Flyers ‘pleased’ with 56-game division-only schedule
The Flyers seemingly got off easy when it came to assessing one of the most challenging seasons in league history. It’s a history which twice featured shortened seasons and once cancelled a season altogether.
With fans still presumably absent from arenas at least to start the season, the league is trying to address not only strict coronavirus safety protocols, but a massive loss of revenues across the board in 2020.
The league split into four geographically based divisions of eight teams each, except for the seventeam all-Canadian North Division. During a 56-game regular season, teams will only play games within their division. Although games won’t be played in a so-called “bubble” as the playoffs in Toronto and Edmonton instituted, travel will be severely restricted.
For the Flyers, who reportedly check in with fiscal losses approaching $150 million, it appears the only air travel they’ll incur will be to Boston, Buffalo and Pittsburgh. The other cities they could bus to include the New York (for the Rangers and Islanders), New Jersey and Washington.
The teams within this East Division will play each other eight times, four at home and four on the road. And games will usually be played in two-game sets. For example, the Flyers’ first two games of the season are at home on Jan. 13 and 15, both against the Penguins.
As for playing on consecutive days, the Flyers only have eight of those situations on the season.
“I’m really pleased with our schedule. Obviously, we’re in an incredibly difficult division, it was very difficult last season and certainly isn’t any easier this season,”
Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher said Wednesday. “Certainly every game will be difficult. In terms of schedule construction, it’s better than I anticipated. We only have eight back to backs. We obviously don’t change time zones.
“In terms of our division, I don’t think any of us can have any complaints. I’m sure we’re going to have the fewest air miles flown.”
As for playing their logistically and historically close rivals such as the New York teams, the Bruins and the Penguins so often, Fletcher added, “It’ll be great. Again, it’s a hard division. Last year, I felt we had the best division in the league, and I think it’s the same this year.
“In terms of re-establishing rivalries and renewing a few others, I think it will be tremendous. It will be great for our fans.”
From a TV standpoint, that is. As for fans eventually being allowed back into Wells Fargo Center, don’t hold your breath. But the club said it will keep in close contact with the league powers and Pennsylvania officials to see if a semblance of a fan-return plan can be hashed out at some point during the season, tentatively set to run through early May.
“I’m just thrilled we get a chance to play,” Fletcher said. “The league and the union did a tremendous job getting this all together. It’s going to be exciting. It’s equal footing for everybody.”
Fans in place or not, the Flyers don’t anticipate making Wells Fargo Center a nice place to visit.
“Obviously there’s no fans this year, but it’s a tough building to get two points in,” center Kevin Hayes said Tuesday. “Hartsy (goalie Carter Hart) feels comfortable playing on that ice. We’re a tough team at home.”