What If: The Flyers Could Add a Few Legends for the 2020 Lineup
The first-ever virtual entry draft is over, the free-agent frenzy has quieted down quite a bit although there still are some good names out there looking for a new home.
Things may change for the Philadelphia Flyers over the course of the next few days or even weeks as GM Chuck Fletcher works the phones for trade and/or new free-agent signing.
It’s no secret that the Flyers still have a few holes in their lineup, mostly created by free-agent departures of Derek Grant, Tyler Pitlick, Nate Thompson, and the sudden retirement of top-pairing defenseman Matt Niskanen. The return to play of Oskar Lindblom will definitely be an upgrade and Nolan Patrick is on the right track and seems to be on course for a return to action at the start of the next season.
I don’t think anyone would argue that Lindblom and Patrick is an upgrade at wing and center. They also signed UFA defenseman Erik Gustafsson, but I don’t think he’ll be as impactful as Matt Niskanen was to the team, nor do I think he’s a top 4 defenseman.
Let’s play the “What If” game…
“What If” the Flyers could use their time machine and bring back one Flyers legend, in their prime, at each position? Which ones would they bring back and what impact would it have on today’s roster?
What If, The Flyers Could Bring in Legendary Center: Eric Lindros
I may get a whole lot of hate for this one, but if the Flyers can bring in a legendary center to today’s lineup, I’d have to go with the Big E, Eric Lindros. I know, I know, many of you would have picked Bobby Clarke and he would have been a great choice as well. I just think that in today’s NHL, Eric Lindros would have a bigger impact due to his size, physical strength, and the countless ways he could change the outcome of a game.
Now, imagine having Lindros as your number 1 center, dropping Selke trophy winner Sean Couturier to 2ndline center, Kevin Hayes as your 3rd center, and Nolan Patrick as your number 4. Now that would be one of the biggest most intimidating groups of centers I can ever remember.
Konecny next to Lindros would likely pull a “John LeClair” and immediately become a 50-goal scorer. Lindros would create so much room for TK, that his natural scoring skill would become more evident than ever. The Flyers would also immediately become a much bigger team, and that much tougher to play against.
There’s no question Lindros would be the PERFECT fit for today’s lineup.
What If, The Flyers Could Bring in Legendary Winger: Tim Kerr
Can you imagine the Flyers with a pure goal-scoring winger on its top line? One that scores at higher goals per game pace than Alex Ovechkin does. One who till this day, more than 30 years later, still holds multiple team offensive records, including powerplay goals in a season, most 50-goal seasons, most consecutive 50-goal seasons, most goals in a game, most goals in a season, fastest 4 goals in a game etc, etc, etc… point is, the Flyers instantly get a HUGE offensive upgrade. Heck, with Tim Kerr in his prime, playing on a line with Eric Lindros and Travis Konecny, I’d put a bet on him scoring 75 goals in a season. The Flyers would also have a top 3 or 4 powerplay in the NHL just by adding Tim Kerr’s scoring prowess to the team.
No one in Flyers history had a better nose for the net than Tim Kerr did. Tim Kerr would be the recipient of multiple Rocket Richard Trophies given to the NHL’s top goal scorer ever season. Opposing players would have to put so much emphasis on stopping that top line (yeah, good luck with that) that it would open up the game for the Couturier, Giroux, Voracek line and the Hayes / Lindblom / Laughton line would instantly become one of the top 3rd lines in the entire NHL.
What If, The Flyers Could Bring in Legendary Defenseman: Chris Pronger
There is no denying that the Flyers have one of the most talented group of young defensemen either already in the NHL or up and coming with the likes of Ivan Provorv, Travis Sanheim, Phillip Myers, Cam York, Igor Zamula… the list goes on and on. Now imagine adding one of the meanest, nastiest defensemen to ever play the game, in the prime of his career. The 6’6” 220lbs monster known as Chris Pronger, is the prototypical “bad-ass” defenseman. Imagine him on the top pairing with Ivan Provorov… that my friends would have me drooling. Or maybe have Pronger with Sanheim and Provy with Myers?
No one would get anywhere near the Flyers net. The Flyers would instantly have the top 1 or 2 defenses in all of hockey and would have multiple Norris Trophy candidates year after year. God, I miss seeing Chris Pronger back there.
What If, The Flyers Could Bring in Legendary Goalie: Bernie Parent
There’s absolutely no doubt about this one. The answer is Bernie Parent. That’s not to say that I would cast Carter Hart aside. On the contrary, who better for Carter Hart to split time with than Bernie Parent? At the tender age of 22, I’d have Hart play about half the season and Parent play the other half. Parent, who is not only a Flyers legend but an NHL legendary Hall of Famer, would take Hart under his wing and with all due respect to Brian Elliott, Parent is on another planet in terms of talent and guidance he can offer Hart. Parent’s playoff success, NHL records he’s held and just his overall presence would greatly benefit the young Hart. I salivate at the thought of having a Bernie Parent / Carter Hart goaltending tandem.
While playing the “What If” game is really fun and exciting, you realize that the Flyers are still a few pieces away from winning that Stanley Cup. While there is little to no chance of GM Chuck Fletcher finding an Eric Lindros, or Tim Kerr or Chris Pronger via trade or free-agent signings, here’s hoping that Lindblom and Patrick can return to 100% healthy status and that guys like Nic Aube-Kubel and Joel Farabee can take the next step in their development. The Flyers also need guys like Frost and Sandin to step in and have an immediate impact on the team for them to be successful.
So, Flyers fans…Who you adding?
Featured Image: Inquirer.com
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