Michael Raffl Does Not Belong On Philadelphia Flyers' Top Line

The Philadelphia Flyers have struggled mightily this season on both ends of the ice. The woes on the blueline were expected, but I don’t think anyone was ready for the Flyers’ top line to be as ineffective as it’s been in the early going of the 2015-16 NHL season.

With Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek on the top line, both of whom were among the top point-getters in the NHL last season, it shouldn’t be much of an issue to get the puck in the net. But that’s the Flyers’ current reality, and it’s been crippling to the rest of the team.

Giroux and Voracek haven’t been completely invisible as they’ve combined for four goals and six assists throughout the Flyers’ first 12 games (all four goals scored by Giroux). Obviously, that’s not even close to acceptable as two of the Flyers’ franchise players, but there is no reason to assume that things won’t turn around for them as the season moves forward.

However, Michael Raffl, the third member of Philadelphia’s top line, has been completely idle since the season began. In 12 games, Raffl has recorded one assist.

That’s it.

This is the same guy who recorded 21 goals as a second-year player last season and led the Flyers in even-strength goals.

So what’s happened? Giroux and Voracek haven’t been popular on the score sheet this season, but Raffl is supposed to be the finisher on the top line. The opportunities have presented themselves numerous times throughout the season, but still, no goals for Raffl. He’s recorded 29 shots on goal this season, so a hint of bad luck could be holding him back, but regardless, this is a cause for concern. For the Flyers’ first line to be successful, it needs a finisher and Raffl isn’t finishing.

The way things are shaping up right now, Raffl is not looking like the best option to be playing alongside Giroux and Voracek. If the first line continues to struggle over the course of the next few games, don’t be surprised if coach Dave Hakstol decides to shake things up a bit and replace Raffl with a guy like Brayden Schenn, who’s recorded four goals this season, many of which have been from the “dirty” area of the ice in front of the goal crease.

The Flyers are currently on a five-game losing streak and have two tough games coming up against the Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and if demoting Raffl helps the top line start scoring points, then so be it.

Ryan Quigley is a Sports Writer for www.RantSports.com covering the NFL and the NHL. Follow him on Twitter @Quigs311 or add him to your network on LinkedIn or Google.