The Philadelphia Flyers have high expectations coming into this season, and for good reason. Last season, their first under new coach Dave Hakstol, the Flyers rode a 12-5-3 record from March 1 onward to a wild-card playoff berth, falling in six games to the Washington Capitals in the first round.
One reason for their solid play in the second half of the season was the emergence of Shayne Gostisbehere. In his first full season, he was the Flyers’ top-scoring blueliner, and led the league in points, goals and assists by a rookie defenseman. Gostisbhere was rewarded for his outstanding debut by finishint as the runner-up in the Calder Trophy voting to the Blackhawks’ Artemi Panarin.