New York Rangers: Re-ranking the Metropolitan Division

Philadelphia Flyers

Record: 42 GP 19-15-8, 44 points

The Flyers bring up the rear in the Metropolitan Division. What they lack in goaltending and defense, they don’t make up in forward depth or absolute skill. From top to bottom, the Flyers tout a flawed lineup, however; it’s a lineup that can easily be fixed.

The Flyers have a good group of forwards, there’s no denying that. Led by Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek, and Wayne Simmonds, the Flyers’ forwards can keep up with best of them, but they simply haven’t been producing this season. The Flyers’ defense corps and goaltenders, on the other hand, leave much to be desired.

Breakout star Shayne Gostisbehere is in the middle of another great year, but he has no help on the blue line. The Flyers’ next best defenseman is a toss-up between lefties Andrew MacDonald and Ivan Provorov. The netminders in Philadelphia don’t give that group much room for error either. After letting Steve Mason go to Winnipeg, the Flyers’ brass put their trust in Brian Elliot and Michal Neuvirth. So far, the experiment has failed, as neither has performed at a high enough level.