What the Philadelphia Flyers' Opening Night Lineup Should Look Like

Defensive Pairing #3: Emil Andrae — Marc Staal

Rookie defenseman Emil Andrae is someone that Flyers fans can't wait to see in regular-season action. After recording 26 points in 51 games with HV71 Jonkoping over in Sweden and another six in 10 outings with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, it's finally time for Andrae to get a crack in the NHL.

First-year defenders sometimes have issues transitioning to the next level, meaning pairing Andrae with a veteran like Marc Staal is an obvious move. He played a big role in the Florida Panthers' run to the 2022-23 Stanley Cup Final and brings over 1,100 games of experience to the table.

Staal also played under Torterlla for five seasons with the New York Rangers, making him someone the coach trusts.

Starting Goaltender: Carter Hart, Backup Goaltender: Cal Petersen

Despite persistent trade rumors, Carter Hart opens the year as our starting goaltender. The former Everett Silvertip tallied a 22-23-10 record in 55 appearances last season, playing to a 2.94 goals-against average, .907 save percentages, and two shutouts along the way.

Meanwhile, backup Cal Petersen was acquired from the Los Angeles Kings over the summer in a three-team trade. He's shown promise in the past, going 44-42-10 with a 2.92 GAA, .905 SV%, and four shutouts in 101 career games.

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