2017–18 Philadelphia Flyers season


The 2017–18 Philadelphia Flyers season was the 51st season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 5, 1967. They would improve from their record from last year and make the playoffs for the first time since the 2015–16 season.

Off-season

The first major event of the off-season was the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft with General Manager Ron Hextall having to submit his list of protected players for the draft. The Vegas Golden Knights selected Pierre-Edouard Bellemare at number 12 from the Flyers.
Having been awarded the second overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft in the draft lottery, Hextall made several trades in the lead-up to draft day. The most significant of them being to trade Brayden Schenn to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for the 27th overall pick in the draft, a conditional first round pick in 2018, and Jori Lehtera. The Flyers selected forward Nolan Patrick with the second overall pick, and went on to add Morgan Frost with the pick acquired from St. Louis and Isaac Ratcliffe with their second round selection, to add to their forward prospects.
The Flyers remained fairly quiet players in free agency, as had been the case the previous year. The main issue for Hextall being to decide how to fill the vacancy left in net by Steve Mason. On July 1, 2017 the Flyers announced the signing of free agent Brian Elliott who would join the recently extended Michal Neuvirth to make up the goalie tandem. The Flyers also re-signed several players including Scott Laughton, Taylor Leier, Jordan Weal and Shayne Gostisbehere.

Standings

Schedule and results

Preseason

The preseason schedule was published on June 15, 2017.

Regular season

The regular season schedule was released on June 22, 2017.

Playoffs

Player statistics

;Skaters
Player
8234681022820
822065851050
823145763431
781352651025
812423471746
75242246−1657
821724411720
81112233−720
73131730130
7613922928
6981321−1012
6661521830
81101020−1042
6571219056
7021416083
492810−620
70369532
46448−721
62358−814
2324644
39145−76
19101−22
9000−22
‡800002
4000−10
200014
†1000−10
100000

Player
554912
6123−32
6123−102
6033−36
6033−60
620206
611214
6112−50
602206
602200
610116
6101−84
6101−310
4101−12
6011−52
6000−514
6000−19
400000
2000−30
200010
1000−10

;Goaltenders
Player
43422,522231171122.661,116.9091002
22181,039973452.60530.9151010
†1715914663493.22401.8911000
117480421222.75232.9050000

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Flyers. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.

‡Traded/Waived mid-season

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Individual

Team

Milestones

PlayerMilestoneReached
400th career NHL pointOctober 4, 2017
1st career NHL gameOctober 4, 2017
1st career NHL gameOctober 5, 2017
1st career NHL point
1st career NHL assist		October 7, 2017
1st career NHL goalOctober 10, 2017
800th career NHL gameOctober 14, 2017
400th career NHL assistOctober 17, 2017
1st career NHL point
1st career NHL assist		October 17, 2017
400th career NHL gameOctober 19, 2017
500th career NHL pointOctober 24, 2017
200th career NHL pointOctober 24, 2017
1st career NHL point
1st career NHL assist		October 24, 2017
700th career NHL gameNovember 1, 2017
700th career NHL gameNovember 2, 2017
1st career NHL gameNovember 2, 2017
200th career NHL assistNovember 2, 2017
100th career NHL pointNovember 9, 2017
100th career NHL gameNovember 14, 2017
1st career NHL gameNovember 22, 2017
600th career NHL pointNovember 24, 2017
200th career NHL winDecember 8, 2017
100th career NHL gameDecember 12, 2017
100th career NHL pointDecember 12, 2017
300th career NHL gameDecember 14, 2017
1st career NHL goalDecember 14, 2017
1st career NHL goalDecember 20, 2017
400th career NHL gameDecember 22, 2017
500th career NHL gameJanuary 7, 2018
300th career NHL gameJanuary 13, 2018
700th career NHL gameJanuary 16, 2018
100th career NHL winJanuary 20, 2018
200th career NHL goalFebruary 18, 2018
1st career NHL winFebruary 18, 2018
1st career NHL gameFebruary 20, 2018
100th career NHL assistFebruary 22, 2018
200th career NHL gameFebruary 24, 2018
1st career NHL point
1st career NHL assist		March 17, 2018
1st career NHL goalMarch 18, 2018
100th career NHL gameMarch 20, 2018
100th career NHL goalMarch 20, 2018
200th career NHL gameMarch 22, 2018
1st career NHL playoff goal
1st career NHL playoff point		April 13, 2018
1st career NHL playoff goal
1st career NHL playoff point		April 15, 2018

Suspensions and fines

Transactions

The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from June 12, 2017, the day after the deciding game of the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals, through June 7, 2018, the day of the deciding game of the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals.

