5 Lineup Changes the Philadelphia Flyers Should Consider for the New Year

As 2014 comes to a close, people are making resolutions for the new year. The Philadelphia Flyers should be making some changes as well in 2015. Here is a look at five lineup changes the Flyers should consider for the new year.

Keep in mind that these changes do not include possible trades—only moves that the Flyers can make with the players they already have on the present roster or in the organization. It can include line changes, benching a player or calling up a player from the minors. It can also involve increasing or reducing the ice time a player is receiving.

Feel free to comment on any of these five suggested changes or come up with some of your own. As always, indicate why you feel the way you do. 

The Flyers have now benched defenseman Michael Del Zotto for the past six games.

Del Zotto has not played exceptionally well, but he does give the Flyers a second defenseman behind Mark Streit who can move the puck well and provide a strong transition from defense to offense if he doesn't commit too many turnovers.

At the very least, Del Zotto should be part of a rotation of defensemen who can provide specific skills the Flyers need against a particular opponent.

In a more wide-open game, Del Zotto should get the nod. If the opponent is more physical, Luke Schenn should be in the lineup. If the opponent has a more aggressive forecheck, then putting Carlo Colaiacovo in the lineup makes more sense. 

When warranted, head coach Craig Berube can play a hot hand for a few games in a row, but none of these players have played consistently well enough to justify a permanent spot in the lineup. Still, if injures strike, Berube is best off having these players ready and not too rusty when they are called upon.

It requires the striking of a delicate balance, but some kind of rotation among the bottom two or three defense slots would benefit the Flyers over the next month or two.        

The Flyers have several strong prospects in the organization on defense, including Shayne Gostisbehere, Samuel Morin, Mark Alt, Travis Sanheim and Robert Hagg.

While Sanheim and Morin are still playing for their junior clubs, Alt, Hagg and Gostisbehere all playing in the AHL.

Before the season started, general manager Ron Hextall indicated he did not want to rush along his young defensive prospects. This was a wise move for the team, at least in the long run.

It is unlikely the Flyers will make the playoffs this season. Last year, it took 93 points to reach the postseason. The Flyers would need 61 points in their final 49 games to reach that mark, or a record of 30-18-1. That's not impossible, but it would require the team to have a few lengthy hot streaks. Thus far, they have not demonstrated that kind of consistency this season. 

If the Flyers do fall out of contention, players like Gostisbehere, Alt and Hagg should all get a chance to play a few games with the Flyers in March and April (however, Gostisbehere is out indefinitely at the moment with a torn ACL).

This idea would show the coaching staff how much these players have developed since training camp and give these players another taste of NHL action. It can only help them prepare for next season, when some of these young defensemen will have a chance to make the big club.  

R.J. Umberger has been a major disappointment for the Flyers since they acquired him in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets last summer. 

In 33 games, the Pittsburgh native has just three goals and six points and an ugly minus-10 plus/minus rating.

While Umberger has struggled offensively, the rest of his game has suffered as well. His defense, skating and passing are also not up to his past standards and have been well below team expectations.

Despite this lack of production and poor overall play, Berube has yet to bench Umberger and make him watch a few games from the press box.

The time has come to change that. Hopefully, a benching will light a fire under the veteran forward. If it does, that will help the Flyers going forward. If it fails to help Umberger improve his play, then perhaps the time has come to make Umberger a depth player who only sees the ice when a teammate suffers an injury or goes into a prolonged slump.  

Scott Laughton was considered the Flyers' top prospect in The Hockey News' annual yearbook. When the team got off to a slow start, it recalled Laughton from the AHL.

Laughton has shown glimpses of the talent that made him the Flyers' top-rated prospect. Thus far, he has two goals and five points through 17 games and has proved he can play in the NHL. 

But Laughton is averaging just 36 seconds of ice time per game on the power play. That number should be increased. Even if Laughton isn't ready to join Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek on the top unit, he should be a regular on the second power-play line.  

Giving Laughton more chances when there's more time and space out there, and when he is more likely to be successful, can only help build up his confidence.

Laughton has worked hard and demonstrated he has great natural ability. Giving him a regular shift on the second power-play unit will help speed up his development and help the Flyers offense. 

If the Flyers hope to make a playoff run during the second half of the season, they will have to play Steve Mason in goal more frequently.

Mason has played in 22 of the Flyers' first 33 contests so far. Backup Ray Emery has played in 12, and Rob Zepp made his NHL debut Sunday against the Winnipeg Jets when Mason suffered an injury last week.  

The statistics don't lie. Once Mason gets healthy, he should be playing more of the Flyers' remaining games.

Thus far, Mason has a 2.49 GAA and .921 save percentage. Meanwhile, Emery's GAA is only 3.13, and he has an .894 save percentage. 

Over the long run, Mason gives the Flyers the best chance to win. He also bails his teammates out more often when they are playing poor team defense.

Once Mason returns to the lineup, he should be playing in at least three of every four games for the Flyers.