How do the Red Wings’ and Flyers’ Rebuilds Compare? (+)

The Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers are both committed to their rebuilding efforts and that’s where their similarity ends.

Their approaches are different, evidenced by the make-up of their roster. When this NHL season started, the Flyers were tied for the NHL’s sixth-youngest roster (26.9 years) out of 32 teams. Only 12 teams were older than the Red Wings (28.4 years).  Since then, the Red Wings have added 35-year-old Patrick Kane as a free agent and were forced by injury into signing 33-year-old goalie Michael Hutchinson.

When the season started, the Flyers led the NHL with 14 of their own draft picks on their roster.  The Red Wings were fifth from the bottom with five of their own.