Philadelphia Flyers Season Preview: The Right, Wrong, And Lingering Questions

Another season of Flyers hockey is here and expectations are once again sky high.

After the difficult finish to the 2008-09 campaign, the team made the biggest splash of the NHL offseason, acquiring former Norris and Hart Trophy winner Chris Pronger. Pronger provides size, experience and skill that make him born to be a Flyer.
 
Although goaltending was not the reason the Flyers were eliminated in the first round, both Marty Biron and Antero Niittymaki have moved on. Ray Emery was brought in as the latest No. 1 man between the pipes and so far, the reviews have been stellar.
 
Before the puck drops on the 42nd year of Flyers hockey, here's a look at what to watch for.
 
What Could Go Right

• Pronger continues to be the minutes-eating No. 1 defenseman the Flyers have lacked since the days of Mark Howe and Brad McCrimmon. Sidney Crosby won't feel so comfortable in front of the net this season.

• Emery's strong preseason (1.78 GAA in six games) carries over into the regular season.

• Depth at forward remains the Flyers' greatest strength. The orange and black return four guys who scored 30-plus goals in 2008-09, led by Jeff Carter's 46.

Gone are 52 combined goals from Mike Knuble and Joffrey Lupul, but expect much more output from Daniel Briere and Claude Giroux, who combined for only 20 regular season tallies. 

• The flashes of brilliance Giroux displayed down the stretch and in the playoffs will lead to the beginning of a brilliant career. Guess the Flyers aren't so disappointed the Rangers drafted Bobby Sanguinetti one pick ahead of Giroux now.

• Blair Betts provides the strong faceoff and penalty killing presence the team has been sorely lacking.

• James Van Riemsdyk (JVR) keeps developing into the John LeClair type winger the Flyers envisioned when they selected him No. 2 overall in 2007. The 20-year-old led the team with 16 shots on goal in the preseason.

• The additions of Pronger, Ian Laperriere, and Betts take some of the workload off Kimmo Timonen, Mike Richards, and Carter, allowing them to be even more effective in the somewhat reduced roles.

• Being paired with Pronger will make Matt Carle a much better player.

• The Flyers were one of four teams ranked in the top 10 in both the power play and penalty kill last season. The new additions could bolster the special teams into the top five in both categories. 

The PP struggled during the preseason but with the talent the Flyers can throw out there, things should improve.

• The sting of two straight playoff losses to the Penguins combined with the added veteran experience will spur the team to reach our lofty expectations.

What Could Go Wrong

• The loss of Knuble's presence in front of the net cannot be replaced on the power play.

• Emery will simply falter in goal or return to his disruptive ways that led to his departure from Ottawa.

• The team will continue to show its maddening tendency to lose intensity or even disappear for long stretches in games or even weeks at a time (i.e. Game Six vs Penguins or the final week of the regular season which cost them home ice against the Pens).

• Daniel Carcillo will lead the league in PIMs for the third straight season and continue to take an average of one bad penalty a game. Danny boy picked up 45 PIMs in six preseason games so he's already off to a fast start.

• The Flyers led the league with 17.5 PIM per game last season. Adding Pronger and Lapperiere to go with a full season of Carcillo will not help this department.

• The lack of cap space will come back to haunt them.

Remaining Questions

• Can Briere and Simon Gagne remain healthy?

• Briere is moving from center to wing this season. After leading the team with six points in the preseason, does the position switch matter?

• What can the Flyers expect from Brian Boucher? The guy who went 12-6-3 with a 2.18 GAA last season with the Sharks or the one who was 0-2-1 with a 4.52 GAA and .794 save percentage in preseason.

If Boucher is out for an extended period of time with his current injury, it's doubtful Johan Backlund is ready to shoulder the backup duties.

• Why are the Flyers carrying Arron Asham, Riley Cote, Laperriere, AND Carcillo on the roster?

• Is Mika Pyorala for real? The 28-year-old Finnish rookie earned a roster spot after an impressive training camp. With five points in six games and a plus-five rating, there was no way to keep him off the roster.

• The road team in each of the previous two winter classics have reached the Stanley Cup Final. Will the Flyers make it three straight this year?

• How could people be so upset the Flyers traded Luca Sbisa for Pronger? 

• Hard to believe its been 34 years since the last Stanley Cup parade down Broad Street. Is this finally the year?