(Read part 1 of the review of the Flyers' defense right here.)
Brandon Manning
Age: Turns 25 in June
Stats: 11 GP; 0 G; 3 A; 3 Pts.; E; 17:09 MIN
Cap hit: $625,000
What a refreshing performance Manning turned in at season’s end when Andrew MacDonald went out of the lineup. He displayed uncanny confidence on the back end playing with Carlo Colaiacovo and chewed up huge minutes, even on the penalty kill, and moved the puck well. Because of his age, it would stunt Manning’s growth to keep him around as a seventh man. He needs to play regularly. He feels he can beat out Shayne Gostisbehere or any other prospect next fall for a roster spot. Ron Hextall was impressed enough with his late-season call-up to re-sign him before the season ended.
Luke Schenn
Age: Turns 26 in November
Stats: 58 GP; 3 G; 11 A; 14 Pts.; minus-2; 18:04 MIN
Cap hit: $3.6 million
NHL
Schenn led all Flyers defensemen with 194 hits, but management would easily trade that for better, smarter play (positioning) in front of the net. He always seems a step behind. One of the nicest people you’d ever meet, his acquisition for forward James van Riemsdyk will go down as the worst trade of the Paul Holmgren Era. Put it this way: You can’t have a lineup next season that has Schenn, Nicklas Grossmann and Radko Gudas in it because it guarantees two of your three defensive pairs will be extraordinarily slow. Schenn missed three games early because of a left shoulder injury and the final seven games with an abdominal and adductor tear. In between, he was benched 11 games for poor play. Schenn will start the final year of his contract next fall and is a candidate to be moved this summer.
Nick Schultz
Age: Turns 33 in August
Stats: 80 GP; 2 G; 13 A; 15 Pts.; plus-2; 19:02 MIN
Cap hit: $2.25 million
Who would have guessed this depth player would turn out to be the Flyers' most consistent defensive defenseman this season? Or that he would lead the team with 166 blocked shots? Schultz should rightfully have won the Barry Ashbee Trophy because that award was supposed to be about “defensive” defensemen with offense thrown in. Mark Streit won solely on offense. Schultz came here as a No. 6 or 7 D-man, went into the lineup after Braydon Coburn’s injury and never left. He signed for $1.25 million on July 2 and Hextall re-upped with a two-year deal late in February, for a guy that goalie Steve Mason said was the most consistent defensemen of all. Schultz led the team with 2:41 minutes a game on the penalty kill.
Mark Streit
Age: Turns 38 in December
Stats: 81 GP; 9 G; 43 A; 52 Pts.; minus-8; 22:22 MIN
Cap hit: $5.25 million.
Streit would have played all 82 games were it not for a flu bug that hit the Flyers’ roster 24 hours before their game against San Jose in late March. He led the team in ice time and was second in power-play points (30). Streit had 103 blocks and won the Ashbee Trophy as a minus-player because of his offense. Stret still moves very well for a player nearing the end of his career. Then again, all those years Streit spent playing in Europe saved his body from the overall punishment of the NHL in which hitting and narrow rinks take its toll. He earns the most money of any Flyers defensemen with two years left on his deal. Streit is easily the best puck mover the Flyers have, but is also want to turning it over. He has been a very worthy quarterback on the power play in replacing Kimmo Timonen and a huge reason why the power play was top five in the NHL all season. If Streit had more of a defensive presence, he’d be perfect to school younger players. No reason to think he won’t be back even at age 38.
(Next: Flyers forwards)