Fixing Flyers Front Line Combination – Hockey Writers – Philadelphia Flyers

Right now, the Philadelphia Flyers have a conundrum with their forward line. Head coach John Tortorella has been mixing things up on a shift-by-shift basis, but nothing has stuck—his team is 1-4-1 as a result.

Related: Combination Flyer Lines

From here, what can the Flyers do to help save their season? Below, I suggest four offensive lines that could work going forward.

Front Row: Joel Farabee, Jett Luchanko, Matvei Michkov

In the first line, there are a few things that Tortorella seems to be against. Both Travis Konecny ​​and Owen Tippett got tests and rookie Matvei Michkov had mixed results—Joel Farabee's turn. Although the 24-year-old has been on the third line for the past two seasons, he is more important than his usage would suggest. With the potential to become a true first baseman if he gets a chance next to someone of Michkov's caliber, there's no good reason to avoid using those two together.

Without a doubt, Farabee is the most intelligent winger in the team after Michkov. The latter requires someone who can think the game at a high level and is able to use neutral ground to his advantage. Farabee is an excellent creator of quick chances and could connect with his 19-year-old partner in crime. At the very least, it's something to look out for during a full game.

In terms of center, I think 18-year-old Jett Luchanko is doing very well. Whether it was the rookie games, the preseason, or the regular season, there was a connection between the two youngsters. Michkov and Luchanko have seen limited time next to each other, but there are stylistic reasons to think they could work. Both can play at a good pace and show the ability to make quick, smart plays from defense to attack. Farabee also has a skill set in this department, so the trio can work as a line.

Second Row: Tyson Foerster, Morgan Frost, Travis Konecny

As for the second line, I have Konecny ​​as the lead horseman and the main playmaker. In my eyes, he is more successful when he has a stick on his stick. Instead of trying to play off someone like Michkov's strengths, he can play on his own with this structure. To me, that's the key to getting him to produce at almost a point-per-game level, something he's shown flashes of in the past. His colleagues here can help him achieve that, although he will be doing a lot of lifting.

Tyson Foerster is another winner here, someone Konecny ​​played with a lot last season. Although they did not break records together, they had good results on the ice and outplayed the opponents. Foerster, 22, could be a valuable two-way contributor.

Morgan Frost is the center here, who hasn't taken the necessary steps to get a long-term extension—he's a restricted official after this season. He played well next to Konecny, so serving as a center here makes sense. The trio can operate in both neutral and offensive positions.

Third Row: Owen Tippett, Sean Couturier, Bobby Brink

If we look at the third row, we see our first drop. While it has little to do with his goal-scoring drought (51 goalless attempts), Tippett's presence here has to do with his strengths and weaknesses as a player. He has been a guy who takes a ton of shots but is turned away more often than other high volume shooters.

Related: Philadelphia Flyers' Owen Tippett Struggles With Performance

On the third line, Tippett can do more work instead of hurting his top six teammates with his inactivity. His eccentric nature can work better if he is free to do whatever he wants. Sean Couturier can help cover for him on the defensive end, as one of the captain's greatest strengths is preventing scoring opportunities. Bobby Brink has improved significantly this season and could be a nice addition to the line, too. You have a good gift.

Fourth Row: Scott Laughton, Noah Cates, Garnet Hathaway

To conclude, the fourth line is nothing special but important for this team. Despite Scott Laughton's hot start, he's still a bottom-six player with one really good game (against the Seattle Kraken). Noah Cates will be the center of the trio, replacing the struggling Ryan Poehling who may need some rest. Garnet Hathaway has been doing well analytically but he's not much more than your run-of-the-mill six-pointer despite his promising (but low-event) on-ice numbers. This can be a strong line of defense that can be used in a situation.

Even though they have only played six games, the Flyers are out of control. Goal setting and finishing should improve over a large sample, but that doesn't take away from the fact that they weren't going well. Are these lines a possible solution?