The Best GM in Philadelphia? Reflecting on Chuck Fletcher’s First Two Years With the Flyers
While watching D.K. Metcalf run circles around the Eagles defense on Monday night to the tune of 10 catches for 177 yards, it’s hard to not think about the harsh reality that Howie Roseman passed on the ascending wideout for mega bust J.J. Arcega-Whiteside.
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As Roseman catches a ton of heat for the Eagles’ incompetence, the same can be said for the Phillies’ leadership who haven’t produced a playoff team since 2011. Meanwhile, the Sixers seem to be turning a new leaf with new GM Daryl Morey, but it remains to be seen if the Sixers will be true competitors next season.
With so much ineptitude in the front offices of Philadelphia, it really shines a light on what Chuck Fletcher has done in his short time with the Flyers.
Though he’s been in office just under two years, Fletcher has quickly turned the Flyers into a team who claimed the one seed last season and was a game away from an appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Absolutely, there is still more work to be done before we can build Chuck Fletcher a statue outside the Wells Fargo Center, but let’s give him some credit for bringing some stability to a very tumultuous time for Philadelphia sports.
So, let’s look back at Fletcher’s short, but successful tenure as the Flyers’ general manager.
Coaching Decisions // Grade: A-
It was an obvious decision for Fletcher to make as the same problems continued to plague the Flyers for much of Hakstol’s tenure, but it was one that really allowed the Flyers to turn the page and get started on a new era (one where Andrew MacDonald isn’t playing top pairing minutes on the blue line).
With Hakstol gone, Fletcher had to make the right decision on the next coach of the Flyers and it seems he’s got it right with Alain Vigneault. We’ve only seen one season under AV, but it was easy to see that they were certainly a more organized, competitive team. Though the playoffs didn’t end the way we wanted, AV pushed the right buttons time and time again during the season.
Along with Vigneault, Fletcher brought in two former head coaches in Michel Therrien and Mike Yeo who brought even more experience behind the Flyers’ bench. Yeo helped the Flyers go from the 26th ranked penalty kill in 2019 to 11th in 2020. Meanwhile, Therrien helped the Flyers slightly improve on the powerplay during the regular season but it was tarnished by their historically bad postseason with the man advantage.
All in all, I’d say that Fletcher has done a pretty good job so far in bringing in the right coaches to help turn this Flyers team into a contender.
Niskanen for Gudas Trade // Grade: B+
Though the surprising retirement of Niskanen does put a damper on this trade, I’d still consider it a win for the Flyers.
Ultimately, it turned into a one-year rental for both teams as Niskanen is now retired and Gudas is now in Florida with the Panthers. Fletcher turned a second-pairing at best defender in Gudas for a top pairing player in Niskanen who helped Ivan Provorov turn in arguably his best season as a pro.
Gudas wasn’t a bad piece for the Capitals, but the Flyers got the all-around better player, even if it was just for a year.
Kevin Hayes Trade and Signing // Grade: A-
Will Kevin Hayes ever put up flashy offensive numbers? Probably not but his value to the Flyers goes so much deeper than that. While Hayes came with a hefty price tag at seven years, $50 million, it was crucial for Fletcher to finally find a capable 2C to play behind Couturier and he did just that.
In trying to find the right fit at 2C, Fletcher could have signed either Matt Duchene ($8 million AAV) or Joe Pavelski ($7 million AAV), but ultimately decided on Hayes. So far, it’s looked like the right choice as Hayes brings a more well-rounded game but scored just one point less than Duchene last season.
Though the contract likely won age well towards the end when Hayes is in his mid-30s, he played a huge role in the Flyers making major strides on the ice with his knack for timely goals and ability to play a 200-foot game.
Trading for Justin Braun // Grade: B-
Braun flew under-the-radar in his first season with the Flyers, and that’s a good thing. Braun was brought in to bring a veteran presence to the young Flyers’ defense and he did just that.
For the price of two picks, a 2nd in 2019 and a 3rd in 2020, Fletcher brought stability to the Flyers’ third-pairing. He was a key cog in the Flyers’ penalty kill and moved up and showed the ability to move around in the lineup as he played over 100 minutes with four other Flyers’ defenseman.
You really can’t ask for much more from a player like Braun. He killed penalties, blocked shots, and was a stable partner for the Flyers’ young d-men.
Drafting // Grade: B
Where Ron Hextall left off, Chuck Fletcher has continued the Flyers’ goof track record of drafting.
While we still need to see how these players translate to the NHL in a few years, we’ve already seen some serious potential from Fletcher’s first two draft classes.
The 2019 draft class saw Fletcher add Cam York, Bobby Brink, and Ronnie Attard to the Flyers prospect pool. York has quickly become one of the Big 10’s best defenseman at the University of Michigan while Brink posted 24 points in 28 games as a freshman.
Most of the 2020 draft class is yet to start their season, but the Flyers may have found a hidden gem in Eliot Desnoyers whose posted 25 points in 16 games with Halifax in the QMJHL.
It’s still early on, but the early signs look positive for the Flyers’ draft classes.
With so much for Philadelphia fans to be mad about, it’s nice that there’s at least a little bit of stability in Chuck Fletcher and the Flyers.
Featured Image: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
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