Flyers Player Power Rankings: Simmonds rolls, Umberger scores, Schenn misses 60

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It was a storybook week for the Flyers. The club struggled early with a pair of losses to the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs, but recovered just in time to deliver a win, and playoff berth, to owner Ed Snider, who died on Monday. As a result, the Chairman takes the No. 1 spot.

The Rankings:

  1. (last week: not ranked) Mr. Snider - When people kick around the premise of a “winning culture” in sports, they talk like it begins at the coaching staff or with the acquisition of championship-winning players. But what Mr. Snider proved during his 48 years as owner of the Flyers, is that a winning culture starts from the top. The very top.

    Only two teams since the Flyers’ inaugural 1967-68 season have more points and more wins -- the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens. Under Snider’s competitive watch, the Flyers only missed the post-season 10 times in its 48 seasons, and made the Stanley Cup finals eight times, winning twice -- that’s an average finals appearance every six years. He was loyal to a fault and he wanted to win more than he wanted to breathe. You might not have always agreed with the strategy, but you appreciated the sentiment.

    Yet, the most important characteristic that Snider embedded into the Flyers is a sterling reputation. In a league that values Canadian destinations and original six teams above all, Snider made crusty, old Philadelphia a premier landing spot for players. He did that by spending money, projecting respect and treating players and their families like his family. That’s why so many stick around after their playing days.

    In a preseason interview, Mr. Snider predicted that the 2015-16 Flyers would be a playoff team. Most, myself included, laughed at the thought. He had the last laugh. He didn’t believe in rebuilding years, but he did believe in his club. And they believed back.

    It’s these reasons, among many others, why Mr. Snider takes the No. 1 spot in the rankings. Because without him, these rankings don’t even exist.

  2. (last week: 1) Wayne Simmonds - Simmonds has broad shoulders. With the goalie pulled on Thursday, with less than a minute left, Simmonds came up with a season-saving goal off a Mark Streit point shot. It was his 30th. Then, in the most important game of the season, he got his 31st on a tap-in and 32nd on a deflection. It was a great ending to a fantastic season for Simmonds, who carried the Flyers into the playoffs.

  3. (last week: 5) Shayne Gostisbehere - With goal on Sunday and two assists during the week, he finished the season with 46 points. That’s a 57-point pace over an 82-game season and would have put Ghost No. 6 on the list of point-producing defenders. Let’s see what he does for an encore.

  4. (last week: 2) Brayden Schenn - Schenn was all over the place this week, especially around the net. He was powering at the goal so hard, he knocked Penguins’ goalie Matt Murray out of the game with his butt. It’s a shame he wasn’t able to nail down a 60-point season but 59 is still a ridiculous number.

  1. (last week: 3) Steve Mason - There have been times during the Flyers’ playoff push in which Mason almost single handedly held the team together. No better example than on Wednesday, when the 3-0 loss would have been 6-0 loss if it wasn’t for Mason. On Saturday, Mason made a ridiculous glove save to keep the Flyers alive, and on the next shift, the team scored. That’s game-changing goaltending.

  1. (last week: 7) Jake Voracek - There were actual human beings that called for the Flyers to bench Jake Voracek after a rough couple games. He showed them, threading a perfect pass to Simmonds on Saturday for his fifth point in his last six games. He also had 15 shots in four games, so no, you don’t bench Jake Voracek.

  1. (last week: 4) Claude Giroux - He had a rough week, there’s no denying that. But when you see his eyes-in-the-back-of-his-head drop pass to Voracek for the game-tying goal on Saturday, you realize Giroux is always one second away from getting in the box score.

  1. (last week: 9) Michael Raffl - Call him iron man. He was the only Flyers player this season to play in all 82 games and broke a six-game pointless drought and 13-game goal drought (with a goal and two assists) in game 82 to celebrate. Could Raffl be the x-factor in a playoff series? Someone other than the first line has to be.

  1. (last week: 6) Sean Couturier - It’s hard to bust on Couturier since he deals with the toughest assignments and is often buried is his own end. He also tied his career high, scoring 39 points in just 63 games. But when the Flyers desperately needed a second wave of scoring this week, Couturier could only delivered an assist. It’s not as much a criticism as it is tough love 

  1. (last week: 8) Mark Streit - The old man potted two helpers when the Flyers needed it most, then was rewarded with a much-needed day off on Sunday. It was a good week for Streit.

  1. (last week: 13) Pierre-Edouard Bellemare - Who could have guessed that PEB would have the most memorable play of the season. He stole the puck at the blue line on Saturday and buried the empty-net goal with enthusiasm, sending the Flyers into the playoffs.

  1. (last week: 10) Radko Gudas - This guy is just fun to watch. He hits everything and shoots everything -- registering 11 shots and 12 hits in four games.

  1. (last week: 15) Sam Gagner - For the first time in his career, Sam Gagner is going to the playoffs. That’s gotta be worth something in these rankings, right?

  1. (last week: 11) Ryan White - Whatever magic that White conjures up while he’s screening the goalie, he needs to bottle it for the playoffs. No points and four shots in four games, but help Ghost score on Sunday with a masterful screen.

  1. (last week: not ranked) Michal Neuvirth - He’s back. Missing since March 16 with an injury, Neuvirth healed up just in time to get some conditioning against the Islanders on Sunday. Oh, and he picked up the win, which cement his record at 18-8-4 on the season. Not bad for a back-up.

  1. (last week: 20) Scott Laughton - After sitting for seven games, Laughton got his time to shine on Thursday. He didn’t do much. Got another shot on Sunday and made a nice pass to Raffl for a goal then scored his own -- a reminder not to give up on 21-year-olds.

  1. (last week: 12) Nick Cousins - He was controversially scratched for Laughton on Thursday but made a triumphant return on Sunday, picking up an assist. He went shotless in three of his last four games, which will have to change if the Flyers want to take down the Caps.

  1. (last week: 14) Brandon Manning - Manning was going one-on-one with Nikolay Kulemin, who inexplicably knocked the stick out of Manning’s hand, kept the puck in possession and scored for the Islanders. How does that even happen? That’s the definition of soft defense. 

  1. (last week: 16) Andrew MacDonald - He had a game on Thursday that only he could have. MacDonald scored a dramatic goal late in the third when the Flyers needed it most, only to take a penalty in overtime that led to the loss. It’s like he’s allergic to having the fans on his side.

  1. (last week: 22) Evgeny Medvedev - This guy can shoot. The Flyers coaching staff doesn’t think he can do much else, but boy, he can shoot. Medvedev played his first game since March 12 on Sunday and buried a one-timer from the point, then added a power play assist.

  1. (last week: 17) Matt Read - The Reader has had a pretty terrible season. Regardless of his He had 26 points in 79 games, which is the second worst of his career if you count the 24 points in totaled in 42 games during the shortened 2012-13 season.

  1. (last week: 19) Chris VandeVelde - He had a noticeably strong game on Wednesday in Detroit but continues to struggle with his finish. If VV could finish the chances he earns, he’d be a damn good fourth-line player.

  1. (last week: 23) R.J. Umberger - Not only did Umberger actually get into a game, but he actually, really scored a goal. If that wasn’t amazing enough, it was his fourth point in his last four games played, dating back to Feb. 16.

  1. (last week: 18) Nick Schultz - Let’s just put it this way: Nick Schultz versus the Capitals will be interesting TV.

  1. (last week: not ranked) Jordan Weal - Everyone was reminded on Sunday that Weal was still on the roster. He was activated and played 14:04 with one shot. The hype train is at an unfortunate halt for this guy.

Injury Report: Michael Del Zotto (Upper-Body Injury)

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