Tragic Numbers And Some Flyers’ Expansion Draft Possibilities

Evaluations Start Now

It looks like the Flyers will continue their frustrating playoff trend — one year in, one year out. It was hoped that Alain Vigneault could put that inconsistency to rest, and he got off to a good start in his first year behind the bench.

General manger Chuck Fletcher has said that Vigneault will return next season, along with the rest of his veteran coaching staff — assistants Mike Yeo, Michel Therrien and Ian Laperriere, and goaltending coach Kim Dillabaugh.

With all the unusual goings-on this season, there’s an argument to be made for exercising caution before making major changes. Coaches in Montreal, Calgary and Buffalo have gotten their walking papers this year, but that’s a much lower churn rate than the nine head coaches that lost their jobs in both 2018-19 and 2019-20.

While the full coaching staff will return, Fletcher has laid the groundwork for transition on his playing roster. Even with the challenges of the pandemic, two and a half years on the job is enough time to evaluate what his team has — and what it needs. An elite defenseman is at the top of the wish list.

Expansion Draft Exposure: Jakub Voracek?

If Fletcher’s going to be bold about changing team culture, the Seattle expansion draft could work in his favor. Two players who could potentially be exposed are Jakub Voracek and James van Riemsdyk. They’re both big-ticket veterans with multiple years remaining on contracts they signed before Fletcher came on board. And they aren’t expansion-draft protected like Claude Giroux or Kevin Hayes, who both have no-movement clauses.

Voracek turns 32 in August. He’ll have three years remaining on his eight-year deal that carries a cap hit of $8.25 million per season. This season, he’s tied with Giroux for second in team scoring, with 33 points in 42 games. That’s pretty consistent with his two previous seasons.

But if the big Czech isn’t playing a solid two-way game, the whole team seems to struggle. Much like the Flyers’ playoff status, Voracek’s plus-minus numbers also vacillate from year to year. This season, he’s a minus-12, second-worst among the team’s forwards behind only Nolan Patrick (minus-19).

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Expansion Draft Exposure: James van Riemsdyk?

As for van Riemsdyk, he’s having a resurgent season. The big winger, who turns 32 in May, leads the team with 35 points in 45 games. But that number’s a bit deceiving. More than half of those points — 18, to be exact — came during the first 13 games of the season, before the club’s 11 day pause due to Covid-19.

In the 32 games since the Flyers got back to work, JVR’s 17 points rank sixth in team scoring. He’s behind Sean Couturier (27), Claude Giroux (22), Voracek (21), Travis Konecny (20) and Joel Farabee (19). He has just four points in the club’s last 14 games.

After this season, van Riemsdyk will have two years remaining on a contract with a $7 million cap hit.

So far, Seattle Kraken general manager Ron Francis has revealed little about how he plans to construct his opening-day roster. Right now, rival general managers are determined not to let him duplicate George McPhee’s success with the Vegas Golden Knights. But when the rubber meets the road, there’s no telling what deals might actually transpire.

For now, all we know is that the Flyers are definitely going to lose a player. Don’t be surprised if Fletcher offers up a sweetener to convince Francis to absorb the big contract of either Voracek or van Riemsdyk. If a draft pick or a prospect changes hands, that could help give Fletcher the flexibility that he needs to remake his lineup and perhaps acquire that elusive top defenseman.

The expansion draft is scheduled for July 21.