PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Flyers and the NHL are going back to the '80s in 2021.
Earlier this week, the league announced the 2021 season will begin on Jan. 13. There are temporary division alignments for the season in which each team will play 56 games.
All of the games will be against division rivals, with each team playing their division foes eight times. It will be similar to the division heavy schedules of the 1980s, and Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher liked the retro tone of the schedule.
"The Patrick Division," joked Fletcher. "We're bringing it back. It'll be great. Again, it's a hard division. Last year, I felt we had the best division in the league, and I think it's the same this year. Any of the eight teams can make the playoffs. We all can make it, we all can miss."
Fletcher's assessment of the division seems quite accurate.
The Penguins, Capitals, Rangers, Islanders and Devils will remain in the Flyers' division. Gone are the Hurricanes and Blue Jackets, but the Bruins and Sabres will take their place.
Boston finished with the most points in the NHL last season, and Buffalo should be much improved. No night will be an easy one for the Flyers this season.
"We're in an incredibly difficult division," Fletcher said. "It was very difficult last season and certainly isn't any easier this season. The quality of the competition will be high. That's exciting. Certainly every game will be difficult."
While the games will be difficult, the travel will be easier than in most seasons.
Part of the reason the NHL realigned divisions was to cut down on travel as the world continues to deal with the pandemic.
For the Flyers, only games against Boston, Buffalo and Pittsburgh will require short flights. Every other opponent is within driving distance.
"It's better than I anticipated," said Fletcher. "We only have eight back-to-backs. We obviously don't change time zones. In terms of our division, I don't think any of us can have any complaints. I'm sure we're going to have the fewest air miles flown. There's going to be more recovery time than I think I anticipated."
It will be a sprint to the finish for every NHL team, and making the playoffs won't be easy. The top four teams in each division will advance, and that means several talented squads will find themselves on the outside looking in.
Still, the thought of the Flyers playing the likes of the Penguins and Rangers eight times should bring a nostalgic feel to the season.
"There's going to be some drama and some tension," Fletcher said. "In terms of re-establishing rivalries and renewing a few others, I think it will be tremendous. It will be great for our fans. I think our players will enjoy it."
