Over the next several days, we’ll evaluate the Flyers at each position, give a regular season and postseason grade and provide an outlook for their roster status for the 2018-19 season. Next up, Part 2 of the forwards:
After evaluating goaltending and the defense, we turn our attention to the Flyers’ forwards, one of the deepest groups under coach Dave Hakstol and a group that produced nine double-digit scorers in 2017-18.
Jake Voracek
Regular Season: B+
Playoffs: C
Voracek was a force for most of the season as he also established a career high with 85 points. He occasionally makes the high-risk play of skating into traffic and losing the puck that results in an odd-man rush, but there are few power forwards who possess his drive and ability to dig out pucks along the boards. Voracek’s play in the six-game series seemed to mirror the Flyers’ effort as a team. Noticeable during the wins, absent in the losses.
2018-19 outlook: Has six years remaining on an eight-year, $66 million contract that went into effect last season.
Wayne Simmonds
Regular Season: C+
Playoffs: B-
We’re now familiar with the numerous ailments that Simmonds was dealing with throughout the course of the season. Defensively, Simmonds experienced his shortcomings as well, failing to pick up coverages and troubles clearing the zone. As a result, he finished with a team-worst minus-16 rating. Against the Penguins he had spurts of solid play and appeared to get stronger as the series moved along.
NHL
2018-19 outlook: Entering the final season of a six-year, $23.8 million deal he signed in 2012. Simmonds is eligible to sign an extension that would kick in at the age of 31. However, he could be the subject of trade talks over the summer as the Flyers look to free up cap space and lock up some of their younger free agents after next season.
Scott Laughton
Regular Season: B-
Playoffs: B+
Laughton came out of the gates strong centering the “honey bee” line with Taylor Leier and Michael Raffl. Defensively, Laughton started to slip over the second half of the season, with a minus-13 after Jan. 1. However, Laughton responded nicely, playing the left wing in the playoff series against Pittsburgh, scoring a goal in the Game 6 clincher. If he’s not a fourth-line center, wing may be where Laughton begins next season.
2018-19 outlook: Has one more year remaining at $962,000.
Valtteri Filppula
Regular Season: C-
Playoffs: C+
Filppula was moved up and down the lineup from a second line center to the fourth line. Positionally, he's always in the right place, but he clearly lost a step and was often outmuscled by the opponent’s top lines. Filppula had one tremendous game filling in for Sean Couturier on the top line in the Flyers’ Game 5 victory, but throughout the six-game series, Filppula’s line was one the Penguins tried to exploit.
2018-19 outlook: He’s an unrestricted free agent and Filppula will likely test the market on July 1. The Flyers like his leadership and versatility, but bringing him back as a third line center would be a big mistake.