Taking Flyers inventory

IT WAS A SEASON to forget, one of just nine in 45 seasons in which the Flyers have not qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs. Rather than look back on the season, here's an inventory of what the Flyers have moving forward. (Players are listed alphabetically by position. Contracts are what's remaining.)

FORWARDS

DANNY BRIERE

Stats: 34 GP, 6 G, 10 A.

Grade: C-

Age: 35

Contract: 2 years, $13 million

Outlook: Steep production drop, accounting for his worst career season. Almost guaranteed to be bought out this summer, which would provide the Flyers with an additional $6.5 million in salary-cap space for the next two seasons and only cost them $1.25 million for each of the next 4 years in actual dollars.

SEAN COUTURIER

Stats: 46 GP, 4 G, 11 A.

Grade: C+

Age: 20

Contract: 1 year, $1.375 million

Outlook: Started nearly 70 percent of his shifts in the defensive zone and played against top opponents on a nightly basis, but never delivered the increased offensive production Flyers were hoping he'd add. A candidate to be traded this summer. Needs to get stronger. With another full season under his belt, Couturier will have 200 games played and his value might drop without more offense.

RUSLAN FEDOTENKO

Stats: 47 GP, 4 G, 9 A.

Grade: B

Age: 34

Contract: Free agent

Outlook: Stepped in as a quality third-line player who never took a night off. Unlikely to return to the Flyers, as he's looking for more of a scoring role. With two Stanley Cup rings, a good attitude and durability, he'll land somewhere.

SIMON GAGNE

Stats:27 GP, 5 G, 6 A.

Grade: B+

Age: 33

Contract: Free agent

Outlook: One of the Flyers' most consistent and productive forwards over the last month of the season. Saw time on the top line with Claude Giroux. Clearly more comfortable (and healthy) coming from Los Angeles in a trade. Wants to stay in Philadelphia and is willing to take a hometown discount to do so.

CLAUDE GIROUX

Stats: 48 GP, 13 G, 35 A.

Grade: B+

Age: 25

Contract: 1 year, $3.75 million

Outlook: Didn't quite meet expectations after a breakout, 93-point season that had him in conversation for a Hart Trophy. Still a point-per-game player. Maybe the Flyers' hardest-working forward. Couldn't find consistent linemates after Jaromir Jagr left and Scott Hartnell went down with a foot injury.

ADAM HALL

Stats: 11 GP, 0 G, 0 A.

Grade: B

Age: 32

Contract: Free agent

Outlook: Solid addition via waivers from Tampa Bay at the April 3 trade deadline. Didn't score, but is deft in the faceoff circle and never takes a shift off. Solid penalty killer and well respected in the locker room. Could be a candidate to sign a small deal to stay.

SCOTT HARTNELL

Stats: 32 GP, 8 G, 3 A.

Grade: C

Age: 31

Contract: 6 years, $28.5 million

Outlook: Extremely disappointing campaign to follow a career-high 37 goals. Was demoted off Giroux's line after a consistent lack of production. Missed 16 games due to a fractured foot and never quite recovered. Fresh start next season will help.

MIKE KNUBLE

Stats: 28 GP, 4 G, 4 A.

Grade: C+

Age: 40

Contract: Free agent

Outlook: Signed as a free agent in late January after Flyers got off to a rough start. Likely has played his last NHL game. Healthy scratch for 16 of final 18 games.

MATT READ

Stats: 42 GP, 11 G, 13 A.

Grade: B

Age: 26

Contract: 1 year, $900,000

Outlook: Somewhat disappointing sophomore season, unable to build off 24-goal rookie performance. Hampered by torn rib-cage muscle injury, which put him on the shelf for 2 weeks. Also a candidate to be traded this summer, as he has a ton of interest. Playing for Canada in upcoming World Championships.

ZAC RINALDO

Stats: 32 GP, 3 G, 2 A.

Grade: A

Age: 22

Contract: 2 years, $1.5 million

Outlook: Should have won the Flyers' most improved player award. Made huge strides in discipline. Led the NHL with 14.60 hits per 60 minutes. Consistently drew more penalties than he took.

JAY ROSEHILL

Stats: 11 GP, 1 G, 0 A.

Grade: C+

Age: 27

Contract: 2 years, $675,000

Outlook: A tad surprising that the Flyers decided to lock him up to a 2-year contract extension after acquiring him from Anaheim in exchange for Harry Zolnierczyk. Can skate, but plays a somewhat limited fourth-line role.

BRAYDEN SCHENN

Stats: 47 GP, 8 G, 18 A.

Grade: B+

Age: 21

Contract: 1 year, $3.11 million

Outlook: Netted 8 more points than he did last season, despite playing seven fewer games and taking 18 less shots. Used speed to his advantage. Also saw an uptick in ice time (15:30) and played special teams.

WAYNE SIMMONDS

Stats: 45 GP, 15 G, 17 A

Grade: B+

Age: 24

Contract: 6 years, $23.85 million

Outlook: Probably was the Flyers' most consistent player through the first half of the season, but saw a significant drop-off in the second half. Scored in only two of his final 16 games, one of which was his first career hat trick.

MAXIME TALBOT

Stats: 35 GP, 5 G, 5 A

Grade: B

Age: 29

Contract: 3 years, $5.25 million

Outlook: Missed the final 13 games with a leg fracture and is still limping on crutches. Before getting hurt, didn't contribute at his 19-goal pace from last season, but was still a solid penalty-killing and checking-role contributor.

