There is no denying that the Philadelphia Flyers 2020-2021 season was very disappointing. After a lot of promise prior to the Covid shutdown in February and March of 2020, as well as a bit of a playoff run in the bubble, the Flyers were considered by many to be a team that had a chance to lift the cup this past season. Clearly, that was not the case, so the entire roster needs to be reassessed. This will be the first of a series of articles detailing what I believe to be each player’s letter grade based on their individual performance from this past season. Only players that played in a minimum of 10 games will be included (sorry Morgan Frost, your time will come). Each player’s grade is based on selected season statistics such as points and +/-, the eye test, and comparison to past season performances for all non-rookies. The letter grading scale is the classic A+ through F. (all statistics from hockey-reference.com)
Claude Giroux (#28, F)
54 GP, 16 G, 27 A, 43 Pts, -4 +/-
Grade: B+
After a very uninspiring playoff performance last year in the bubble, Giroux’s struggles to get on the scoresheet continued into the beginning of this season. The slow start and the overall performance of the team (considering he’s the captain) are the reasons for G not receiving an A grade for the season. Once G found his stride, he was one of the only bright spots on an overall underachieving team. In some games, G seemed like the only guy on the ice in orange and black hustling, working, and at least attempting to create. He had the best faceoff percentage of his career this season at 59.6%, an astounding number. Although he was -4 for the season, poor defense and goaltending throughout the year can take some of the blame. I firmly believe that G is one of the best players in Flyers history and one of the best players of this generation, and it is a shame the organization has had so little success in his tenure as captain.
Jake Voracek (#93, F)
53 GP, 9 G, 34 A, 43 Pts, -12 +/-
Grade: B
Although there were no fans in the Wells Fargo Center for a significant portion of the season, “SHOOT!!!” could be heard ringing around households in the Philadelphia area watching Jake yet again this season. However, he created quite a bit with 34 assists, nine goals in 53 games, a low number for a guy who is routinely on the top lines and powerplay units. This is the second year in a row Jake has struggled a bit to light the lamp, after only scoring 12 times in 69 games in the 19-20 season. After having a +/- of +14 in the 19-20 season, Jake had a -12 this year, a significant drop from one year to the next. Usually, a lack of scoring (and just shooting in general) paired with a poor +/- would lead to a poor season player grade, but his assist total means he was able to create enough to somewhat make up for his lack of scoring, landing him on a B grade for the season in my mind.
Sean Couturier (#14, F)
45 GP, 18 G, 23 A, 41 Pts, -4 +/-
Grade: B+
Coming off a Selke winning season, expectations for Coots were high going into this year. His early injury had something to do with the beginning of the team collapse this season, as I firmly believe he is the most important player to this roster and a potential future captain. When playing, Coots scored quite a bit with 18 goals in 45 games, which was his best career goals/game percentage. Pairing with an impressive faceoff win percentage of 56.9% would usually lead to a solid A grade for the season, but a massive drop in +/- from 2 years ago to this past season (+21 to -4) was a big problem for the Flyers. Although that has a lot to do with poor defending and goaltending, a Selke winner from the year before needs to have a better +/- ratio. We’ve seen what Coots can do when fully healthy, and expectations to perform at a Selke level should remain for next year. For now, a B+ in a shortened and somewhat injury-plagued season for Coots seems fair.
NHL Stats, History, Scores, & Records. Hockey Reference. (n.d.). https://www.hockey-reference.com/.
