» READ MORE: Metro Division preview: Islanders head of the class, remodeled Flyers have tough task to make playoffs “And I believe this team is a playoff team and we all have something to prove.” “Last year doesn’t represent who we are,” coach Alain Vigneault said after a practice session Thursday in Voorhees. We are about to find out as the first of 82 chapters in the book of the new NHL season unfolds Friday. Was it enough? Will it make the Flyers contenders in the tough Metropolitan Division and enable them to challenge for the Cup? “We couldn’t bring the same group of players back and expect different results.” - Flyers GM Chuck Fletcherīeginning Friday in their season opener against Vancouver at the Wells Fargo Center, the Flyers and their new-look lineup will be on display, hoping it’s the start of a journey that takes them back into Stanley Cup contention.Īfter an underachieving season in which the Flyers finished 25-23-8 and missed the playoffs for the fifth time in the last nine years, Fletcher redid half the defense, acquired a goalscorer (Cam Atkinson), a new backup goalie (Martin Jones), and changed the leadership by adding five players who were previously alternate captains: Atkinson, Ryan Ellis, Rasmus Ristolainen, Derick Brassard, and Keith Yandle.

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