2011–12 Philadelphia Flyers season

The 2011–12 Philadelphia Flyers season was the team's 45th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). 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 (Sean Couturier) 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
Chris Pronger 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 (335), the most powerplay goals scored (66) and the most powerplay opportunities against (319).

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
Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left Wing; RW = Right Wing
 = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.
 = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.

Goaltending

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 (*).

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 (*).

Waivers
The Flyers were involved in the following waivers transactions.

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 (*).

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.

Farm teams
American Hockey League – Adirondack Phantoms (Standings)
 ECHL – Trenton Titans

Notes

References
General
hockeyDB.com: Roster and player statisticsResults and Schedule
hockey-reference.com: Roster and StatisticsSchedule and Results
Flyers History: Season OverviewGame Scores & ResultsPlayoff Results
Specific

External links

Philadelphia Flyers Historical Salaries from CapGeek.com

Category:Philadelphia Flyers seasons
Philadelphia Flyers season, 2011-12
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Philadelphia Flyers
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