Flyers Preview 2015-16

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Flyers hockey returns tonight! Here’s our Flyers preview, primer, whatever.

Personally, I haven’t been this excited for a Flyers season in years. Gone are the remnants of the Bullies mentality that has dragged the franchise into mediocrity.

Paul Holmgren is out! Berube is gone! Rinaldo, gone! Emergy, gone! Emery also just got cut from the Lightning.

Hextall is a man with a plan so how can you not be excited aboot the direction the Flyers are heading?

Dave Hakstol is the head coach. He’s a young, forward-thinker from outside the Flyers system. He’s not a Flyers lifer. He’s not a retread. He should bring energy and a much-needed faster and aggressive pace.

Hopefully the 3-on-3 overtime rule change will help cut down on shootouts. The Flyers were an abysmal 3-11 in shootouts.

The Flyers can’t get much worse on the road than last year’s 10 wins in 41 road games. I’m figuring the Flyers should have a better year just based on less shootouts and an improved road record.

Where  do the Flyers rank in preseason Power Rankings:
NESN.com – 23rd
FOX Sports – 21st
USA Today – 23rd
SI.com – 25th
TSN.ca – 23rd

Current Odds to win the Stanley Cup:

Chicago Blackhawks 15/2
Tampa Bay Lightning 8/1
Los Angeles Kings 10/1
Anaheim Ducks 11/1
New York Rangers 11/1
Pittsburgh Penguins 12/1
Minnesota Wild 14/1
St. Louis Blues 14/1
Washington Capitals 14/1
Nashville Predators 15/1
Montreal Canadiens 18/1
New York Islanders 22/1
Columbus Blue Jackets 25/1
Detroit Red Wings 25/1
Winnipeg Jets 27/1
Calgary Flames 30/1
Dallas Stars 35/1
Edmonton Oilers 35/1
Ottawa Senators 35/1
San Jose Sharks 35/1
Boston Bruins 40/1
Florida Panthers 45/1
Philadelphia Flyers 60/1
Colorado Avalanche 80/1
Buffalo Sabres 85/1
Vancouver Canucks 100/1
Carolina Hurricanes 100/1
New Jersey Devils 100/1
Toronto Maple Leafs 200/1
Arizona Coyotes 500/1

Odds to win the Eastern Conference:

Tampa Bay Lightning 13/4
New York Rangers 19/4
Montreal Canadiens 6/1
Pittsburgh Penguins 6/1
New York Islanders 7/1
Washington Capitals 17/2
Columbus Blue Jackets 12/1
Detroit Red Wings 12/1
Boston Bruins 19/1
Florida Panthers 19/1
Ottawa Senators 19/1
Philadelphia Flyers 25/1
Buffalo Sabres 45/1
Carolina Hurricanes 45/1
New Jersey Devils 45/1
Toronto Maple Leafs 90/1

Over/Under for total Flyers wins is 37.5 games. 

Steve Mason is a stud. He’s gonna have to stand on his head for the entire season if the Flyers are gonna make a run at the Playoffs with this Flyers defense in front of him. Unless Dave Hakstol is a miracle worker, the defense is gonna be weak until the young kids are ready to come up.

How do we get Vinny Lecavalier to retire?

The Hockey News has put together a list of best/worst possible headlines for each team’s 2015-16 season. Here is the Flyers:

PHILADELPHIA
BEST: Ron Hextall says he always knew Flyers were a playoff team on eve of first round
WORST: Head coach Dave Hakstol finds himself in over his head in NHL game

The reality is that the Flyers probably aren’t going to be a contender for the Playoffs. They are most likely a year away. However, if Mason plays out of his mind and Couturier and Brayden Schenn improve their scoring, the Playoffs might be a possibility.

Most experts and Vegas have the Flyers finishing 6th in the Division.

Regardless, it should be a fun season with a fresh system. This is about the future. Giroux, Voracek and Simmonds will do their thing, but the youngsters need to mature. They should be fun to watch. I actually saw one analytical breakdown giving the Flyers a 44% chance at making the Playoffs.

I’m putting my money on the over in Flyers wins!

And remember, with the Flyers comes Jim Jackson and his hair. If you haven’t read our piece about Jim Jackson’s hair do it now. He looks great with Bradley Cooper hair!

In Hextall and Hakstol I trust!

Thanks for reading and sharing.