The Philadelphia Flyers are looking like they could be a contender for years to come
There is a song from the 80’s called “Future’s So Bright”, a one-hit wonder by a group called Timbuk 3. It is about a college student with a great future, but I feel it applies to my Philadelphia Flyers as well.
"Doin’ all rightGettin’ good grades..The future’s so bright….I gotta wear shades…I gotta wear shades."
I will be the first to admit that this has been a season of ups and downs for the Flyers. A 10 game winless streak, followed shortly by a February where they could do no wrong. I am looking forward to playoff games in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year. In my opinion, any playoff games are serious gravy.
What I am looking forward to even more than the playoffs this season is the future. The future of this team is already starting to shine this year, mainly in the form of Travis Konecny.
The Future is Now
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Konecny has stolen a little of the thunder of the second overall pick Nolan Patrick, but more on Patrick in a moment. Travis has thrived since being moved to the top line.
Going into Tuesday night’s Flyers game against Dallas, the speedy winger had amassed 22 goals and 22 assists for 44 points. In comparison, he ended last season with eleven goals and seventeen assists.
Look to the future, as Konecny learns a little more defensive responsibility. Perhaps some first power play unit time? The sky really is the limit there. He just celebrated his 21st birthday on March 11th and is already playing like a grizzled veteran.
A Future Without Injuries
Speaking of the 2017 second overall draft pick, Nolan Patrick’s season has mirrored that of his team. An early season concussion hampered his production. Even after his return from the nine games he sat out, Patrick seemed out of sorts.
Despite all of that, he has been warming to the task of late, and currently has ten goals and fifteen assists. I have to wonder how high those numbers will go with a full offseason to train. Patrick, after all, is only 19 years of age.
Another future ready to happen now can be seen in forward Oskar Lindblom. The 2015 fifth-rounder finally scored his first goal in the NHL and then followed shortly thereafter with his second. When he was called up from The Phantoms, Lindblom had sixteen goals and eighteen assists. Oskar is only 21 years old.
The Search Is Over
The real future of this team is goaltender Carter Hart. Broad Street has been looking for a go-to goalie since the days of Lindbergh and Hextall. Hart was drafted by the Flyers in the second round of the 2016 entry draft as the 48th overall pick. Named the 2017-18 WHL Player of the Year, his stats on the year were stunning. A 1.67 goals against average, a save percentage of .947 and seven shutouts.
Add to that a silver medal in the 2017 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship, and gold in that same tournament in 2018, and you will realize that the search for a goalie could be over. As Hart skated the World Junior Championship Cup in 2018, I lifted a prayer to the Hockey Gods that he would soon be lifting a much larger Cup, one made of silver.