Fans are expecting the Flyers' rebuild to span multiple seasons, but players see things very differently.
The Philadelphia Flyers are getting set to embark on a rebuild. Interim general manager Danny Brière made that crystal clear in his media availability following the dismissal of former Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher.
On Monday, Brière once again preached patience from the Flyers fan base ahead of what is likely to be a very busy offseason. But the speed of the rebuild isn't in his hands. Instead, the Flyers' return to contention will be very much dictated by the players.
"It started with me, with the rebuild. I didn’t hide behind it. I came in and I said it," Brière said Monday afternoon.
"How fast or how long it’s gonna take, the players will dictate that."
Well, if you ask some of the players, the rebuild may not take that long. In fact, during exit interviews, a pair of key veterans expressed optimism that the Orange & Black could be back in contention as early as next season.
Cam Atkinson, after missing the entire 2022-23 season due to a neck injury, believes the Flyers could even compete for a playoff spot next season with a healthier roster.
"If (Sean Couturier) and I obviously stay healthy, who knows the changes that are gonna be made this year. The young guys that have taken a step forward this year are only gonna take another step forward next year to push each other," said Atkinson during his exit interview.
Couturier, like Atkinson, missed the entire season due to injury. For Couturier, it was a back ailment that sidelined him for the season.
"I just personally don't think that we're that far off," said Atkinson. "I'm not gonna sit here and say winning a Stanley Cup, but being a playoff team — I mean, this year with all the injuries and people out, up until the All-Star break we were only four to six points out. And we went on a couple 10-game losing streaks or something like that. Something crazy and we're still there."
Atkinson isn't the only player with confidence a quick turnaround could be in the cards. Scott Laughton also sees the Flyers bouncing back in a big way, especially given the club's recent injection of young talent into the lineup.
"I think the step that some of those young guys made this year, and just the feel around the room I think was a little bit different from maybe the year past, and the belief within guys," said Laughton.
"Obviously not where we want to be, but this is the situation we're in and we have a lot of young guys that have stepped up in bigger roles. I think you saw it in the last two months or so. They're getting more opportunity and playing against some top guys and really getting their feet wet. You always don't get that opportunity as a young guy to play those big minutes and be in key situations, so I think it can only help down the road.
"We have a couple young forwards that I think can be very valuable for us going forward, so it's exciting for us and them. It's gonna be a big summer for a lot of those guys."
A couple of the young forwards Laughton was possibly referring to are Owen Tippett and Noah Cates, who both took massive steps in their first full season with the Flyers. Cates cemented himself as a quality two-way center after shifting from the wing, and Tippett set career highs in every major statistical category, ultimately earning him the Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Trophy at the end of the season.
But while the Flyers have added more young talent to the roster, questions still remain. Will Atkinson and Couturier return to their previous All-Star forms after missing an entire playing season? Will the Flyers' lack of defensive depth be addressed? Will the special teams improve after finishing 26th on the penalty kill and dead last on the power play?
This team has many flaws. Perhaps too many to realistically right the ship in such short order. But maybe confidence from the youngsters and the addition of a pair of missing pieces is enough to accelerate the process.
Only time will tell.