Having a deep pool of hungry, young options spread throughout a roster is what separates the good organizations from the bad ones. The Flyers, while they have struggled at times to develop high-end superstars, have already amassed a good amount of bottom-pair and bottom-six options who have actual upside and lineup versatility. While it’s not the sexiest process in the world, it does give the Flyers some options within house to try and switch things up if John Tortorella sees fit, (which he usually does).
These players are asked to play a specific role, and while they may still have some potential to become something more, they have to do the little things right, whether it be killing penalties, blocking shots, or getting aggressive on the forecheck.
Ryan Poehling
What did we see from Poehling last season?
Ryan Poehling proved himself to be one of the more dependable players in the Flyers bottom-six last year. In his first season as a Flyer, Poehling played 77 games, putting up a career-high 28 points and earning the trust of John Tortorella.
Poehling’s career hasn’t necessarily reached the heights of his hat-trick NHL debut in 2019, but he found a home in Philly after being let go by the Penguins. He was a big piece of a Flyers’ penalty killing unit that was always a threat to score, chipping in three shorthanded goals of his own. Poehling was a nuisance on the forecheck, and showed a willingness to get dirty in the corners and win puck battles.
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