Flyers Mailbag: Questions ahead of training camp

Dave Isaac | The Courier-Post

Summer is nearing a close, which means it's back-to-school time. While classrooms will ease into the new year there are big tests coming already on the ice.

Soon.

There are jobs to be won and auditions are on the horizon. Some players are already in town taking informal skates with the Flyers' development coaches. In an official capacity, rookies will be on the ice Sept. 10 and veterans four days later.

The mailbag got pretty full in the dog days of summer so let's see what's inside. As always, participate by using the #FlyersMailbag hashtag on Twitter.

@JonBrodo: How does Couts’ absence affect line combos for training camp / preseason? Do they practice with the presumed Line2 of JVR - Patrick - Voracek? Move Patrick up to Line 1? #FlyersMailbag

I'm not sure it will have a huge effect. In essence, Sean Couturier is supposed to miss the first couple preseason games with a knee injury, but can be on the ice in a non-contact role from the onset of camp. The team believes he'll be ready somewhere around the second half so he can participate in the last couple exhibition games and is confident he'll be ready when the regular season opens, so it wouldn't surprise me if they practice with him as the top-line center (even if it means no contact) every day.

To answer the other question, yes, I think James van Riemsdyk, Nolan Patrick and Jake Voracek will be the second line.

WATCH: Notable Flyers offseason moves Here's a look at how the 2018-19 Flyers are different from last season's squad.

@BrianG1202: What do you think happens with all the goalies the Flyers have? #FlyersMailbag

I was listening to the latest episode of Jason Myrtetus' Stick 2 Hockey Podcast with Russ Cohen and Russ mentioned something I hadn't considered. What if Alex Lyon outplays the oft-injured Michal Neuvirth in training camp?

General manager Ron Hextall made it clear he didn't like that his goalie tandem was disrupted by one player (Neuvirth) constantly getting hurt, saying back in April, “It can be disruptive, for sure. That hurt us this year for sure.”

Lyon went 4-2-1 in seven starts and was pretty good in mop-up duty. The Flyers didn't clinch a playoff spot until their last game, so they needed all of Lyon's wins to get them there, but it still doesn't seem likely that the Flyers waive Neuvirth and potentially lose him for nothing. If they did, it would at least take care of their numbers problem. They have five goalies and four spots.

It looks like they want Brian Elliott to be the starter, but maybe not play in 16 straight games and 24 out of 25 like he did last season from mid-November to early-January.

There's also phenom Carter Hart, who will almost surely start in the American Hockey League, and Anthony Stolarz, who had essentially all of last season wiped out due to injury. A trade would probably be the best for the Flyers — likely involving one of Stolarz, Lyon or Neuvirth because Elliott is a big part of the leadership group and Hart is the future — but they have to find a partner to help them with their numbers problem.

@Se101at: Who do you think is the most important player on the team right now? In other words, who would be the worst Flyer to lose to injury this year? #Flyersmailbag

I like this question, but I think I have a different answer after you clarified. On the surface, Claude Giroux is the most important player because he's the straw that stirs the drink. He's coming off a career season and is a huge reason why Couturier did, too. The Flyers tried to keep him off the penalty kill, but they were so poor that they had to use him, so he's essential for both sides of special teams and even strength.

When the question becomes the worst player to lose to injury, the No. 1 defenseman is the first one that comes to mind. Last season the Flyers' defense looked completely out of sorts any time any blueliner was out of the lineup due to injury, even the much maligned Andrew MacDonald. Ivan Provorov has been very durable in his young career, but the Flyers' defense isn't strong enough to overcome a loss of him.

@whalers44: #FlyersMailbag does Nic Aube-Kubel make the team out of camp?

I don't see a spot for him when I look at the depth chart right now, but it sounds like he's close to NHL ready. Lehigh Valley Phantoms coach Scott Gordon lauded him quite a bit last season as it seemed things really connected for him. He might be a pretty good bottom-six forward in the NHL, but multiple suspensions last season for hits to the head certainly don't help his cause with the deck stacked against him in camp.

@jamsmand: What’s it gotta take for Dave Hakstol to earn trust and win fans over? #FlyersMailbag

Probably the ultimate result: a Stanley Cup.

What turns most fans off to Hakstol, from what I've gathered, is his process. He's not an outgoing big personality so it's not like he's going to win them over with sound bytes or his demeanor. Many fans want to get on him for usage of young players, but last season every young player got better with the exception of Taylor Leier, who never really got a fair shot. Hakstol has had a short leash with rookies and tried to shelter them, but it seemed to work.

Nolan Patrick finished much better than he started and same for Travis Konecny, Shayne Gostisbehere and Travis Sanheim (although Sanheim would have benefitted from playing through mistakes and didn't always get that chance).

@GraverMatt: Any chance a vet comes in on a PTO? #FlyersMailbag

The Flyers explored that possibility but it sounds like they ultimately opted against it. At least for now.

@BigE_17: Will this be the time during a playoff push Hextall makes a move at the deadline, or does he stay the course with who we have? #FlyersMailbag

Depends on how the playoff race looks, I'd guess, and who the rental is and at what cost. If the argument is that Hextall doesn't pick up the bat and take a swing, signing the second-richest deal on July 1 had to quell that at least a little bit, right?

He may have a process, but this summer showed he's graduated past the portion of sitting and waiting.

@Venoot_TheBrute: What’s your best guess for the Flyers opening night lineup #FlyersMailbag

Sure, let's finish off with a couple of predictions.

Forwards

Claude Giroux, Sean Couturier, Travis Konecny

James van Riemsdyk, Nolan Patrick, Jake Voracek

Oskar Lindblom, Jordan Weal, Wayne Simmonds

Michael Raffl, Scott Laughton, Dale Weise

Taylor Leier, Jori Lehterä

Defensemen

Ivan Provorov & Shayne Gostisbehere

Travis Sanheim & Radko Gudas

Robert Hägg & Andrew MacDonald

Christian Folin

Goalies

Brian Elliott

Michal Neuvirth

@afern_alex: What is your WAY TOO EARLY 2018-19 Flyers standings season prediction? #FlyersMailbag

At least on paper, this team is better than it was last season. The New York Islanders made themselves worse and the Rangers are in the midst of a rebuild. The Carolina Hurricanes don't seem to have much of a direction yet either, so they're all out. I think the Flyers can finish second or third in the Metropolitan Division, which has now claimed the last three championships.

Last season they were 42-26-14 for 98 points. I'll predict 45-25-11 for 101 points.

Dave Isaac; @davegisaac; 856-486-2479; disaac@gannett.com

UPCOMING DATES

Rookie camp: Sept. 10

Training camp: Sept. 14

Preseason opener: Sept. 16, 1 p.m., at New York Islanders

Regular-season opener: Oct. 4, 10 p.m., at Vegas Golden Knights