In the 2014-15 season, the Flyers missed the playoffs primarily due to inconsistent play. But it was the inconsistencies of three players that were magnified, and for good reason.
Combined, Vincent Lecavalier, R.J. Umberger and Andrew MacDonald make $14.1 million. Last season, they played in a combined 182 games, scoring 19 goals and adding 28 assists. Umberger was a minus-9. Lecavalier was a minus-7. MacDonald was a minus-5.
Across the board, it was unacceptable.
Umberger eventually missed the end of the season with an injury that hampered him for much of the season. MacDonald was injured twice, his season coming to an end on a blocked shot. Lecavalier was in and out of the lineup all season.
Craig Berube didn’t seem to know how to handle it.
Enter Dave Hakstol, the new coach of the Flyers. Due to the contracts they have, it seems likely that the Flyers and Ron Hextall, who has been actively shopping Lecavalier and probably pitched MacDonald at times, are stuck with the three players.
So what can Hakstol get out of these three players that may make them worth keeping?
For Lecavalier, this may be the chance to play for the coach he always wanted. When he signed with the Flyers prior to the 2013-14 season, his expectation was to play for Peter Laviolette. Laviolette was fired three games into the season.
Lecavalier still posted 20 goals that season, mainly due to a hot start, but clearly slowed down and became noticeable frustrated playing for Berube.
While the frustration is still there with him name constantly in Flyers trade rumors, Lecavalier may have motivation to prove he’s got something left for the new coach, who has a similar personality to Laviolette.
For Umberger, this is about shaking off a difficult season, where he battled injury regularly, and returning to the form of a potential 20-goal scorer. He won’t be that, not playing as a bottom 6 forward, but he too could be motivated to make an impact under a no-nonsense coach.
Umberger also wasn’t immune to Berube’s strange way of scratching players from the lineup.
MacDonald had a similar season, in and out of the lineup and plagued by injury. When he was acquired at the trade deadline in 2014 to help aid the Flyers playoff run – ultimately getting them into the playoffs – he was rewarded with a five-year contract that left him vastly overpaid.
Now the Flyers appear to be stuck with MacDonald as the plethora of defensive prospects continues to get closer to reaching the NHL.
If there is any player who needs to make an impact and turn things around, it’s MacDonald. There are two reasons for this.
Umberger only has two years left on his contract, which is a long time, but also manageable. Lecavalier could either get better this season or be bought out after it. At this stage of the game, three years into a five-year deal for Lecavalier, it might be the best option if things don’t improve.
But MacDonald will have four seasons remaining on his contract even after this season that the Flyers will not be able to trade, not if his play doesn’t improve.
And there isn’t a lot of patience to go around for MacDonald. If his play flounders, there are many upstart defensemen just a step away in the AHL. Brandon Manning, Shayne Gostisbehere and Robert Hagg could easily take MacDonald’s job at any point this season. And don’t forget the logjam that the Flyers blue line will face if they are impressed enough by Ivan Provorov in training camp.
So MacDonald is facing a season where he must get more consistent or face the potential to lose games as a scratch again.
Another thing, which could play in MacDonald’s favor is his offensive ability. MacDonald has 105 points in 375 games over six seasons (plus three games in 2008), impressive considering he has played fewer than 70 games in four of those seasons.
Hakstol is known to have defensemen jump up on the play and create offensive chances.
From Hakstol’s perspective, there’s already a lot of newness that comes with the job. It will be his first season in the NHL, making the transition to the pros from college. He did not recruit these players like he did at North Dakota. He has to earn their respect the same way they will have to adjust to a new philosophy and respect his leadership.
For some, this is easier. Chris VandeVelde played for Hakstol at North Dakota. He knows what Hakstol brings to the Flyers. Many of the younger players should embrace his style. Defensemen seem excited with his strategies of being more offensively involved as puck movers. If Hakstol’s game is speed and skill, it’s hard to see Claude Giroux or Jake Voracek not embracing it either.
Perhaps the hardest thing for veteran players to do is adjust to new leadership and a style that makes adapting a challenge.
These are the challenges that Hakstol faces as the coach and Lecavalier, Umberger and MacDonald face as veteran players. They must adapt together.
Hakstol may have more of a learning curve and time to make the adjustments. It could be the last chance for the others to stick around and revitalize their careers as Flyers.
They will likely be the three biggest x-factors to the Flyers season. The players that held the team back a season ago could very easily turn into the players that swing it in the right direction if they become more consistent, more aggressive, more energetic on the ice.
If Hakstol can get that out of them, he might just get some production as well.
Kevin Durso is managing editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.
