Just a preface to this series.  I am not pulling a BT and writing a season preview for every team in the league, because I do not have nearly enough time to do that.  I am doing season previews for the five Atlantic Division teams, as those are the five teams that I know the best.

2007-2008 Record: 42-29-11, 95 points, 245 GF, 227 GA

Players Signed: F Jeff Carter (3-year, $15 million contract), D Steve Eminger (one-year contract), D Ossi Vaananen (1-year, $1 million), F Glen Metropolit (2-years), Nate Raduns (1-year) , F Riley Cote (3-years, undisclosed), D Randy Jones (2-years, undisclosed), F Arron Asham (multi-year contract), F Joffrey Lupul (4-year contract extension).


Unsigned Players: F Jesse Boulerice, F Jim Dowd (UFAs), D Nate Guenin (RFA)

Notable Trades: Acquired defenceman Danny Syvret from the Edmonton Oilers for centre Ryan Potulny; acquired a 2008 seventh-round pick and a 2009 conditional fourth-round pick from the Tampa Bay Lightning for the rights to left wing Vaclav Prospal; acquired 2008 first- and third-round picks from the Columbus Blue Jackets for centre R.J. Umberger and a 2008 fourth-round pick; acquired defenceman Steve Eminger and a 2008 third-round pick from the Washington Capitals for a 2008 first-round pick; acquired defenceman Janne Niskala from the Nashville Predators for left wing Triston Grant and a 2009 seventh-round pick; acquired Patrik Hersely and Ned Lukacevic from the L.A. Kings for Denis Gauthier and a second-round pick.

2008 NHL Entry Draft:

Didger-Giroux!

Claude Giroux is the next big thing in Philadelphia.  He scored 103 points in 69 games for the Gatineau Olympiques of the QMJHL.  He also set records in the playoffs, scoring 51 points in 19 games, leading his team to the Memorial Cup championship.

If Giroux is placed on the first-line wing, with Briere centering him and Gagne opposite him, look for him to challenge for the Calder Trophy this year.  He could easily put up 60 to 70 points this year on that line. 

However, if Stevens and the coaching staff do what they always do, which is not allow rookies a fair chance, he will struggle to get 20 points on the third or fourth line.

Will the real Mike Richards please stand up?

Mike Richards, the biggest surprise of last year, and most likely the captain for this coming year and the next 15 years, is still not the best player on the team.  He had a brilliant year in 2007-08, and had more points that Danny Briere.  However, he needs to have one more year leading the Flyers in points for us to know he was not just a one-year wonder.

I personally believe that Richards’ great season was not, in fact, a fluke.  He is truly a talented player, and as long as John Stevens can find a great place for him on a line, he will surpass 80 points almost every year for years to come.  He could possibly be the next Bobby Clarke—and many Flyers’ fans are hoping that will mean a Stanley Cup coming back to Philadelphia.

Stop Lupul-ling my leg!

Joffrey Lupul showed last year that he is an elite forward within the National Hockey League.  He played amazingly well last season, and had so many more goals than any of us could have imagined.  He will most likely hit the twenty- or thirty-goal mark this year—and will seem like a bargain, making just over $2 million.

He is an unbelievable player in this league and for this team.  If he can duplicate and expand on last year’s performance, the Flyers will be set with him for the remainder of his career.

Mike Nuble: The “K” is silent—in my mind

I don’t even think that Knuble is going to make the first line this year.  He showed last year that he was not as capable as we thought, and unable to put up thirty goals.  That could be because of a lack of Forsberg and Gagne—but he still needs to be able to produce without those two. 

He is going to be put on the second or third line, and will struggle greatly.  Look for him and his salary to traded away this year at the deadline.

The Flyers are still over the cap, and by getting rid of Knuble, they will rid themselves of the $3.5 million salary that he was given after the lockout.  He was a two-year wonder—if that is a real term—and did not do much last year. 

I think that he is losing his skill, and definitely getting up there in years.  The Flyers ultimately need to get rid of him this season.

You just got burned!! CO-BURNED!!!!!

Braydon Coburn is the next star defenseman in Philadelphia. The deal he signed last year will look like a bargain by the end of this season.  Coburn is best defenseman in this organization, and the Zhitnik trade to get Coburn to Philly will soon be known as one of the best trades in team history. 

Coburn is fast, has an amazing shot, and can play stellar defense—as he led the Flyers’ defensemen in plus-minus this past season with a plus-17 rating.  Coburn has all the talent that Timonen has, plus a little more raw talent that needs to be utilized by the Flyers’ coaching staff.

The Devils aren’t the only team with a Marty in net

Martin Biron proved himself during the playoffs last year. Biron is a very capable goalie, and Flyers’ fans saw that last season when he carried them to the Eastern Conference Finals seemingly single-handedly (even though it wasn’t).

His acrobatics and his unbelievable clutch play earned the Flyers a spot in the Final Four for the first time since 2004, when they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games.  He will easily be the starting goaltender when the puck drops in October.

So what does this all mean?

The Flyers are just as good as they were last year, and they are a year older, making the majority of their team a bit better.  Unfortunately, they will fall victim to the Atlantic Division and fail to win it. 

They will make the playoffs again, and perhaps get to the second round, but I don’t see anything more than that happening to Philadelphia this year.

Prediction: Third in Atlantic Division, Fifth in Eastern Conference.

Alan Bass is a Senior Writer for Bleacher Report and the Community Leader for the Philadelphia Flyers section.  He is also the co-host of NHL 2Day, a weekly radio show on Youcastr.com.  You can contact him at ALN424@aol.com.  You can also check out his BR archives here.