As many fans talk about how the Eagles or Sixers are just a few pieces away from winning a title, many don’t realize that neither is the closest Philadelphia team to a title. The Flyers have taken the hockey world by storm this season and look to be the next ones up to bring a title back to the City of Brotherly Love. So much has gone into this revitalized team and many Philly fans were starting to slowly realize how good this team was before Corona shut everything down almost 2 months ago. I am just going to touch on a few things that have been the main catalysts in propelling the Flyers into Stanley Cup contention.

A New Leader:

The Flyers fired Dave Hakstol this past season after many years of disappointment from the team and frustrating results from the club. Philly did some searching and decided to bring in former New York Rangers coach Alain Vigneault or as many call him, AV. AV has helped bring in a new culture and style of hockey that is familiar to Philly fans. Their aggressive playstyle is music to fans’ ears as it returns to the roots of what made the Flyers so great in the first place over 40 years ago.

𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗹𝘆: Coach Alain Vigneault will be out of office during the @NHL Bye Week, sipping a martini(s) on a pontoon boat with limited access to email. For immediate assistance, feel free to tweet us. pic.twitter.com/d1OtAbxw6b

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) January 22, 2020

The mixture of this and allowing players like Travis Konecny and Claude Giroux to work their strengths when they feel fits is a perfect blend to successful hockey. Alain has always seemed to bring winning hockey almost immediately whenever he is brought to a new team and the Flyers are no exception here, rising up the Metro and looking to be solid Eastern Conference contenders getting better every day.

In their last 10 games, the Flyers were 9-1 and 1 point out of the lead in their division and just 3 points from the #2 seed in the entire East. Many were predicting the Flyers to be one of the likely finalists out of the east contending with teams like the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning and it looked like nothing could stop them. Then the virus obviously hit and we have been at a standstill since but it can’t help but hurt that a team riding a hot streak now has to wait while other teams regain their health and confidence. This will hurt them a bit when the season resumes but their play should continue to be close to the level it has been for the most part. If that is true then there is no doubt the Flyers will be heavy fighters in the playoffs.

A Mixture Of Generations:

A few components of this Flyers team are the reason they have become so successful and still will be in contention for several years to come are their mixture of youth and veterans and the incredible goaltending they now have. The Flyers have a veteran leadership of Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek, and Kevin Hayes amongst others. These players have been dominant on the ice for the Flyers and have been producing efficiently in the last years of their primes.

Claude Giroux is a savage 😂😱 pic.twitter.com/HbQq4bilnT

— Gino Hard (@Ginohard_) November 10, 2019

While they are on their way out soon, there’s new blood to help make sure the Flyers are still around for the next several years. Travis Konecny and Ivan Provorov have led the youth side of the Flyers game this season as both have anchored the scoring and defense sides of the puck respectively. With players like this, they are sure to continue to have a bright future ahead of them. Looking back this team reminds me of the 2010 Finals squad and the blend that they had as well and I think the 2020 group has a leg up on them for one major reason, the goaltending.

In Hart We Trust:

For the first time, it seems in my lifetime the Flyers have a franchise goalie. Carter Hart is only 21 and looks to be the future of the Philadelphia Flyers. Hart is the best young goaltender in the NHL and is currently one of the best at such a young age it is incredible. Hart was brought up to the majors last season and has continued to get better every day and looks to be the one who was promised for the Flyers.

Carter Hart… that is beyond sick. pic.twitter.com/zXElwF5TwP

— NHL (@NHL) January 8, 2019

Having Hart in net adds so much to Philly that they really have not had since the likes of Ron Hextall and they have been doing everything they can to help build around him. Giving him an incredible defensive core that is young is going to help him out very much and show that nothing will be able to get past them on any given game. Without Hart, I think this team is in a much worse state and his play really helps tie everything together for the Flyers. 

I think many including myself are just waiting and hoping that the NHL will resume as soon as they can and the Flyers can return to their dominance. They have all the pieces they need to succeed currently and for several years to come.