Offseason Roundup: Philadelphia Flyers
Over the next month, theScore's NHL editors will review all the offseason moves for each team around the league.
After a first-round elimination at the hands of the Stanley Cup Finals-bound New York Rangers, the Philadelphia Flyers dramatically reorganized their front office this summer. The club "promoted" former general manager and noted riverboat gambler Paul Holmgren to president, and replaced him by legitimately promoting assistant general manager Ron Hextall to the top hockey operations job.
Though the summer was marked by transition in the executive suite at Wells Fargo Arena, the Flyers' on-ice personnel was mostly unchanged. There was a tweak or two - a couple of depth defenders signed as free agents, and the club made a baffling trade - but for the most part, Hextall doubled down on his current core in his first summer as Flyers general manager.
Offseason Overview
The biggest on-ice change for the Flyers this offseason was the departure of forward Scott Hartnell, a fixture on Claude Giroux's wing. Hartnell was sent packing from Philadelphia in an unbalanced swap with the Columbus Blue Jackets. A net-front terror and excellent play-driver, Hartnell scored 20 goals and managed 52 points in 2013-14 and was a mainstay in the high slot on Philadelphia's potent first power-play unit.
Joining the Flyers in the trade was forward R.J. Umberger, who had requested a trade out of Columbus and is about to start second tour of duty on Broad Street. Umberger is a versatile checking forward, but doesn't have multiple 30-goal seasons under his belt like Hartnell does, and just isn't moving the needle in the right direction at this stage of his career.
Replacing Hartnell could prove difficult for the Flyers, though it would appear that Brayden Schenn, signed to a two-year bridge contract worth $5 million this summer, is first in line to get an opportunity skating on Giroux's left flank. Take note, fantasy general managers.
Health is really the biggest question mark for the Flyers headed into the 2014-15 season. Ace two-way center Sean Couturier underwent two separate surgical procedures this off-season, Steve Mason entered the summer with a concussion and then sustained a broken finger during a freak ball hockey accident, and due to multiple blood clots, the club will be without veteran Kimmo Timonen - arguably their most important defender - indefinitely (and maybe permanently).
The club will hope that defender Michael Del Zotto, non-tendered by the Nashville Predators this past June, can help replace some of Timonen's offense. It's a tall ask for a player who isn't very big, doesn't really skate that well, and has looked like a bit of a mess in his own end in recent years.
Philadelphia's blue line, a problem area for years, could be very thin; so the club will hope that a young player like Shayne "Ghost" Gostisbehere can step up and fill an every day role on the back-end.
Underachieving center Vincent Lecavalier remains in trade limbo, and seems like a possible buyout candidate next summer if Hextall can't find a taker for him in a retained salary transaction at some point before the trade deadline.
Key Additions
R.J. Umberger
Michael Del Zotto
Nick Schultz
Ryan White
Key Departures
Scott Hartnell
Steve Downie
Adam Hall
Erik Gustafsson
Hal Gill
2014-15 Outlook
The Flyers pride themselves on contending year after year, but with significant holes along the blue line, a bevy of injury questions, and a sub-average goaltending tandem, Philadelphia could be in tough.
This club seems to be headed straight for the playoff bubble.