2011–12 Philadelphia Flyers season

The 2011–12 Philadelphia Flyers season was the team's 45th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers lost in the second round of the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs to their local rivals, the New Jersey Devils, in five games.

In July 2011, veteran Jaromir Jagr joined the Flyers as a free agent, his first time in the NHL since the 2007–08 season. The season was also Chris Pronger's last in the NHL. After appearing in three Stanley Cup Finals and winning one with the Anaheim Ducks, Pronger had not played since November 2011 after battling several injuries and suffering from post-concussion syndrome. In 2013, Claude Giroux would replace Pronger as the Flyers' captain.

Off-season
Following his penchant for making big moves, Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren pulled off perhaps the most stunning move of his tenure, trading captain Mike Richards to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Brayden Schenn, Wayne Simmonds and a 2012 second-round draft pick, as well as Jeff Carter to the Columbus Blue Jackets for their 2011 first-round pick (Sean Couturier) and Jakub Voracek, all within the span of one hour on June 23. Later that same day, Holmgren addressed the Flyers' long-standing goaltending issues by signing the Phoenix Coyotes' Ilya Bryzgalov to a nine-year, $51 million contract. On July 1, the Flyers signed Jaromir Jagr to a one-year contract, Maxime Talbot to a five-year contract and Andreas Lilja to a two-year contract.

Regular season
Chris Pronger was named the Flyers' captain; however, 13 games into the season, he was lost for the remainder of the regular season and playoffs with severe post-concussion syndrome.

Bryzgalov's play ranged from spectacular to subpar, including being benched in favor of Sergei Bobrovsky for the Flyers' 3–2 loss to the New York Rangers in the 2012 Winter Classic. Twelve rookies played for the Flyers during the season, with the play of Sean Couturier, Brayden Schenn and Matt Read standing out impressively.

The Flyers concluded the regular season with the most powerplay opportunities of all teams (335), the most powerplay goals scored (66) and the most powerplay opportunities against (319).

Playoffs
The Flyers drew the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the playoffs, a series in which the two teams combined for an NHL-record 45 goals in the first four games and a total of 309 penalty minutes in an intense, fight-filled series. The Flyers pulled off the upset in six games against a Pittsburgh team that was heavily favored to win the Stanley Cup. But in the second round against the New Jersey Devils, the Flyers' run-and-gun style of play was stymied by the Devils' forechecking and defense, and the Flyers were eliminated in five games.

Preseason

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Regular season

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Playoffs

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Scoring

 * Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
 * † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.
 * ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.

Records
Among the team records set during the 2011–12 season was Scott Hartnell tying the team record for most goals in a single period (3) on January 22. From March 6 to March 15, goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov set the team record for longest shutout sequence (249 minutes and 43 seconds) and his three consecutive shutouts from March 8 to March 13 tied the team record. On March 18, Hartnell scored the latest regular season overtime goal in team history at 4:59 of the period. The Flyers won 25 times on the road for the second consecutive season, tying the team record.

A number of franchise playoff records were set during the Flyers conference quarterfinals series against the Pittsburgh Penguins. In game two, Claude Giroux set a single playoff game team record for most points (6) and Sean Couturier tied one for most points by a rookie (4). The Flyers two shorthanded goals during the game also tied a team record. In game three, the Flyers scored four powerplay goals, tying a team record. During game four, the Flyers tied two team records for most powerplay goals scored during a single playoff period (3) and most goals allowed during a playoff game (10). The twelve powerplay goals the Flyers scored during the series is a franchise single series high.

Transactions
The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from June 16, 2011, the day after the deciding game of the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals, through June 11, 2012, the day of the deciding game of the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals.

Draft picks
Philadelphia's picks at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, which was held at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on June 24–25, 2011. The Flyers traded their first-round pick, 25th overall, and their third-round pick, 85th overall, to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Kris Versteeg on February 14, 2011. They also traded their original second and fifth-round picks in two different trades.

Farm teams

 * American Hockey League – Adirondack Phantoms (Standings)
 * ECHL – Trenton Titans