2011–12 Philadelphia Flyers season


The 2011–12 Philadelphia Flyers season was the team's 45th season in the National Hockey League. The Flyers lost in the second round of the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs to their crosstown rivals, the New Jersey Devils, in five games.
In July 2011, veteran Jaromir Jagr joined the Flyers as a free agent, his first time in the NHL since the 2007–08 season. The season was also Chris Pronger's last in the NHL. After appearing in three Stanley Cup Finals and winning one with the Anaheim Ducks, Pronger had not played since November 2011 after battling several injuries and suffering from post-concussion syndrome. In 2013, Claude Giroux would replace Pronger as the Flyers' captain. Pronger's absence left Jean-Sebastien Giguere of the Colorado Avalanche as the last remaining active Hartford Whaler in the NHL at the time.

Off-season

Following his penchant for making big moves, Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren pulled off perhaps the most stunning move of his tenure, trading captain Mike Richards to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Brayden Schenn, Wayne Simmonds and a 2012 second-round draft pick, as well as Jeff Carter to the Columbus Blue Jackets for their 2011 first-round pick and Jakub Voracek, all within the span of one hour on June 23. Later that same day, Holmgren addressed the Flyers' long-standing goaltending issues by signing the Phoenix Coyotes' Ilya Bryzgalov to a nine-year, $51 million contract. On July 1, the Flyers signed Jaromir Jagr to a one-year contract, Maxime Talbot to a five-year contract and Andreas Lilja to a two-year contract.

Regular season

was named the Flyers' captain; however, 13 games into the season, he was lost for the remainder of the regular season and playoffs with severe post-concussion syndrome.
Bryzgalov's play ranged from spectacular to subpar, including being benched in favor of Sergei Bobrovsky for the Flyers' 3–2 loss to the New York Rangers in the 2012 Winter Classic. Twelve rookies played for the Flyers during the season, with the play of Sean Couturier, Brayden Schenn and Matt Read standing out impressively.
The Flyers concluded the regular season with the most powerplay opportunities of all teams, the most powerplay goals scored and the most powerplay opportunities against.

Season standings

Playoffs

The Flyers drew the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the playoffs, a series in which the two teams combined for an NHL-record 45 goals in the first four games and a total of 309 penalty minutes in an intense, fight-filled series. The Flyers pulled off the upset in six games against a Pittsburgh team that was heavily favored to win the Stanley Cup. But in the second round against the New Jersey Devils, the Flyers' run-and-gun style of play was stymied by the Devils' forechecking and defense, and the Flyers were eliminated in five games.

Schedule and results

Pre-season

Regular season

Playoffs

Player statistics

Scoring

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Individual

Team

Milestones

Suspensions and fines

Transactions

The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from June 16, 2011, the day after the deciding game of the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals, through June 11, 2012, the day of the deciding game of the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals.

Trades

Signings

Free agency

The following players were signed by the Flyers via free agency. Two-way contracts are marked with an asterisk.
DatePlayerPrevious team TermRef
July 1, 2011Jaromir JagrAvangard Omsk 1-year
July 1, 2011Andreas LiljaAnaheim Ducks2-year
July 1, 2011Maxime TalbotPittsburgh Penguins5-year
July 19, 2011Jason BacashihuaColorado Avalanche1-year*
September 14, 2011Blake Kessel University of New Hampshire 2-year*
March 6, 2012Cal Heeter Ohio State University 2-year*
April 2, 2012Matt Konan Medicine Hat Tigers 3-year*
April 2, 2012Matt Mangene University of Maine 2-year*
May 21, 2012Andrew Johnston Humboldt Broncos 3-year*

Internal

The following players were either re-signed by the Flyers or, in the case of the team's selections in the NHL Entry Draft, signed to entry level contracts. Two-way contracts are marked with an asterisk.
DatePlayerTermRef
June 23, 2011Ilya Bryzgalov9-year
June 27, 2011Andreas Nodl2-year
June 27, 2011Tom Sestito1-year*
July 1, 2011Jakub Voracek1-year
July 7, 2011Wayne Simmonds2-year
July 14, 2011Tye McGinn 3-year*
July 19, 2011Jon Kalinski1-year*
July 19, 2011Marcel Noebels 3-year*
August 30, 2011James van Riemsdyk6-year extension
September 21, 2011Sean Couturier 3-year*
November 9, 2011Braydon Coburn4-year extension
March 27, 2012Nick Cousins 3-year*
April 4, 2012Matt Ford1-year extension*
April 6, 2012Nicklas Grossmann4-year extension
May 21, 2012Derek Mathers 3-year*

Waivers

The Flyers were involved in the following waivers transactions.
DatePlayerTeamRef
October 5, 2011Blair Bettsto Montreal Canadiens
November 29, 2011Andreas Nodlto Carolina Hurricanes

Departures

The following players left the team via free agency, release, or retirement. Players who were under contract and left the team during the season are marked with an asterisk.
DatePlayerNew team ViaRef
July 1, 2011Sean O'DonnellChicago BlackhawksFree agency
July 1, 2011Brian BoucherCarolina HurricanesFree agency
July 1, 2011Ville LeinoBuffalo SabresFree agency
July 1, 2011Daniel CarcilloChicago BlackhawksFree agency
August 3, 2011Nikolay ZherdevAtlant Mytishchi Free agency
August 3, 2011Garrett KlotzAdirondack Phantoms Free agency
August 8, 2011Danny SyvretSt. Louis BluesFree agency
August 9, 2011Michael RyanBuffalo SabresFree agency
September 14, 2011Joonas LehtivuoriModo Hockey Release
September 16, 2011Brian StewartBinghamton Senators Free agency
N/ANick Boynton—Retirement

Draft picks

Philadelphia's picks at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, which was held at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on June 24–25, 2011. The Flyers traded their first-round pick, 25th overall, and their third-round pick, 85th overall, to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Kris Versteeg on February 14, 2011. They also traded their original second and fifth-round picks in two different trades.
RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityTeam Notes
18Sean CouturierCenterCanadaDrummondville Voltigeurs
368Nick CousinsCenterCanadaSault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
4116Colin SuellentropDefenseUnited StatesOshawa Generals
4118Marcel NoebelsLeft WingGermanySeattle Thunderbirds
6176Petr PlacekRight wingCzech RepublicHotchkiss School
7206Derek MathersRight WingCanadaPeterborough Petes

Farm teams

;American Hockey League – Adirondack Phantoms
; ECHL – Trenton Titans