Nick Seeler brings value to the Flyers

It's hard to believe, but this will be Nick Seeler's sixth season as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers. He wasn't expected to be a major contributor. Heck, he was signed as a free agent after he was released by the Chicago Blackhawks several months earlier. He was signed by Chuck Fletcher, who had known Seeler when he played for the Wild. You could say that this was one of the few "on the cheap" moves Fletcher made that actually panned out.

He's not flashy. He's not going to light up the scoreboard, although he set a career high in goals last season with four and assists the season before with 17. He's not a big-time bruiser, although he'll end up in the top five in hits given out each season. He isn't dirty. He is just one of those guys who shows up and plays. Because of that, he is one of the most important Flyers heading into this upcoming season.

The Value of Nick Seeler

Travis Sanheim is a more well-rounded player. Jamie Drysdale and Cam York are better offensively. Oliver Bonk and David Jiricek have more potential. Rasmus Ristolainen is more of an enforcer. Based on these facts, you'd wonder why Seeler is still a Flyer, let alone signed on until the end of the 2027-28 season.

Seeler is the kind of guy every team needs. He doesn't cough the puck up much, especially in the Flyers' zone. He doesn't put the team down a man by taking a reckless penalty. He is perfect for an offensively-minded partner who may lack a bit of defensive prowess. He has helped Drysdale and York become better defenders. They can see how he plays the more "stay-at-home- defender role and feel freer to do what they do best. The better he does, the fewer shots the Flyers' goalies have to face. The fewer shots the goalies face, the less likely those shots are to become goals.

Seeler leads by example. He might not be a huge locker room presence, but it’s what he does on the ice. You see him dropping back to protect passing lanes. You can see him battling behind the net or in the corner for the puck. You see him laying his body on the ice to block shots; he finished second on the team last year with 149 shots (to Sanheim's 152) after leading the Flyers with 200+ blocks the previous two seasons. He is unselfish and does whatever puts the Flyers in the best situation to win. He has been relatively healthy for a defensive unit that has been hit hard with injuries over the last few seasons.

This could be Seeler's final year on the team. As the younger prospects try to crack the roster, something's gotta give. Most likely, Ristolainen's days are numbered here in Philly. But hey, we've been saying that for years. It's equally likely the team re-signs him. As for Seeler, the Flyers will probably want to get younger and move on at some point. Whether that happens at the trade deadline or after the season, we'll have to see. If Bonk, Jiricek, and other young blueliners are ready to step up, Seeler will probably be shipped out for a decent return.

Seeler went from being an afterthought free-agent signing off the waiver wire to a major cog for the Flyers during the last few years. It will be sad to see him leave when it is finally time. For now, he is quietly one of the most consistent players for Philly.