Yes or no. Do the Flyers make the playoffs?
- PhillySportsGuy

Yes.

Surprise contender: Florida

If Halak can match his career save % it will be a huge improvement over last year's goalies.
- Jsaquella

The Islanders combined goaltending save percentage last year was below .900. Anything is an improvement.

Healthy Tavares, combined with better forward depth in Kulemin & Grabovski, plus Halak could make Isles markedly better. If Halak can match his career save % it will be a huge improvement over last year's goalies.
- Jsaquella

The Islanders were terrible over the first 60 games (22-30-8) when Tavares was healthy and playing with Vanek.

Realistically, it's better goaltending and defense that the Islanders need to get out out of the basement.

Healthy Tavares, combined with better forward depth in Kulemin & Grabovski, plus Halak could make Isles markedly better. If Halak can match his career save % it will be a huge improvement over last year's goalies.
- Jsaquella

Agree with all of that and I think it moves them from crappy to decent, maybe even good if they get very lucky with injuries. But a cup contender? No

Healthy Tavares, combined with better forward depth in Kulemin & Grabovski, plus Halak could make Isles markedly better. If Halak can match his career save % it will be a huge improvement over last year's goalies.
- Jsaquella

I gave myself a little wiggle room because the lottery includes all non-playoff teams. They might be better at forward and goaltending, but their defense is still terrible.

Healthy Tavares, combined with better forward depth in Kulemin & Grabovski, plus Halak could make Isles markedly better. If Halak can match his career save % it will be a huge improvement over last year's goalies.
- Jsaquella

Yeah... have to believe that Halak and Chad Johnson can combine to get the Isles' SV% out of the cellar... like just being a league-average tandem would equate to ~30 fewer goals against for the season... that's probably a lot of points in the standings.

Agree with all of that and I think it moves them from crappy to decent, maybe even good if they get very lucky with injuries. But a cup contender? No
- BiggE

Not a contender, but no surprise if they snag a wildcard spot

Yeah... have to believe that Halak and Chad Johnson can combine to get the Isles' SV% out of the cellar... like just being a league-average tandem would equate to 30+ fewer goals against for the season... that's probably a lot of points in the standings.
- Tomahawk

I think they are an 85-90 point team at best and that won't get em in the playoffs

I gave myself a little wiggle room because the lottery includes all non-playoff teams. They might be better at forward and goaltending, but their defense is still terrible.
- aflyerpower8

It is, and that's the trouble

If any of you say the Flyers miss the playoffs. Get off. I dont need that negativity . Flyers were one of the better teams in the league once Berube put his stamp on the team. Now we are a year older, more experienced and more comfortable with Berube. Only way Flyers miss the playoffs is if Mason or Giroux go down for an extended period of time.

I like the devils and stars to make some real playoff noise. Calgary may sneak in out west

I think using stats as a coaching tool can be valuable but hope they are used carefully. I would hate to see the players become too stat focused.

Even with Hexy's example, I see a danger with some players more focused on creating zone entries and less focused on attacking the net.
- Baxter27

Well you have to gain the zone before you can make a play at the net. Hextall seems to be giving these new stats their proper balance. They'll never be as useful as in baseball where so much is about the hitter/pitcher matchup. There's just no comp in a sport like hockey. What you can't lose sight of is the fact that one stat matters most in hockey . . . . shots in goal. Any step that puts you into position to score more goals is an important one. One team stat that might be worth tracking is shots on goal per times gaining the offensive zone. How many times have we seen the Flyers gain the blue line, diddle around on the perimeter and not even make a play at the net? Too many.

I gave myself a little wiggle room because the lottery includes all non-playoff teams. They might be better at forward and goaltending, but their defense is still terrible.
- aflyerpower8

Their defense is bad but they have some young, intriguing propsects back there. Pulock, Pokka, Mayfield, even Reinhart could make the team next year. Of course, relying on rookies to play beyond their years is a bit risky, which is why i don't see it for the Isles just yet.

The Islanders combined goaltending save percentage last year was below .900. Anything is an improvement.
- psuhockey

We got a 2x4 at Lowe's and we're gonna lay it in the crease. We expect it to be better than what we had last year

If they do, they'll need help... like some other teams' superstars going down. I really have a hard time seeing the Isles and Devs having complete poop luck again next season, and not sure the Pens or Rags are candidates to fall out.

It's gonna be tough... I'd probably lean no.
- Tomahawk

Its going to be really tough. Flyers are in that bunch of fringe playoff teams.

Let's take Giroux as any example. He would of been an rfa this past summer so the 4 1st rd picks would start this year. With Giroux the Flyers are a fridge playoff team. Without him I think it is safe to say they are bottom 5 if not bottom 3. The 2015 draft is loaded with top shelf talent. The Flyers could get one of McDavid, Eichel, of Hanifin whom are considered generational talents. Add to them another 1st rd pick in a draft that is preliminarily being compared to 2003 for its outstanding depth. The way the Flyers draft, that's a Mike Richards, or Scott Laughton, or Travis Sanheim like player. Next year the Flyers would be probably be bad again so another top 5 pick plus a later 1st. After that as they start to turn it around, they would still have 4 more picks to go.

