Philadelphia Flyers Mailbag: York, Team MVP, Prospects, More – Hockey Writers – Philadelphia Flyers
As we await the start of this upcoming season for the Philadelphia Flyers, it's a good time to get to know the team better and see where they stand heading into the fall. With that, it's time to answer a few of your top questions. We will look at some of Cam York's expectations in 2024-25, who will be the MVP of the Flyers team, who is the most underrated in the organization, and where I say the team will be in shape.
Based On What We Know Now, What Kind Of Season Do You Think We Can Expect From Cam York? — @bluebeetle94
While York held the lead role during his 2023-24 season — the first time in his career that he's gotten this kind of ice time — that's not to say it was his best showing. For a 23-year-old, I believe a lot remains to be seen.
It might seem obvious that York's performance last season was his highlight because of his usage, but it wasn't. In fact, he was at his best in 2022-23—the stats back it up. Looking back at other clips from that season, he had the confidence in the world and was really involved in the run and inside the offensive zone. He played very aggressively but was also responsible enough at age 22 to handle the defensive side of his game with care—his numbers on both ends of the ice were palpable.
Compared to last season? He had similar defensive numbers, but the offense was completely solid. Based on the eye test, he didn't just have the same look—he was reserved. We've seen flashes of brilliance from time to time, but the same exciting player who was there in 2022-23 took more minutes and, in doing so, put defense before anything else.
Those lights remind us that the elite two-way version of York is still very much alive. In 2024-25, I think we see a lot of what made him so great the last two seasons. With Matvei Michkov now on the roster, the Flyers should start relying on their offense a little more to win games. Previously, they were a low-event team whose main goal was to prevent scoring opportunities. Now, I believe York will show what kind of player he really is.
Related: Flyers Projections: Cam York's Offensive Upside
It's hard to put an exact number on points—especially since offensive impact isn't defined solely by that metric—but I'd bet he could score between 40-45 points compared to the 30 he had in 2023-24. This is assuming he stays healthy and maybe looks on the power play, but I wouldn't rule it out on him. York is brimming with energy that fans didn't get to see very often last season—hope this can come to fruition.
Who Do You Think Will Be Team MVP? – @MATVEIAURA
There are a few possible answers here, but Michkov is the single most important player on the Flyers' roster this upcoming season. Not having a talent like him put a damper on any hopes the Orange and Black might have had of making a splash in the playoffs in 2023-24 if they made it. Now, they are hoping for a star and he will be ready to make an impact.
Anyone who has watched Michkov knows what he is talking about. He is highly skilled and he processes the game in a way that goes beyond the normal hockey sense. He's a machine designed to create offense and score goals, and that's exactly what he did on a regular basis in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) last season.
What makes Michkov so important to the Flyers in 2024-25 is that they don't have a player like him. Travis Konecny might be the safe answer for the Flyers' team MVP, but they have two players—Owen Tippett and Joel Farabee—who do their damage in the same way. Michkov's style and power make him the last wild card for the Flyers this season.
Projecting Michkov's numbers is as trivial as it really is anyone's guess, but we can expect him to have a high offensive impact on both the power and power play. In total, around 30 goals and 30 assists is probably pushing it if he's healthy, but it's also not an unreasonable expectation. Even if he doesn't score a ton of points, he can still be an asset to the offense just by being there and forcing a lot of attention from his opponents.
Who Is The Flyers' Least Prospect Right Now? – @DankCrayon
This question is very interesting. I've raved about him in the past, but I still don't think enough people give 19-year-old right-hander Carter Sotheran the credit he deserves.
Sotheran was put in the best and worst situation at the same time with a loaded Portland Winterhawks team in 2023-24. By Western Hockey League (WHL) standards, his offensive totals—51 points in 74 games during the regular season and playoffs—were respectable but not overly impressive. But what you fail to consider is that fellow 19-year-old right-back Luca Cagnoni used to play ahead of him in the lineup. If anything, Suthu's goal was very good for the situation he was in.
Cagnoni signed his entry-level contract in the offseason, to move to the American Hockey League (AHL) through the 2024-25 season. It's not a guarantee by any means, but he was so amazing in Portland that it seemed like a waste of a season for him to play in the minors again—he's so good in the WHL. If he is no longer with the Winterhawks, we may see Sothern's offensive game shine.