Trades

Signings

Free agency

The following players were signed by the Flyers via free agency. Two-way contracts are marked with an asterisk.
DatePlayerPrevious team TermRef
July 1, 2017Brian ElliottCalgary Flames2-year
July 1, 2017Corban KnightLehigh Valley Phantoms 2-year*
July 1, 2017Phil VaroneOttawa Senators2-year*
February 26, 2018John MuseLehigh Valley Phantoms 1-year*

Internal

The following players were either re-signed by the Flyers or, in the case of the team's selections in the NHL Entry Draft, signed to entry level contracts. Two-way contracts are marked with an asterisk.
DatePlayerTermRef
June 27, 2017Mark Alt1-year*
June 29, 2017Jordan Weal2-year
July 1, 2017Mike Vecchione2-year
July 11, 2017Scott Laughton2-year
July 14, 2017Taylor Leier1-year*
July 15, 2017Cole Bardreau2-year*
July 15, 2017Alex Lyon1-year*
July 15, 2017Anthony Stolarz1-year*
July 17, 2017Nolan Patrick 3-year*
August 3, 2017Morgan Frost 3-year*
August 3, 2017Isaac Ratcliffe 3-year*
March 6, 2018T. J. Brennan2-year extension*
March 11, 2018Carsen Twarynski 3-year*
March 13, 2018Maxim Sushko 3-year*
March 15, 2018Matthew Strome 3-year*
March 27, 2018Felix Sandstrom 3-year*
May 4, 2018David Kase 3-year*

NHL Expansion Draft

The 2017 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 21, 2017. It featured the expansion Vegas Golden Knights selecting players from the other NHL teams. Each NHL team was allowed to protect either 1 goaltender, 3 defensemen, and 7 forwards OR 1 goaltender and 8 skaters. Players with no movement clauses in effect at the time of the draft had to be protected unless the player agreed to waive it. All first and second-year players as well as any unsigned draft choices were exempt.
StatusPlayers
ProtectedSean Couturier, Valtteri Filppula, Claude Giroux, Shayne Gostisbehere, Radko Gudas, Scott Laughton, Brandon Manning, Brayden Schenn, Wayne Simmonds, Anthony Stolarz, Jakub Voracek
UnprotectedMark Alt, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, T. J. Brennan, Greg Carey, Chris Conner, Michael Del Zotto, Boyd Gordon, Taylor Leier, Andrew MacDonald, Steve Mason, Colin McDonald, Andy Miele, Michal Neuvirth, Will O'Neill, Jesper Pettersson, Michael Raffl, Matt Read, Nick Schultz, Chris VandeVelde, Jordan Weal, Dale Weise, Eric Wellwood
SelectionVegas Golden Knights selected Pierre-Edouard Bellemare 12th overall

Waivers

The Flyers were involved in the following waivers transactions.
DatePlayerTeamRef
February 26, 2018Mark Altto Colorado Avalanche
February 26, 2018Johnny Oduyafrom Ottawa Senators

Departures

The following players left the team via free agency, release, or retirement. Players who were under contract and left the team during the season are marked with an asterisk.
DatePlayerNew team ViaRef
July 1, 2017Michael Del ZottoVancouver CanucksFree agency
July 1, 2017Steve MasonWinnipeg JetsFree agency
July 3, 2017Roman LyubimovCSKA Moscow Free agency
July 6, 2017Chris ConnerLehigh Valley Phantoms Free agency
N/ABoyd Gordon—Retirement
N/ANick Schultz—Retirement
November 30, 2017Chris VandeVeldeLukko Free agency
June 19, 2018Colin McDonaldLehigh Valley Phantoms AHLFree agency

Draft picks

Below are the Philadelphia Flyers' selections at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, held on June 23–24, 2017 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityTeam Notes
12Nolan PatrickCenterCanadaBrandon Wheat Kings
127Morgan FrostCenterCanadaSault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
235Isaac RatcliffeLeft WingCanadaGuelph Storm
380Kirill UstimenkoGoaltenderRussiaMHK Dynamo St. Petersburg
4106Matthew StromeLeft WingCanadaHamilton Bulldogs
4107Maxim SushkoRight WingBelarusOwen Sound Attack
5137Noah CatesLeft WingUnited StatesOmaha Lancers
6168Olle LycksellCenterSwedenLinkopings HC
7196Wyatt KalynukDefenseCanadaBloomington Thunder