Flyers' wish list

When you score a total of five goals, excluding an empty-netter, in a six-game playoff series, you don't need to be Scotty Bowman to assess the Flyers' biggest off-season needs.

Here's a look at the team and its wish list heading into next season:

Center

The Flyers need more scoring here. Put free-agent Steven Stamkos on the Orange and Black, and they would be golden down the middle. But that is probably a pipe dream. David Backes, who can play center or wing but has a bit of mileage on him, is an interesting 6-foot-3, 221-pound free agent who would bump Sean Couturier down to the third line and give the Flyers a quality top three of Claude Giroux, Backes and Couturier.

Right wing

Stick-handling whiz Travis Konecny, who has drawn comparisons to Tampa Bay's speedy Tyler Johnson, plays much bigger than his size (5-10, 176), and he should bolster the lineup, provided GM Ron Hextall believes he is ready. He might play on the third unit, assuming Jake Voracek and Wayne Simmonds are at RW on the first two lines. Konecny could bring the offense some much-needed energy, like high-scoring defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere did after his promotion.

Kyle Okposo is a free agent who would help, but Hextall - who has stockpiled 10 picks in this year's seven-round draft - only has so much he can spend.

Left wing

Brayden Schenn's game grew, but the Flyers have no other dangerous scorers at this position, giving them a glaring weakness. Free-agent Milan Lucic would fit in nicely. Ditto free-agent Loui Eriksson, who can play either wing. Michael Raffl is better suited as a third-liner.

Defense

Give the defense credit for their gritty, determined work in the series against the powerful Capitals. Gostsibehere was a revelation this season, Radko Gudas had a coming-out year, and Andrew MacDonald bounced back nicely after a minor-league demotion.

Next year the pairings might include Gostisbehere and Michael DelZotto, Nick Schultz and Ivan Provorov, and Gudas and MacDonald or Brandon Manning. Look for Mark Streit, the aging but quintessential pro, to be dealt.

Goalie

Steve Mason and Michal Neuvirth give the Flyers a dependable duo for next season, though one could be dealt. Alex Lyon and Anthony Stolarz are promising prospects. For the first time in a while, this position is one of the Flyers' strengths.

Miscellany

Center Nick Cousins had a solid rookie year, Scott Laughton regressed a bit, and veteran Colin McDonald played well in the playoffs. There will be several prospects who will be given a long look at training camp, but the biggest 2016-17 lineup changes are expected to come from Konecny, Provorov, a free-agent forward, and possibly a forward acquired in a deal.

EndText