In this edition of our 2023-24 Philadelphia Flyers player grading series, we take a look at 25-year-old center Ryan Poehling. The former first-round pick got a new start with the Orange and Black, and he didn’t disappoint. What grade does he deserve for this?
Poehling Surpasses Expectations
Poehling, just 24 at the time, was a restricted free agent for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2023 offseason, but they declined to pick up his qualifying offer. He didn’t even have a particularly bad season, it’s just that they had other plans. So, the young depth center entered free agency. The Flyers picked him up on a one-year deal, making them his third team in his short career. Living in a suitcase is never ideal — he had to make this one count.
For a rebuilding Philadelphia team, Poehling seemed to be a solid addition but not quite the player that stays around for very long. He had to make a really good impression to prove that he was worth keeping. The great news for him was that he fit in perfectly with a Flyers club that found itself in a playoff spot for most of the season. He raised the bar as time went on.
Poehling started out as a fourth-line center for the Flyers, but that sort of tanked his numbers. From the start of the season through Jan. 27, he had a 49.3 expected goals percentage (xGF%) at even strength. With that being said, he was an elite option for the Flyers’ penalty kill. Among forwards with 50 or more minutes of ice time shorthanded, he ranked 19th out of 146 in expected goals against per 60 (xGA/60).
With 14 points in 45 games to that point as well, general manager (GM) Danny Briere had no problem extending him to a two-year contract worth $3.8 million total. For a younger bottom-six center who has some decent upside, the contract seemed fair at the time.
After his extension, Poehling only got better. He had a 59.7 xGF% at even strength in 32 games with 14 points to go along with it. Averaging 14:16 of ice time at even strength during this time period, he was fourth on the team among forwards and going up against some pretty tough competition in the process. He frequented a shutdown line with Noah Cates and Garnet Hathaway which was superb for his numbers, but he also centered the first line from time to time. For what was meant to be a depth centerman signing, he didn’t just outplay his previous contract; he started outplaying his new one.
Poehling Could Be a Long-Term Flyer
Considering his age and play as a bottom-six center, Poehling might be with the Flyers beyond a second contract. Acquiring forwards like him is easier said than done. The Orange and Black had pretty poor depth offensively in 2022-23 and before that, but they got some new pieces to make it more of a focal point with the additions of Poehling and Hathaway. A weakness turned into one of the team’s strengths.
Even if Poehling will be 27 by the time his contract ends, bottom-six forwards can have an impact well into their 30s. He relies on his elite speed to make plays, but even without the speed factor, he has still been a great asset for the Flyers’ third line. He might lose a step because of this, but he is more than a one-dimensional player. His game could age pretty gracefully.
Also, the Flyers’ center depth for their future isn’t great. Perhaps their only centers with likely NHL upside, Denver Barkey and Massimo Rizzo, might end up being wingers if they play for the Flyers. Depth-wise, it’s not looking good for Philadelphia down the middle. Poehling can help to offset this.
Related: 4 Flyers Prospects Who Could Be Late-Round Gems
If Poehling is successful on his extension, he might have finally found himself a home in the NHL. Even the Flyers never could have expected that to be a possibility when they first signed him.
Poehling’s Final Grade
Despite Poehling playing really well in his role, his grade might appear a little bit tame based on all of these praises for his game. His only weakness is that he doesn’t have a top-six upside — that affects his overall rating. In the end, a B-minus grade seems just right for him. His all-around production was pretty solid.