theScore is previewing each team leading up to the 2016-17 season.
After being bounced in the first round of the playoffs last season, the Philadelphia Flyers know there's plenty of room for improvement.
The biggest offseason goal - securing the services of emerging forward Brayden Schenn for the foreseeable future - was achieved, as the 25-year-old restricted free agent signed a four-year, $20.5-million pact in late July.
Still, several questions remain for Philadelphia pertaining to all three facets of the game.
Here are three questions the team faces heading into the new season:
Can they get better at both ends?
The Flyers allowed the eighth-most shots on goal in 2015-16, but their leaky defense was bailed out by a solid goaltending duo that posted the 12th-best goals-against average in the league.
Philadelphia wasn't a strong puck possession team, ranking 16th in the NHL in 5-on-5 Corsi For percentage (50.59), according to Corsica.ca.
They did generate 31 shots on goal per game - good for fifth in the league - but only averaged 2.57 goals, which put them 22nd in the NHL.
The Flyers need to convert more of their offensive opportunities and tighten up on the back end if they hope to make a deeper playoff run.
Can Voracek bounce back?
After putting together his best NHL season two years ago, Jakub Voracek underachieved in 2015-16.
Coming off an 81-point campaign, the winger registered only 11 goals and 55 points. It was his worst season from a points perspective since 2012-13, and his worst goal output since he scored nine goals as a rookie with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2008-09.
Voracek notched a goal and an assist and while firing 11 shots on net in three games for the Czech Republic at the World Cup of Hockey.
Those are encouraging signs, but the Flyers need him to produce consistently over a 82-game slate if they hope to improve their offense as a whole.
What does the future hold for the goalies?
Both Steve Mason and Michal Neuvirth are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents after this season, and Philadelphia only has about $1 million in cap space at the moment.
Neuvirth outplayed Mason last season, albeit in 22 fewer games.
| Goaltender | G | W-L-T | GAA | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason | 54 | 23-19-4 | 2.51 | .918 |
| Neuvirth | 32 | 18-8-2 | 2.27 | .924 |
Mason's cap hit is $4.1 million, and Neuvirth is on the books for $1.625 million.
If Flyers general manager Ron Hextall wants to sign one of them to an extension, he'll likely either need to deal the other netminder or make another move to free up space.
