Dobber's offseason fantasy hockey grades – Philadelphia Flyers

For the last 14 years (12 with The Hockey News) Dobber has reviewed each team from a fantasy-hockey standpoint and graded them.

This year, due to Dobber’s battle with cancer, he recruited Cam Robinson (of Frozen Pool Forensics fame) to pinch hit. The 15th annual review will appear here on DobberHockey throughout the summer. This is not a review of the likely performance on the ice or in the standings, but in the realm of fantasy hockey.

Enjoy!

Gone – Steve Mason, Brayden Schenn, Michael Del Zotto, Nick Schutz, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Nick Cousins, Merrick Madsen, Andy Miele, Chris Connor, Jesper Pettersson

Incoming – Nolan Patick, Brian Elliott, Jori Lehtera, Phil Varone, Brendan Warren

Impact of changes – Steve Mason’s tenuous tenure in Philadelphia comes to a close. The former Calder Trophy winner had stretches of dominance and periods of ineptitude. He leaves as a free agent and is replaced by the master of inconsistencies in Brian Elliott. Elliott will be forced to battle with Michael Neuvirth, just like Mason was and it’s likely neither steals a large enough load of starts to be worthy of being a number two goaltender on your fantasy squad. Brayden Schenn leaves Philly after many successful seasons – mostly earned through terrific work on the man advantage. In return, the team received veteran Jori Lehtera to fill a bottom-six pivot position and two first-round selections. With the team winning the second overall pick and being fortunate enough to select Nolan Patrick, there are a great deal of centres in the organization and Schenn was clearly deemed expendable. Patrick should have a positive rookie campaign, but he should not be expected to produce the gaudy totals we’ve become accustomed to in recent freshman crops.

Ready for full-time – Nolan Patrick should be capable of walking off the draft floor and right into the Flyers’ dressing room. Being a late birthday who just missed out on the 2016 draft and having that extra year of development coupled with a very strong defensive game and a mature frame should help ease the transition into the professional ranks. It’s likely that Patrick begins the year centering a middle-six line and seeing time on the second-unit power play. There is a chance that he forces his way into Schenn’s former spot on the top unit, but sophomore Travis Konecny likely has the inside edge to that net front spot. Read more on Patrick here.

Travis Sanheim made the transition from junior to the American league look easy this past season. The towering left-shot blueliner displayed his calm demeanor, great vision and strong overall package by producing 37 points in 74 regular-season AHL contests and tacked on another three assists in five playoff games. The former Calgary Hitmen standout is looking primed to push his way onto the Flyers this fall and projects as a very capable, all-around top four defender. Read more on Sanheim here.

Oskar Lindblom crosses the pond after three very successful seasons in the SHL. The 21-year-old winger impressed each consecutive season in one of the top European leagues, culminating with 47 points in 52 contests with Brynas IF, ultimately being named the Swedish Forward of the Year. Capable of playing both wings and already a complete two-way player with a strong professional background, Lindblom is a serious contender for the Rookie of the Year honours in 2017-18. Much will be dependent on where he slots into the lineup, but Lindblom appears to have a top-nine gig all wrapped up. Read more on Lindblom here.  

Philippe Myers has taken his own path towards the NHL. The 6’5” rearguard was passed over in his draft year (2015) after posting just two goals and 12 points in 104 QMJHL games. He was invited to the Flyers’ training camp that fall and earned himself a contract. Since that time, he’s scored 27 goals and 80 points in the next 97 CHL contests and was a force on the Canadian blueline at the most recent World Junior Championships.  The safe expectation is for the 20-year-old to begin his professional career in the AHL, but the Flyers are virtually void of right-handers on their NHL roster and in their pipeline, thus greatly improving the chances for the youngster to surprise and break camp with club. Keep his name on your radar moving forward, because he may not have the elite pedigree of other prospects, but as a late-bloomer he has the size and skill and will get the opportunity to thrive down the line. Read more on Myers here.

Fantasy Outlook – For years, Philadelphia has been home to some elite fantasy assets, and while their core is creeping near the wrong side of 30, they boast possibly the strongest prospect pipeline in the league to help prop them up. Up front, Claude Giroux is a prime bounce-back candidate after a less-than-stellar 2016-17 campaign; Wayne Simmonds is quickly becoming a premier forward in the multi-cat world with his consistent 30-goal, 60-point and 100-plus PIM seasons, and Jakub Voracek should be good for a solid 60 points. While Brayden Schenn has moved on, 2015 first rounder Konecny is ready to take on more responsibility and jump into fantasy relevance, and Nolan Patrick is a legitimate top prospect. On the back end, another likely bounce-back candidate is Shayne Gostisbehere. After witnessing some incredibly positive numbers as a rookie, Ghost witnessed some equally incredible numbers (only of the poor variety) as a sophomore. Expect a return to or near the 50-point level this season. Gostisbehere is supported by burgeoning number one defender Ivan Provorov and a host of strong  blueline prospects. The tandem in net is not ideal, but long term, the Flyers have a bevy of potential goaltending stars in CHL goaltender of the year Carter Hart and top Swedish prospect Felix Sandstrom; not to mention Anthony Stolarz, who appears ready to take on a backup role but will have to wait his turn.

Fantasy Grade: B- (Last year: C+)

Pick up the 12th annual DobberHockey Fantasy Hockey Guide here (out on August 1)

OR

Get the Fantasy Guide and the Prospects Report as part of a package and save$7.00 – here!