Quick Hits: May 26, 2021
1) I wrote a deep-dive analysis for the Flyers' website of what wrong with the team's penalty kill -- which slipped dramatically this season from an 81.8 percent success rate and 11th-overall ranking in 2019-20 to a 73.1 percent rate this season and 30th ranking among the NHL's 31 teams. This was one big component among a larger overarching decline from a 7th overall ranking in team goals against average in 2019-20 to the NHL's worst team GAA and lowest team save percentage in 2020-21.
The article will run in the next day or two on the website.
2) Flyers assistant coach Mike Yeo was a guest on Jason Myrtetus' "Flyers Daily" podcast on the Flyers Broadcast Network as part of a series of interviews with the Flyers' assistant coaching staff. An interview with goalie coach Kim Dillabaugh will be posted today. Last week, there were episodes featuring Ian Laperriere and Michel Therrien.
Yeo, who coaches the defense and penalty kill, addressed a variety of issues that he felt affected the team this season (applicable to many different areas, including the penalty kill) and what needs to happen to get back on track during the offseason and next year. Several of his comments from the interview are incorporated into the PK article.
"We intend to build a Stanley Cup winning team. To do that, there are things that have to happen. It doesn't just happen because of talent. Every team in this league today is loaded with talent. Basically what it comes down to is that our commitment level has to be higher on the ice and off the ice," Yeo said.
"What we demand of ourselves in the commitment to how we play the game, with and without the puck. These are the things we'll be focused on as we check in with the players over the course of the summer and from Day 1 of training camp. We'll have the opportunity to have a regular camp next year with exhibition games. The irony is that we actually had a good start this year [record wise] but we weren't able to maintain it. Next season, we have to have a good plan in place to get off to a good start then continue to build through the course of the season."
The Flyers significant improvements from 2018-19 to 2019-20 were what essentially bought the entire coaching staff -- head coach Alain Vigneault and his assistants -- an opportunity to show they can get the team back on track next season after the sharp, nearly across-the-board disappointments from 2020-21. That leeway only goes so far, however. There are also areas where general manager Chuck Fletcher undeniably fell short last offseason; replacing Matt Niskanen and, in hindsight, assessing the readiness of young players who were expected to take on bigger roles in 2020-21 being the two most glaring areas where the Flyers fell short before the puck dropped.
The entire organization has a lot of work to do this summer.
3) Today in Flyers History: On May 26, 1987, the Flyers overcame deficits of 2-0 and 3-1 to earn a 4-3 regulation win in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers. The series returned to Philadelphia with the Oilers leading, three games to two.