The Philadelphia Flyers Have Some Tough Decisions

Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Stevens and General Manager Paul Holmgren will have some tough decisions coming into training camp on both with forwards and defense. First the forwards. There will be four centers: Danny Briere, Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, and Glen Metropolit.

Nine wingers: Simon Gagne, Joffery Lupul, Scott Hartnell, Scottie Upshall, Mike Knuble, Arron Asham, Riley Cote, Steve Downie, and Claude Giroux.

The first six wingers are guaranteed spots unless they somehow managed to  screw up that badly or get injured. The last three on this list will be the ones vying for two spots. Riley Cote is the new team fighter after the departure of Ben Eager. Steve Downie recorded 13 points in 38 games total last year but made some costly mistakes in the Pittsburgh series but is still growing as a player.  

Then there is Claude Giroux who is only 20,  In three seasons with the Gatineau Olympiques of the QMJHL(Quebec Major Junior Hockey League) he has recorded over 100 points in each of the three seasons, including 51 points in 19 playoff games this year. So what to do?  

Riley Cote will probably remain on the team as the team fighter and punisher. Therefore, that leaves Downie and Giroux vying for that coveted final starting spot. Downie is also young at 21 and played significantly during the season averaging nearly 10 minutes of ice time a night. Claude Giroux played in only two games and did not get a point.  

So what to do? I say play Downie and see if he can rebound form the mistakes in the Pittsburgh series. If he still makes the same mistakes and struggles then send him back to the Phantoms and call up Claude Giroux. There will also be need to be a decision on the defense too. There are eight defensemen, all with NHL experience.  

There is Ossi Vaananean, Derian Hatcher, Kimmo Timonen, Randy Jones, Braydon Coburn, Lasse Kukkonen, Ryan Parent, and Steve Eminger. Kimmo, Jones, Coburn,Vaananean, and Eminger will probably be the five to start the season. I believe Eminger will start the season or otherwise expect a lot of angry Flyers since Holmgren traded a first round pick for him.  

Holmgren will want Hatcher to be on the injured reserve so his salary does not count against the cap and that will reduce the number of defensemen to seven and make it a lot easier decision which would be Lasse plays. Hatcher will want to play which will make it tough for Holmgren.  

Kukkonen played in 53 games last year and it will be hard to send him back down after playing so much last year. Holmgren and Stevens will need to decide on this team on and make difficult decisions on who to keep and who to send back to the minors.