Travis Konecny had a lot to prove coming into 2022-23. What was once a promising career as a high-end goal scorer had flatlined after the covid pause in 2020: he didn’t score in the playoff bubble, and he didn’t crack 20 goals the following two seasons after scoring 24 goals in each of the three prior seasons. Part of that was an uncharacteristically low shooting percentage but, to the outside observer, it looked like TK had lost some of his swagger. Had he plateaued early? Was this the real Travis Konecny?
Nope. He went and surprised us with the best season of his career.
In 2022-23, Konecny tied his career high in points in six fewer games, cracked 30 goals for the first time, and had a stretch of play where he was the hottest goal scorer in the league. He saw his average ice time jump dramatically from previous years (almost a three minute increase from 2021-22) and became a monster on the penalty kill, scoring three goals and six points while the Flyers were shorthanded. He even had a ten game point streak from mid-December to mid-January, with a hat trick thrown in for good measure. All in all, you couldn’t ask for a better turn around in TK’s game.
Of course, with the good of TK, you also have to accept the bad–which is weak defense.
Coach Tortorella acknowledged as much, in one interview saying that pushing TK to be more defensively minded would probably crater his offense, and that you just have to let him play his way and hopefully make up for any defensive blunders by putting the puck in the net.
More puzzling was TK’s 5-on-5 stats.
Those numbers don’t seem to embody the offense Konecny created this season. Twenty three of TK’s 30 assists were primary, meaning he wasn’t just scoring on his own, but also driving play more than he has in previous years. Most importantly though, his scoring rate in 2022-23 looks more sustainable than it has in other seasons. Perhaps some of it is “somebody has to score the goals” but, to the eye test, Konecny looked like the top-six scoring threat the Flyers expected when he made his All-Star appearance in 2020.
Three Questions
Did they live up to expectations?
Considering how low Konecny’s stock was when the season began, and the assumption that he would quickly find himself in Torts’ dog house, TK far exceeded expectations. Not only did he rebound offensively, but he became one of Tortorella’s go-to guys in any situation (after being benched for a period against the San Jose Sharks early in the season, of course). Konecny’s stock has never been higher, and there’s a solid case to be made that he was the best player on the team in 2022-23.
What can we expect next season?
Ah, now this is a tricky one. Not because Konecny’s going to flatline again–on the contrary, I think this is the player he’s going to be for the next few years–but because he might not even be a Flyer come the season opener. There was reportedly one team very interested in TK around the deadline, but backed out after he injured his hand and missed several weeks. Contending teams are likely still interested given Konecny’s production, edge, and team-friendly contract–and in light of the Tanner Jeannot return Nashville received from Tampa, the Flyers should absolutely be listening. On top of that, Konecny’s age and contract likely don’t fit the Flyers’ rebuild timeline; it would make sense for him to be moved for future assets to hasten the rebuild.
However, that might be a bad look: the top-producing player who fully embraced Tortorella’s approach gets rewarded with a trade to another team. Konecny likely remains a Flyer next season and, if healthy for a full 82 games, might be able to set a new career best for goals; at one point in 2022-23, he was on pace for a 50-goal season. That may be a reach, but wouldn’t it be fun if he came close?
How do we grade their 2022-23 season?
A career year, the most goals and points on the team, and a new role as a penalty killer. Travis Konecny did it all in 2022-23, and if there’s anything to complain about, it would be his lack of defense. But let’s be honest: would you rather watch a 200-foot, defensively minded Travis Konecny, or Energizer-bunny TK ripping pucks into the net?
Eat up, bud. Eat up.
