Flyers need defensive help, but also could use another forward

Photo courtesy of AP/Yahoo Sports!

By Tom Dougherty | @FFTomDougherty
(Note: This is an editorial of the author’s opinion.)

The Flyers haven’t had much trouble scoring goals this season. They sit second in the league with 3.33 goals per game behind the Boston Bruins, and have nine players with double digit goals and 17 goals from their defenseman.

Scoring goals hasn’t been a worrisome for the orange and black. The problem is quite clear: defensive breakdowns and goaltending. The latter is a matter of confidence; once Ilya Bryzgalov finds any sort of rhythm, the goalie play should become steadier.

Since the announcement that Chris Pronger will miss the rest of the year with post-concussion symptoms, Flyers fans have identified a defenseman as the team’s top priority at the Feb. 27 trade deadline.

While getting a veteran horse on the blue line is a must, the Flyers could also use another forward; a player who can play on the third or fourth line, but can add the occasional goal.

The Flyers have seen their top line go ice cold since Claude Giroux’s frustration has grown in the New Year and Jaromir Jagr has been recovering from a second groin injury. Despite the scoring depth, the Flyers are basically a one-line team.

Sure, rookies Sean Couturier and Matt Read have been pleasant surprises with their offensive production this year, and Wayne Simmonds and Jakub Voracek are on pace for career highs in points, but Danny Briere hasn’t found much chemistry with the new players.

Rookie Brayden Schenn has been playing better as of late, but he only has two goals. James van Riemsdyk has 10 goals, but he’s out with a concussion. Max Talbot also has 10 goals, but he’s better suited in a penalty-kill role than a goal scorer.

Nine players with double digit goals is an impressive stat but there’s room for one more.

Perhaps the Flyers could find an answer in Anaheim should the Ducks make Saku Koivu available. Koivu, 37, has one year left on his contract in Anaheim and comes with a $2.5 million cap hit; however, the chances the Ducks move Koivu are slim to none.

But Koivu would be a perfect fit for the Flyers.

The former 1993 first round pick has nine goals in 37 games with Anaheim this year. He’s no longer the player he was five or six years ago, but Koivu can still put the puck in the net.

Last season, he scored a respectable 15 goals at the age of 36 playing on the second line in Anaheim. This year, the Ducks are in the middle of a fluke season where they fired long-time coach Rndy Carlyle only to replace him with Bruce Boudreau.

Another valuable asset Koivu would bring to the Flyers is in the faceoff circle. The Finnish center has won 52.3 percent of his faceoffs; only Giroux has won more than 50 percent of his draws for the Flyers.

Koivu also would add a veteran leader with playoff experience. He has 55 points in 60 career playoff games with Montreal and Anaheim.

The Flyers focus will be on defense at the trade deadline. If they make a trade, expect it to bring in another defender to solidify a blue line that’s experiencing unacceptable breakdowns.

Whether it’s on the level of Nashville’s Shea Weber or Ryan Suter or someone like Carolina’s Tim Gleason or Bryan Allen, the Flyers appear destine to acquire another defenseman.

But adding a defenseman will not cure all the Flyers problems; it’ll be a giant step and make the team a more formidable contender, but it won’t stop all the bleeding.

If the Flyers can work the magic and acquire a defenseman like Gleason and also bring another forward into the fold, their chances for a deep playoff run would be greater.

Koivu just seems like a player who would be a welcomed addition to the Flyers roster.

Of course, this is just wishful thinking.