Last season, the Philadelphia Flyers came close to making the playoffs but fell short by just one game.
To make it back to the playoffs this year, starting their season on Friday against Vancouver, they need to improve in several areas. One big issue is their power play performance, which has been a problem for years. Last season, they had 254 chances but only scored 31 goals, finishing last in the league with a 12.2% success rate.
A new hope might be Russian forward Matvei Michkov. He impressed during his time with SKA Saint Petersburg and HK Sochi. “I was really impressed in [puck] battles,” said GM Daniel Briere about Michkov’s skills and strategic thinking. With his left-handed shot and quick hands , he could be the spark they need for their power play struggles.
Key Areas for Improvement:
Another area needing attention is goaltending consistency. Carter Hart was supposed to solve this issue but got sidelined due to legal troubles. Now, Samuel Ersson and Ivan Fedotov are sharing goalie duties. Ersson started 51 games last year with mixed results: a .890 save percentage and four shutouts. Fedotov played only three games after joining from Russia, with less impressive stats.
Fans might wonder if these goalies can hold up through an entire season without faltering under pressure.
Both showed potential during preseason matches; Ersson even managed a 37-save shutout against the Islanders! Meanwhile, Fedotov allowed eight goals over four games but still holds promise as backup.
Finally, key players like Scott Laughton and Sean Couturier must elevate their performances significantly if the team hopes to succeed this season. Laughton played every game yet scored just 13 times while assisting on 26 occasions; Couturier faced injuries throughout his campaign but needs better output when healthy—11 goals won’t cut it!
So what do you think? Can these changes help them reach playoffs again?
