On paper, the Philadelphia Flyers are making strides.
In the off-season, they acquired promising center Trevor Zegras and signed center Christian Dvorak and goalie Dan Vladar, and they plan to not be sellers – and stockpile more draft choices – at this season’s trade deadline.
“Now, we’re adding, and you only add when you think you have a shot to be in the playoff conversation,” Dan Hilferty, the Flyers’ governor, said at a news conference Wednesday at the team’s practice facility in Voorhees, N.J.
Keith Jones, the club president, said this year “feels a little bit different” than the start of recent seasons.
“We’re starting to progress,” he said. “Our players are continuing to move forward, and we’re doing everything we can to ensure that continues to happen. I feel really good about where Danny (Briere, the GM) has the team now and for the future. We’re a deeper team, and there’s way more options for our coaching staff.”
Jones said he believes younger players, such as Noah Cates, Bobby Brink, Tyson Foerster and Matvei Michkov, will continue to progress. He is also high on goalie Samuel Ersson, saying he’s a “big believer” in the goalie.
“He’s in a position, age wise, (to improve), and being pushed by the depth at the position is going to benefit him as well. I think Sam is going to stand up to the test this year.”
Ersson, who turns 26 on Oct. 20, is coming off a disappointing season where he recorded a 3.14 goals-against average and .883 save percentage. The Flyers finished last in the NHL in save percentage (.872) last year, according to naturalstattrick.com.
Hilferty was asked if the Flyers would consider bringing back Carter Hart, 27, if the NHL reinstates him. In July, Hart was found not guilty of a sexual-assault charge stemming from a Hockey Canada trial that also involved Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Cal Foote.
“At this point, we’re going to make no comment on that situation,” Hilferty said. “The NHL has made it clear they’ll speak first, and right now, we’re not prepared to comment at all on the Carter Hart situation.”
Besides better goaltending, the Flyers need Cam York to blossom and take on a major role.
Jones acknowledged that the defenseman had a disappointing year and said he thinks his game will “come back into a place it was two years ago.
“Last year wasn’t a great year for him, but I do believe he’s going to be a big part of our blueline.”
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