Heading into the 2015-16 NHL season, the Flyers would qualify for the ol’ “Nobody Believes in Us” theory. As in, they can use the fact that nobody is picking them to make the playoffs as motivation. And let me tell ya, almost nobody thinks the orange and black will be playing hockey after regular-season finale on April 9th against Pittsburgh.
The lack of national love isn’t particularly surprising. The Flyers finished 14 points out of the playoffs last year, still have cap issues that prevented them from making any major tweaks this summer (though Ron Hextall appears to have done well with limited resources), and they play in a division where five teams are generally thought to be at least a couple of notches above them.
Let’s point out some of the “non-believers”:
• SB Nation: Nine of ten writers predict the Flyers to finish sixth in the Metro.
• Sports Illustrated: 85 points, sixth in the Metro.
• Grantland: Sean McIndoe thinks the Flyers will get to 90 points and, wait for it, sixth in the Metro.
• Hockey Prospectus: 91 points and… you are not going to believe this, but sixth place in the Metro!
• Fox Sports: Missing the playoffs, but at least they didn’t specify and say sixth in the Metro!
• Puck Daddy: Five points outside of a wild card spot, which I’m gonna go ahead and assume means sixth in the Metro.
As we get the season started, it seems like most writers believe there is a distinct hierarchy in the Metropolitan Division: Rangers-Islanders-Capitals-Penguins at the top, Blue Jackets right behind them, the Flyers in a tier to themselves, while the Devils and Hurricanes bring up the rear in some order.
The good news? Hockey is a goofy sport where unpredictable things can happen over season. On the other hand, maybe that unpredictable thing is that the Flyers are worse than sixth place.
Follow Rich on Twitter: @rich_hofmann