Inside the 2017-18 Flyers: Giroux, goalies, kids hold keys to success

Jim Cerny

Inside the 2017-18 Flyers: Giroux, goalies, kids hold keys to success image

Since the 2011-12 season, the Flyers have alternated making the playoffs one year and missing them the next. Considering the recent trend, Flyers fans might be hopeful about the club in 2017-18 since it missed the playoffs last season.

Philly finished with 88 points a year ago, seven behind the Maple Leafs, who snagged the second and final wild card spot in the competitive Eastern Conference. Not even a ten-game winning streak earlier in the season, though, could propel the Flyers past their minus-17 goal differential, subpar goaltending, and mediocre play of the team's biggest star, Claude Giroux, and into the post-season.

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In a busy off-season, the Flyers traded 25-goal scorer Brayden Schenn, let goaltender Steve Mason walk as a UFA, signed veteran Brian Elliott to compete for the No. 1 goaltender spot, and selected Nolan Patrick with the second overall selection in the draft. Patrick's arrival, joining an already-deep prospect pool in south Philly, is what should excite the masses most heading into the coming season and beyond.

Philadelphia Flyers schedule 2017-18

The Flyers open the regular season, and start a four-game trip, on Wednesday, Oct. 4 in San Jose against the Sharks.They will play the Kings, Ducks and Predators before returning to Philly for their home opener on Saturday the 14th against the Capitals. That contest kicks off a four-game homestand, which evens out the season-opening road trip.

November is highlighted by a home-and-home set against the Islanders that sandwiches Thanksgiving; and December features a three-games-in-four-nights trek through Western Canada followed by a five-game homestand that segues into four straight on the road -- though broken up by the Christmas holiday break.

Philly's bye week is Jan. 8-12, with the schedule picking up in March when the Flyers play seven games in the first 12 days of the month. The Flyers close out the season with three consecutive games against Metropolitan Division opponents -- the Islanders, Hurricanes and Rangers -- April 3-7.

Philadelphia Flyers key off-season additions

Nolan Patrick (second overall draft pick), Brian Elliott (free agent), Jori Lehtera (trade)

Philadelphia Flyers key off-season departures

Brayden Schenn (trade), Steve Mason (free agent), Michael Del Zotto (free agent), Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (expansion draft), Nick Cousins (trade), Chris VandeVelde (free agent)

Philadelphia Flyers projected lineup

Forwards

Valtteri Filppula-Claude Giroux-Jakub Voracek

Travis Konecny-Nolan Patrick-Wayne Simmonds

Jordan Weal-Sean Couturier-Matt Read

Michael Raffl/Oskar Lindblom-Jori Lehtera-Dale Weise

Defense

Ivan Provorov-Andrew MacDonald

Brandon Manning/Samuel Morin-Shayne Gostisbehere

Travis Sanheim-Radko Gudas

Goalies

Brian Elliott

Michal Neuvirth

Philadelphia Flyers best-case scenario

There are a couple of big X-Factors for the Flyers this season, ones that will greatly affect the team's fortunes. First, Claude Giroux needs to regain his scoring touch after declining production in each of the last five full NHL seasons. Last year, coming off surgery the previous summer, Giroux recorded 58 points, the second-lowest full-season total of his career. Simply put, the Flyers can not afford for Giroux to be a pedestrian player. He needs to be a star again.

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Second, the goaltending needs to be more consistent this season than it was last. Brian Elliott replaces Steve Mason, and Michal Neuvirth remains. So, whether that means Elliott is the clear No. 1, or he splits time with Neuvirth, the results need to be far better than 2016-17 if the Flyers harbor any hopes of reaching the post-season.

The hope in Philly is that the Flyers' impressive prospect pool continues to bear fruit at the NHL level. Nolan Patrick will be heavily counted on in a top-six role and Travis Konecny and Oskar Lindblom are also key youngsters up front, as is the surprising Jordan Weal. On the back end, well, two years ago it was Shayne Gostisbehere shining as a rookie defenseman and last season it was Ivan Provorov. If either Samuel Morin or Travis Sanheim continues the trend this season, the Flyers are in a good shape, not only in 2017-18, but moving forward.

Jim Cerny