Flyers' forward grades and outlook for next season — Part 1

Share

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 1 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.

Claude Giroux

Regular Season:
 A+

Playoffs: D                 

As tremendous as Giroux was during the regular season, he was that much of a disappointment in the playoffs. Giroux finished with a career high in points and goals. The manner in which he carried the team on his back over the final month was some of the best hockey he’s ever played. However, Giroux was a minus-11 in Pittsburgh’s four playoff wins and the Flyers desperately needed their superstar against the Crosby-led Penguins. 

2018-19 outlook: Giroux has four more years at $8.275 million remaining on his eight-year contract. If he can replicate 2017-18, then he’ll prove to be more productive at left wing over the second half of his contract than the first four years. He can solidify his place as one of the franchise greats. 

Sean Couturier

Regular Season:
 A+ 
   
Playoffs: A-

There’s really not much else Couturier could have done this season as one of the best two-way forwards in the NHL. Perhaps the only criticism was his lack of goal scoring in the final two-plus months of the season (five goals over his final 32 games). Couturier racked up nine points in the five playoff games, and outside of a dismal Game 1, he was a plus-5 in the remainder of the series. Arguably, the most important and indispensable forward on the Flyers.          

2018-19 outlook: Couturier has four years remaining on his six-year, $26 million dollar deal he signed in 2015, which may be the biggest bargain in the NHL right now considering Coots has elevated himself as a No. 1 center and is comparable to Boston’s Patrice Bergeron. 

Jori Lehtera

Regular Season: 
D

Playoffs: D+

Spent the entire season in the Flyers’ bottom six playing mostly on the wing and finished with a career-low eight points in 62 games. Lehtera’s instincts and smart, veteran play just couldn’t compensate for his lack of foot speed. He did develop a chemistry playing alongside Filppula on the penalty kill and together they contributed a pair of shorthanded goals. 

2018-19 outlook: Has one season remaining at $4.7 million. GM Ron Hextall stated he doesn’t expect to buy out the final year of Lehtera’s contract.

Contact Us