JAKUB VORACEK

Stats: 48 GP, 22 G, 24 A

Grade: A

Age: 23

Contract: 3 years, $12.75 million

Outlook: Flyers' unquestioned most valuable player in his most consistent campaign as an NHLer. Surely aided by playing alongside Giroux. Surpassed last season's career-high of 18 goals in 30 fewer games. Played with confidence. Key building block for the future.

DEFENSE

BRAYDON COBURN

Stats: 33 GP, 1 G, 4 A

Grade: C

Age: 28

Contract: 3 years, $13.5 million

Outlook: Tough season. Finished the year as a minus-10 but missed the final 15 games with a shoulder separation, his first serious injury as a Flyer. Averaged 22:37 in ice time per game, his highest since 2008-09. Confidence is the key to his game.

KURTIS FOSTER

Stats: 23 GP, 1 G, 4 A

Grade: C+

Age: 31

Contract: Free agent

Outlook: Underutilized as a right-handed defenseman. Foot speed was clearly an issue; he's never been the same since severely fracturing his femur in 2008. Could never seem to earn Peter Laviolette's trust, even though he was better than some of the young players shuffled through the lineup.

BRUNO GERVAIS

Stats: 37 GP, 1 G, 5 A

Grade: C+

Age: 28

Contract: 1 year, $825,000

Outlook: Healthy scratch to start the season, but soon surpassed Foster in the lineup and reeled off a significant number of games at a consistent level of play. Used foot speed to get himself out of trouble. Size can be an issue. Missed final 2 weeks of the season with torn abdominal muscles, which required surgery.

NICKLAS GROSSMANN

Stats: 30 GP, 1 G, 3 A

Grade: B+

Age: 28

Contract: 3 years, $10.5 million

Outlook: Likely would have captured his first Barry Ashbee Trophy as the Flyers' top defenseman if he played a full season. Led the team with 82 blocked shots before missing the final 16 games with a concussion. The concussion, which affects his vestibular system, is something to watch moving forward.

ERIK GUSTAFSSON

Stats: 27 GP, 3 G, 5 A

Grade: B

Age: 24

Contract: Restricted free agent

Outlook: Will be re-signed, likely on a one-way contract, to be a key cog for the defense corps. May have been Flyers' best defenseman over final few weeks of the season, when playing with confidence after being sent back to Adirondack in the middle of the season.

OLIVER LAURIDSEN

Stats: 15 GP, 2 G, 1 A

Grade: B

Age: 24

Contract: Restricted free agent

Outlook: Played his way into contention for the opening-night lineup next season. Physical presence on the blue line, seemed to mesh well with Luke Schenn. Still experiences growing pains with the puck and isn't fast, but this will be a big summer.

ANDREJ MESZAROS

Stats: 11 GP, 0 G, 2 A

Grade: D

Age: 27

Contract: 1 year, $4 million

Outlook: Have to wonder whether his body can continue to withstand the rigors of the NHL. Played 73 games in last two seasons, missing time with a herniated disc and two separate shoulder injuries. Also ruptured his Achilles' last summer. Can be a solid piece if he's healthy and has the confidence he'll remain healthy.

LUKE SCHENN

Stats: 47 GP, 3 G, 8 A

Grade: A

Age: 23

Contract: 3 years, $10.8 million

Outlook: Brutal start to his first season with the Flyers, but rebounded to be an absolute stalwart on the blue line. He was reliable and consistent, especially with a depleted defense corps around him. Flyers will need him to be a key, second-pair player (or more) next year and beyond.

KIMMO TIMONEN

Stats: 45 GP, 5 G, 24 A

Grade: B+

Age: 38

Contract: 1 year, $6 million

Outlook: Has clearly lost a step, but like a pitcher losing arm strength, has made up for it by his sound positioning. Finished fourth among defense scoring in the NHL. May see a decrease in minutes next season, but he will still be the player Laviolette counts on to lead the entire back-end.

GOALIES

ILYA BRYZGALOV

Stats: 19-17-3, .900 save percentage 2.79 goals-against

Grade: B

Age: 32

Contract: 7 years, $34 million

Outlook: Candidate for the compliance (amnesty) buyout this summer. If the Flyers don't use it this summer, they may be inclined to do so next summer. Kept a bad team in most games. Still an off-ice distraction. Finished 48th of 57 goalies with at least 10 games with a .900 save percentage.

STEVE MASON

Stats: 4-2-0, .944 save percentage, 1.90 goals-against

Grade: Incomplete

Age: 24

Contract: 1 year, $1.5 million

Outlook: Six appearances does not a goalie of the future make. Still, you have to wonder whether his superb outings were enough to convince the Flyers that they can cut loose Bryzgalov. Signed a value contract with the Flyers to prove himself.

Others to play for the Flyers this season: Tom Sestito (claimed off waivers by Vancouver on March 1); Harry Zolnierczyk (traded to Anaheim on April 1); Michael Leighton (traded to Columbus on April 3); Kent Huskins (acquired from Detroit on March 30); Jody Shelley (expected to announce retirement); Jason Akeson, Brian Boucher, Matt Konan, Andreas Lilja, Tye McGinn, Brandon Manning, Eric Wellwood (called up from Adirondack); Scott Laughton (re-assigned to OHL Oshawa on Jan. 27).

Blog: ph.ly/FrequentFlyers