This is what the Flyers should aspire to be

The Flyers are having an awful season. In many respects, it feels like the last three seasons were all played in one. In fact, it's been one of the worst in recent memory. Losing Claude Giroux doesn't help. Seasons like these leave management scratching their heads and fans wondering what's next.

Remember beating Montreal in the first round back in 2020 before losing to the Islanders in the second? How about missing out on the playoffs in 2021 and eventually this year in 2022? It feels like eons ago.

Charlie O'Connor, writer for the Flyers at The Athletic, wants to scratch this year and sets his sights on the 2022-23 season. He gave his take on the ambitious aggressive rebuild and which team could be seen as a blueprint. And before you ask, no it's not the Tampa Bay Lightning.

O'Connor believes that the team that all rebuilding teams but especially the Flyers should look to study from are the Carolina Hurricanes. Here are his five reasons why.



Carolina is not afraid to go off the board and take a risk at a skilled player they believe in. A great example of this is Sebastian Aho.


They trust their people and they trust advanced stats. Of course there are reasons to look at grit and size and other things. But in an evolving game where being fast and skilled is important, looking at the numbers will help. Numbers don't paint the whole picture but they can help get a team started.


We've seen this phenomenon in Montreal too. Bringing in a former player who is still in touch with the players and the modern hockey culture is essential in fostering a positive atmosphere. Good energy attracts good players. Don't forget Brind'Amour won the Jack Adams not too long ago.

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They have extensive and impressive outreach programs that take fan feedback in account. They have rituals after every game and it shows personality, rallies the fans behind the team and demonstrates that everybody is a part of the team.



They got creative with the cap. They engineered a way out. They bought low and sold high. They did their research and built through the draft.

Credit: The Athletic