Rich Nixon
No Prior Knowledge of "Flyers"
Mine are mostly relative to expectations and capabilities, but that only really impacts the bottom two:
Provorov playing basically the best hockey of his young career. Back on track after some really ugly stretches last season, a minute-eating all-scenarios 1D who is scoring more than many probably expected he would.
Niskanen is a big reason why Provorov is playing as such. Stability and intelligence. Always in the right place.
Sanheim biiiiiiiiiig leap this year. Still has some down stretches (still a really young player) but he can carry a pairing in both ends of the ice, which I don't think you could've said previously.
Myers is the unicorn. Youthful mistakes are a theme here, and he hasn't always been on this year, but when he is...what a beaut. Huge, excellent skater, ridiculously strong, good stick work, great one-on-one and on the boards, nice shot, good passing instincts. If he settles in and keeps his brain on when he plays, we end up with Parayko Lite.
Braun as expected. Can skate. Can defend. Can hit and be hit. Can ice the puck. Can't shoot. Reliable, and reliably useful yet unremarkable.
Hagg is the least-talented player on the team, but he's played his best hockey, particularly of late. Nothing more than a run-of-the-mill third pairing defensive defenseman, but when he's playing a tight game and not making many mistakes he's passable at that. He's been quite sharp by his usual standard.
Gostisbehere hasn't been bad. He also hasn't been Gostisbehere. Or anything else, really. Is he a better hockey player than Hagg and Braun? He should be. But when his offense isn't working you kinda wonder what the point is--his defense is solid, but the boy's shot and passing instincts seem like he pawned them. Nothing on net. Always sees the open man two ticks too late. Kills more possessions than he creates. Just broken.
Provorov playing basically the best hockey of his young career. Back on track after some really ugly stretches last season, a minute-eating all-scenarios 1D who is scoring more than many probably expected he would.
Niskanen is a big reason why Provorov is playing as such. Stability and intelligence. Always in the right place.
Sanheim biiiiiiiiiig leap this year. Still has some down stretches (still a really young player) but he can carry a pairing in both ends of the ice, which I don't think you could've said previously.
Myers is the unicorn. Youthful mistakes are a theme here, and he hasn't always been on this year, but when he is...what a beaut. Huge, excellent skater, ridiculously strong, good stick work, great one-on-one and on the boards, nice shot, good passing instincts. If he settles in and keeps his brain on when he plays, we end up with Parayko Lite.
Braun as expected. Can skate. Can defend. Can hit and be hit. Can ice the puck. Can't shoot. Reliable, and reliably useful yet unremarkable.
Hagg is the least-talented player on the team, but he's played his best hockey, particularly of late. Nothing more than a run-of-the-mill third pairing defensive defenseman, but when he's playing a tight game and not making many mistakes he's passable at that. He's been quite sharp by his usual standard.
Gostisbehere hasn't been bad. He also hasn't been Gostisbehere. Or anything else, really. Is he a better hockey player than Hagg and Braun? He should be. But when his offense isn't working you kinda wonder what the point is--his defense is solid, but the boy's shot and passing instincts seem like he pawned them. Nothing on net. Always sees the open man two ticks too late. Kills more possessions than he creates. Just broken.