Kevin Durso

Last week, the hockey world was rattled by the firing of Barry Trotz by the New York Islanders. As the Flyers coaching search continues, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported in his 32 Thoughts column that Trotz is a “top candidate” of the Flyers.

The Flyers finished with the fifth overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft following the two draft lottery drawings.

Does the entry of Barry Trotz into the coaching free agent market change things for the Flyers? There are cases for both answers.

The problem with each of these possibilities is that they are rooted in hope. Hope that the injured players return as advertised and stay healthy. Hope the young players take that big step everyone has waited for. Hope that you can perhaps manufacture some hockey trades or free-agent signings to plug in the holes that the team is lacking for speed and skill and make it all work.

Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher held his end-of-season availability on Tuesday, first confirming that Mike Yeo would not be returning as head coach of the team. He also discussed the meaning of an “aggressive retool,” how youth factors into the future, and some injury updates.

According to a report from ESPN and NHL Network’s Kevin Weekes, the Flyers will “move on” from Mike Yeo in a head coaching role.

It wasn’t all that noteworthy to hear players speak of the frustrations of the season, the losing streaks and such that made this a historically bad season for the Flyers. There were a few players that addressed it in a way that rang through louder than others.

The offseason will present its challenges for a team in need of an overhaul and massive improvements at every level of the organization. There will be plenty of stories to come as next season’s team is constructed. For now, here’s one last look at the 2021-22 season with five takeaways from the season.

The Ottawa Senators scored three times in the third period to hand the Flyers one final loss on the season by a score of 4-2, giving the Orange and Black a 25-46-11 record to finish the season.

Noah Cates scored two goals and Morgan Frost had the other in a 4-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins at Wells Fargo Center.

The Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins face off on Sunday afternoon in the penultimate game from Wells Fargo Center this season.

For the Flyers, multiple young players helped snap a six-game losing streak in a 6-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens.

Like the Flyers, the Montreal Canadiens come into Thursday’s game with losses in six straight games.

Toronto got a goal late in the second period on a counter-rush to take a two-goal lead and never looked back, handing the Flyers a sixth straight loss by a score of 5-2 on Tuesday night. 

Facing the Toronto Maple Leafs, a team already playoff bound and in position to potentially host a first-round series, should help in the Flyers pursuit of a lottery pick. The Flyers enter Tuesday’s game having lost five straight games.

The latest misstep for the Flyers organization surfaced on Monday, as Anthony SanFilippo of CrossingBroad.com reported that Director of Medical Services Jim McCrossin and assistant athletic trainer Sal Raffa had filed a lawsuit against Comcast and others after being diagnosed with rare medical conditions.

Buffalo scored twice in the first and twice in the second to open up a two-goal lead going to the third. That was enough as the Flyers were dealt a season sweep from the Sabres in a 5-3 loss on Sunday afternoon at Wells Fargo Center. 

The Flyers and Sabres meet for the final time this season, as they close out the home-and-home in Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon.

For as great as it started, the Buffalo Sabres quickly erased the fast start in the second period, scoring four goals to take the lead in a 4-3 decision over the Flyers on Saturday night.

The Flyers open up a home-and-home series against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night on the road.

The Rangers opened the scoring at 10:20 of the first and never looked back in a 4-0 decision over the Flyers at Wells Fargo Center.

The Flyers get right back on the ice on Wednesday night and face another playoff team in the New York Rangers.

It was an ugly game for the Flyers, who trailed 3-1 after the first and lost Carter Hart and Cam Atkinson for the night before allowing six more goals over the final two periods in a 9-2 drubbing to the Washington Capitals.

Bobby Brink makes his NHL debut as the Flyers take on the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night.

A three-goal period got them in front, and after the Flyers tied it up early in the third, two more goals sealed the Flyers’ fate in a 5-3 loss to the Ducks at Wells Fargo Center on Saturday night.

The Flyers and Ducks will meet for the final time this season on Saturday night.

A three-goal second period featured goals by Owen Tippett and Noah Cates, as the Flyers secured a 4-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Flyers and Blue Jackets face one another for the final time this season on Thursday night with the home-and-home series shifting back to Columbus.

The Blue Jackets took the lead for good with 6:44 remaining in the third, as Elvis Merzlikins made 47 saves in dealing the Flyers a 4-2 loss on Tuesday night at Wells Fargo Center.