Losing Giroux would set the Flyers back a couple of seasons no doubt. But this team isn't a real contender for 3-4 years anyway as the young defensemen work their way thru the system and play a couple of years in the NHL. So by the time they are ready, Giroux is in his late 20's at the tail end of his prime. Is that better than starting to work 8 1st rd picks for cheap into the lineup. Not too mention having a surplus of picks and prospects, the Flyers could make some huge trades without hurting their system.
- psuhockey

26=Late 20's? I just think that elite number one centers are rare even at the top of the draft, so trading one would be a mistake. What if the other Flyers players refused to just lose without Giroux and your pick was outside the top five for all four years?

Yes.

Surprise contender: Florida
- Streit2ThePoint

I don't see much from Florida next season. They're still very young

One team stat that might be worth tracking is shots on goal per times gaining the offensive zone. How many times have we seen the Flyers gain the blue line, diddle around on the perimeter and not even make a play at the net? Too many.
- fls13

You might be interested in this one:
http://nhlnumbers.com/201...a-for-the-wild-and-flyers

Edit: Oops, fixed link.

Well you have to gain the zone before you can make a play at the net. Hextall seems to be giving these new stats their proper balance. They'll never be as useful as in baseball where so much is about the hitter/pitcher matchup. There's just no comp in a sport like hockey. What you can't lose sight of is the fact that one stat matters most in hockey . . . . shots in goal. Any step that puts you into position to score more goals is an important one. One team stat that might be worth tracking is shots on goal per times gaining the offensive zone. How many times have we seen the Flyers gain the blue line, diddle around on the perimeter and not even make a play at the net? Too many.
- fls13

Good points. I think what we'll see is these analytics will evolve over time. There are definitely limits to what they can do, due to data collection issues. I really wish we had access to what NHL teams have. But I don't see that happening, so the best thing as a fan is to rely on simply watching the games, rather then relying far too heavily on any analytic.

Its going to be really tough. Flyers are in that bunch of fringe playoff teams.
- PhillySportsGuy

Then again, I could also see a scenario where Chief/Hexy fix the way they play, the kids take a big leap forward, Mason plays even better, and they vie for the division lead... lot of poop can happen between now and then.

Only teams I'm plunking down money on in Vegas are the B's, Hawks and Kings, though. Everybody else... toss-up.

Then again, I could also see a scenario where Chief/Hexy fix the way they play, the kids take a big leap forward, Mason plays even better, and they vie for the division lead... lot of poop can happen between now and then.

Only teams I'm plunking down money on in Vegas are the B's, Hawks and Kings, though. Everybody else... toss-up.
- Tomahawk

Tampa Bay is gonna have a monster year...

26=Late 20's? I just think that elite number one centers are rare even at the top of the draft, so trading one would be a mistake. What if the other Flyers players refused to just lose without Giroux and your pick was outside the top five for all four years?
- aflyerpower8

In 3-4 years when the young defense is ready, Giroux will be 29-30 years old.

Giroux was involved for almost 40% (38.6) of all the Flyers goal scored this season. The rest of the team can play their buts off, but I think it is safe to say they would be a bottom 5 team in the league regardless this year. Or do you think B. Schenn or Lecavalier is ready for 1st line duty.

You are right finding a 1st line center is hard but the Flyers have shown a proficiency in drafting centers and they will have 8 picks, some probably pretty high, to get one.

I don't see much from Florida next season. They're still very young
- PhillySportsGuy

They have a solid goaltender now, some experienced players (Jokinen, Thornton) and young players who can play well. I'd say their defense may be their Achilles's heal, but I expect them to at least be better than last year. Perhaps squeak in the bottom wild card slot.

In 3-4 years when the young defense is ready, Giroux will be 29-30 years old.

Giroux was involved for almost 40% (38.6) of all the Flyers goal scored this season. The rest of the team can play their buts off, but I think it is safe to say they would be a bottom 5 team in the league regardless this year. Or do you think B. Schenn or Lecavalier is ready for 1st line duty.

You are right finding a 1st line center is hard but the Flyers have shown a proficiency in drafting centers and they will have 8 picks, some probably pretty high, to get one.
- psuhockey

Giroux strikes me as the kind of player that will experience productive longevity.. like a MSL. The only core forward I was afraid would decline before the D kids arrived was Hartsy... and he's gone now.

In 3-4 years when the young defense is ready, Giroux will be 29-30 years old.

Giroux was involved for almost 40% (38.6) of all the Flyers goal scored this season. The rest of the team can play their buts off, but I think it is safe to say they would be a bottom 5 team in the league regardless this year. Or do you think B. Schenn or Lecavalier is ready for 1st line duty.

You are right finding a 1st line center is hard but the Flyers have shown a proficiency in drafting centers and they will have 8 picks, some probably pretty high, to get one.
- psuhockey

There is no guarantee that the young defense will be ready in 3-4 years. Which is why it's a bad plan to sit and wait for that, and to waste prime years of players such as Girox.