The Philadelphia Flyers' playoff spot wasn't guaranteed going into their final game of the regular season against the Washington Capitals, but one thing was—it was going to be an emotional night no matter what the result was.
The Philadelphia Flyers' playoff spot wasn't guaranteed going into their final game of the regular season against the Washington Capitals, but one thing was—it was going to be an emotional night no matter what the result was.
The Philadelphia Flyers' playoff spot wasn't guaranteed going into their final game of the regular season against the Washington Capitals, but one thing was—it was going to be an emotional night no matter what the result was.
A win would've been a euphoric moment (albeit a potentially fleeting one, considering the Flyers had other results to worry about) to encapsulate the starry-eyed optimism that this team inspired in a fanbase that was still jaded from the way the organization was managed in the past. The loss was devastating. It left no room for hope or believing—just a widespread feeling of emptiness, the kind of icy numbness that shocks the system, an onslaught of grief for something that doesn't quite feel gone yet.
Both players and fans have begun the mourning process. Is that a bit dramatic? Maybe. But in looking back on this season, this is the most alive this team has felt in ages. They have a heart, a soul, and a purpose. They have what feels like a genuinely human connection with the fanbase for the first time in a long time. Thinking in terms of the bigger picture, the dream isn't dead. But it will take some time to come to terms with a heart-wrenching ending to a season that is just the first step towards building something magnificent.
Denial
It looked like the Flyers were catching a second win when they won 4-1 against the New York Rangers, and even though the hope was tentative, people still dared to believe. An appearance in the second wild card spot wasn't impossible, and with everything that happened with this Flyers team across the season, it truly seemed like anything could happen. On all sides, it feels like the season ended too early.
Scott Laughton acknowledged that it would take "a few weeks" to process everything, and the wound is obviously still incredibly raw for all of them, but there is a willingness to take what they need to take from this learning experience and apply it to their summer preparations.
Anger
Unsurprisingly, there was plenty of anger surrounding how the season ended. Even though the Detroit Red Wings' late winning goal eliminated the Flyers before the eventual loss did, it was incredibly frustrating to end the regular season on a loss. It didn't feel like a fair summation of everything this team fought through to get the position they were in for the last game of the season.
Whether the anger was directed at the players, the coaches, or just the circumstances in general, it's fair to say that this season had sparked so much unexpected emotion that people didn't really know what to do with all of it; they just knew they had to put it somewhere. It's clear that plenty of people became way more attached to these Flyers than they planned to be in the beginning of the season, and got upset when things just didn't pan out
Bargaining
A hallmark of people's reflections on this season has been "if only" thinking. "If only they won one or two games in the eight-game skid, maybe we would've been in a more secure playoff position," or "maybe if we didn't have so many injuries, guys wouldn't have gotten burnt out so quickly," or "maybe if our powerplay was better, we could have stolen a few games back." It's easy to sit and ruminate on the "what ifs" and find comfort in the thought that if just one thing had been different, the season wouldn't be over right now.
Depression
It's understandable that the mood was low following the Capitals game. For a team that became known for their always vibrant, upbeat, colorful locker room, it was a complete 180. While the players still expressed a healthy amount of optimism for what they can learn from this season and how they can continue building for next season, an iron curtain of sadness hung in the air.
How each player reflects will be different, of course—Ryan Poehling expressed that his faith is a huge factor in helping him through tough times, while younger players like Cam York and Bobby Brink are choosing to look at the positives and plan to use the offseason to continue to improve their individual games. There are undoubtedly a lot of emotions to untangle, especially since even veteran players admitted that this season was unlike anything they've experienced before, but being on this rollercoaster together will only help bring them closer (if that's even possible).
Acceptance
Resiliency has been the Flyers' middle name all season, and the obstacles that this season threw at them will only add fuel to the fire that they're stoking for the 2024-25 stretch. They've learned so much about themselves, both as players and as people, and have found out exactly what they're capable of as a group. The scar that this season left may never fully heal for some, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It's a reminder—not of their shortcomings, but of their strength and their work ethic, a testament to how they really don't need anybody but each other to succeed.
For all the negatives from this season that will surely be harped on for years to come, there were so many positives—most importantly, the way that this organization felt united again, and that there is absolutely still plenty of hope for what lies ahead. The success from this season was no fluke. The Flyers are only just getting started.
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