Philadelphia Flyers: October Grades

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The Philadelphia Flyers ended October with a 6-4-1 record through eleven games. Averaging 3.46 goals per game, the Flyers' offense is ranked fourth overall. Defensively, the Flyers averaged 2.82 goals against per game, which ranks them 12th overall.

All in all, it was a good October for the Flyers. That said, there are many fans who feel the Flyers came up a bit short of expectations. Like many NHL teams, the Flyers have been the victim of injuries, but Flyers fans don’t accept excuses like that.

The early loss of defensemen Ryan Parent and Forward Blair Betts hurt the Flyers in the grit department and, more recently, the loss of forward Simon Gagne poses some problems for the Flyers going forward.

Highlighted by a three-game winning streak and a three-game losing streak, the 4-1 loss to the Florida Panthers sticks out as the Flyers' worst game and the Flyers' 6-5 win over the Washington Capitals serves as the highlight.

Head coach John Stevens has not escaped criticism, as many fans still believe Stevens’ low-key/soft-spoken approach to coaching is not ideal for this team. For now, Flyers management seems content on staying the course with Stevens, at least for now.

Without further adieu, let’s take a look a the Flyers roster and how each player performed in October.

The Honor roll: James Van Riemsdyk- A

This Rookie forward has impressed. His two goals and eight assists through nine games ranks him fourth overall on a very offensively gifted team. His plus +4 rating is third best, proving JVR can get it done in all areas.

The Honor Roll: Matt Carle- A

With two goals and 10 assists through eleven games, Carle’s 12 points ties him for the team lead in scoring with Mike Richards. Carle’s plus-nine rating leads the team and his low penalty minutes (eight) show he is playing a very responsible game.

The Honor roll: Chris Pronger- A

Struggled at times, but has emerged as the Flyers go-to defenseman. His Two goals and seven assists ranks him fifth overall in team scoring, while his plus +6 rating ranks him second on the team. Outside of the numbers, Pronger brings a physical element that is second to none, making it very difficult for forwards to penetrate the Flyers zone.

Head Of The Class: Mike Richards- B+

Leads the team in scoring with six goals and six assists. That said, Richards has struggled five-on-five with only two goals and his minus-two rating is not flattering. Look for Richards to have a strong November. As good as he has been, both in the checking and grit department, Richards needs to be better.

Head Of The Class: Jeff Carter- B

Jeff Carter (B): Four goals and seven assists ranks Carter third in points. He leads the team with 54 shots, but with a paltry 7.4 shooting percentage, he needs to be more choosy. Like Richards, Carter has been good, but will need to be better.

Teacher’s Pet: Scott Hartnell- B

Three goals, five assists, and eight points equates to a good month for Hartnell. His ability to play tough in all zones is well-documented, as is his competition level. There are a few players on the Flyers who could learn a thing or two from Hartnell, whose actions speak louder than words.

Teacher’s Pet: Ray Emery- B

Through 10 games, Ray Emery has a 6-3-1 record with a 2.46 goals against average and a .915 save percentage. He has struggled at times, given up five goals on back-to-back games against the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins, and looked weak against the Capitals in their second meeting. The Flyers will live and die with Emery, hopefully he is more consistent in November.

Teacher’s pet: Claude Giroux- B-

Has had moments of brilliance, his future looks very promising. Four points through eleven games does not tell the full story. Giroux has been very creative on the ice and, at times, has dominated the play. Should get an increased roll now that Simon Gagne is injured.

Teacher’s Pet: Daniel Briere- C+

With five goals, seven points and an ugly minus-five rating through 10 games, Briere has been good, but not great. There are great expectations for Briere, he will need to be better.

Teacher’s Pet: Arron Asham- C+

With three goals through eight games, the diminutive tough-guy has seemingly found his scoring touch. Nobody expects Asham to keep this pace, but his efforts in October are duly noted.

Teacher’s Pet: Ian Laperriere- C+

What you see is what you get with Laperriere. His ability to grind and get the puck out of the corner is invaluable and his work ethic is solid. His is a dirty job and, thus far, he has done it well.

Teacher’s Pet: Darroll Powe- C

Three goals in 11 games and a minus-three rating makes Powe a decent addition to the Flyers' third/fourth line. He could be better defensively.

Teacher's Pet: Danny Syvret- C

Has been solid on the back-end. He has a minus-one rating through nine games, which, judging by the Flyers' other defensemen's ratings, is pretty good. His simple, defense-first game is a welcomed addition to the Flyers lineup.

Teacher’s Pet: Ole-Kristian Tollefson- C

Through six games, Ole has two assists and a plus-two rating. He filled in nicely while Parent was out.

Back Of The Bus: Kimmo Timonen- C-

He has eight points through 11 games, but his team-worst minus-eight ating is alarming. He must simplify his game in his own zone and make better decisions defensively.

Back Of The Bus: Daniel Carcillo- C-

Seems to get the nod over Riley Cote most nights. Has limited his fighting but still plays a physical game. The Flyers would love to see him light the lamp more often, but that’s not why he is out there—is it?

Back Of The Bus: Braydon Coburn- C-

He has three goals and five points through 11 games, but much like Timonen, has struggled defensively. Coburn will have to tighten up his game or coach Stevens may be forced to shorten his bench.

Back Of The Bus: Mika Pyorala- D

Still looking for his first NHL goal, but for the most part Pyorala has been invisible, which is exactly what the Flyers want from him. Pyorala is a plus-three on a team full of minus players, so his contribution has been decent thus far.

Sick Note: Simon Gagne- C-

Gagne was just starting to hit his stride when he got injured. Gagne’s return is unknown and his loss will be tough for the Flyers to replace. Then again, with Gagne’s injury history, this is status quo for the Flyers.

Sick Note: Blair Betts- C-

Sidelined with a shoulder injury, it is hard to get a true read on Betts. He played 13:02 against the Carolina Hurricanes. His face-off abilities are underrated.

In Detention: Riley Cote- F

With only three games played, Cote has seemingly fallen into coach Steven’s doghouse. He needs to bring more to the table than just his fighting abilities. Simply put, Cote needs to play a more determined/controlled game if he intends on being in the lineup on a regular basis.