place a bet on is Nicolas Aube-Kubel.
MS: I would love to say Nolan Patrick is going to have a breakout year, but my money is on Joel Farabee. In his second season, he has a little more understanding of what it takes to play in the NHL. Starting off on a line with G and Hayes can really get him going. Look for Farabee to have a really good year.
LJ: I think Morgan Frost could be a really underrated play here. If Nolan Patrick needs to miss time at any point for his migraine condition, Frost will be the guy they call up. He's also shown an intent to play on the wing and could well be challenging for the fourth-line center role as the season goes on. I think he does get significant ice time and ends up surprising a lot of people.
What will the Flyers record be at the end of the season?
AM: This is a tough call. Playing only divisional games all season long can really go all over the place. However, the depth chart tells me that the Flyers have a little extra added help should things go less than perfect and that's not something that can be said for the entire division. The Flyers will go far beyond .500 and I don't believe my colleagues are far off when they predict 30 or more wins. However, as optimistic as I am, I can also be a little pessimistic. I'm going to say the Flyers will go 29-20-7.
RA: Okay, don't get mad at me here. I think the Flyers start hot, then struggle for a few weeks, then end the season hot heading into the playoffs. Obviously depth is going to be the most important asset to any team with the condensed schedule.
However, the Flyers youth may start to show at one point. This does not mean that they won't get adjusted. I just think that they'll hit a reality check at one point of the season.
Looking at their schedule, where they play many teams two times in a row, it's going to be tough to go on extended winning streaks. Just like they say in the NFL- it's tough to beat the same team two times in one season, it just doesn't happen that often. I can see the Flyers winning two-three, losing one, winning two, losing one, etc. Scratch up 36 wins in the 56 game season, and their 36-12-8 record earns them either the two or three seed in the tough East division.
ER: Last season, the Flyers finished 13-5-2 against their 2020-2021 Division opponents. If they can harness the same success, my calculations show a 36-20 record in 56 games. I'm not going to sort through OT losses or wins, but I imagine Philadelphia will find themselves in a healthy amount of overtime periods and shootouts.
MS: I feel the Flyers are going to have a record of 31-20-5 to win the east.
LJ: The Flyers had their way with divisional opponents last year and have retained most of what made that team so dangerous. Ending with a 34-13-9 record and clinching the division isn't out of the question.
Photo Credit: Alex McIntyre