Coming to his actual game, Sotheran is a responsible player who excelled in neutral and defensive positions. He didn't give up scoring chances, and that's because he defended so well—his ridiculous 66 plus rating was proof of that. Whether it was an oddball chase or a one-on-one battle, he almost always came out on top. His passing game is solid and he's a reliable zone-entry defender, especially at 6-foot-3.
However, one area where I think he can improve is inside the offensive zone and with the puck. There's talent here, but he hasn't shown it often enough to suggest he could be useful in the NHL. His offensive game is quite raw, but there is potential here that I like.
Also, Cagnoni's departure would allow us to see the best of Sothern. Before the offensive numbers explode, keep an eye on him in 2024-25. I personally see him as the NHL's second-best defenseman when he hits his ceiling—this season will be huge in confirming that.
Predicting Flyer Positions? – @Bennett_CK
I've gone on record several times saying I think the Flyers will make the playoffs. It's important to note that injuries can detract from this view, but I'll get into that later.
I see the Flyers sitting at 97 points this season and fourth in the Metropolitan Division in the final Eastern Conference wildcard spot. This isn't what I believe is their ceiling, though—there's a lot more power about this group than most people give it.
My confidence in the Flyers mainly has to do with their construction. In 2023-24, they were almost a playoff team but they were very flawed in terms of schedule. Their fourth line was the worst in the NHL over the course of the season, the power play was actually the worst in the NHL, only one team had a worse team save percentage (SV%) than it, and only one team had it. the team's shooting percentage (SH%) was worse than those who did, the midfield was terrible in the second half of the season, and Jamie Drysdale played his entire campaign with a sports hernia.
I don't expect all these problems to disappear, but I do expect some conditions to improve. The shutdown line of Noah Cates, Ryan Poehling, and Garnet Hathaway was built late in the season and wasn't meant to be much, but it gave the Flyers new life—they were good. Head coach John Tortorella didn't have a linebacker that could handle this kind of closing role most of last season, but now he does.
Adding Michkov and getting rid of Cam Atkinson is also a big win for the Flyers, as the latter was already out. Michkov gives them an exciting piece that can increase their team's SH%, scoring rate, and elevate the players around him in theory. His talent may be raw at the NHL level, but that's a complete wildcard feature—he can be better or worse than we expect.
The center depth is exactly the same as it was last year, but each player has a specific role that needs to be filled. Sean Couturier blew it when he suffered a sports hernia—he was still on the roster, but he went from playing as a big first-line center (probably as good as his 2017-18 form) to utility at the end. six. This forced Morgan Frost, the struggling Scott Laughton, and Poehling to restructure the roster—completely destroying the team and its formation.
Bringing Couturier back to full life likely ends the institutional hatred and puts everyone back where they belong. There's always the risk of injury, which makes the playoffs somewhat daring, but a healthy Flyers team is the type to play. If the centers in particular can stay healthy for most of the season and maybe Frost and especially Laughton can improve, the middle group could work.
Drysdale's health this season is self-explanatory, as he plans to take on the role of second baseman. We haven't seen his true form because of his physical limitations—it's almost as if he's peaking as a Flyer in 2024-25. He's the same wildcard as Michkov mainly because of the talent factor, so we'll have to wait and see how things pan out.
Finally, goal scoring is something we can expect to improve. I've discussed it ad nauseam yet, but it can't be said enough—Sam Ersson was great when he was the Flyers' starter. He started 32 of Philadelphia's last 38 games, which is when his SV% dropped significantly to a .890 finish. Tortorella didn't have a backup goalkeeper to rely on, so he wasn't giving Ersson days off. The addition of Ivan Fedotov can hopefully put an end to that madness. With a decent body of work for both of them, something is possible here. At the very least, the decline seems indisputable.
The playoff prediction here doesn't think everything is perfect, but we do think the Orange and Black are taking some steps. The Flyers' 2024-25 roster is the deepest they've had outside of their 2019-20 campaign in a long time—there's depth, a talented star with Michkov, and no major weaknesses except maybe between the pipes and the center. depth if there is long-term damage. Some teams will take risks, but there should be optimism about the team.
All your questions are appreciated this time of year! If you want to help with the next post fund, the comment section below is a great place to donate.
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