Philadelphia Flyers: 10 Biggest Questions Facing The Team So Far
This 2010-11 Philadelphia Flyers have some unfinished business to settle.
Last season was surprising in an unusual way for Flyers fans. After acquiring elite defenseman Chris Pronger over the summer and signing former Cup finalist Ray Emery, the Flyers were expected to build off the growth of their young talent and make a run at the Stanley Cup Finals.
However, things did not go according to plan during the regular season. Injuries and offensive woes found the team on the outside looking in of the playoffs. On Dec. 4, fired coach John Stevens in favor of Peter Laviolette in order to provide a spark to this Flyers lineup. Following a slow adjustment to Laviolette's system, the Flyers flourished in the second half of the season behind a rejuvenated offense and surprise play of journeyman goaltender Michael Leighton, who was signed off waivers due to injuries to both Emery and Brian Boucher.
When Leighton himself was injured in March along with Simon Gagne and Jeff Carter, the Flyers found themselves in a pseudo-elimination game against the New York Rangers in final regular season game. The game came down to a shootout and Brian Boucher fended off one last Ranger shot after Claude Giroux's go ahead shootout goal, the Flyers found themselves in the playoffs.
After a historic playoff run through the Eastern conference, where they took out 2nd seeded New Jersey, became the fourth team in professional sports history to rally from 3-0 deficit to upend Boston and solved Jaroslav Halak and Montreal to reach the Stanley Cup Final.
Although they would fall to Chicago in six games, the Flyers felt confident going into the summer for this upcoming season. A flurry of roster moves changed the roster somewhat as GM Paul Holmgren brought in several defensemen to sure up the blue line, the Flyers look to compete in June once again in 2011.
Here are the 10 biggest questions facing the Flyers this season...
Who Will Stand Tall in the Crease?
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Every year it seems the constant question regarding the Flyers surrounds the goalie situation. Last year, they were carried by a journeymen goaltender who wasn't on the team until mid-December. In the playoffs, they had to rely on their original backup, Brian Boucher, until he got hurt just in time for a returning Michael Leighton. Leighton was able to lead the flyers to the Final until he was outmatched by a potent Chicago Blackhawk offense.
The Flyers brass felt confident in Leighton to re-sign him as the No. 1 in Philadelphia and spurning other free agents such as Evegni Nabokov, Chris Mason, Dan Ellis among others. Unfortunately, Leighton was injured in the preseason and is now expected to miss the first two months of the season.
Many Flyer fans assumed Boucher would get the starting nod with Leighton out, but rookie netminder Sergei Bobrovsky, who was signed from the KHL in the offseason at the young age of 22, showed veteran poise in camp and made the team as the second goalie.
Laviolette surprised many by naming Bobrovsky as the starting goalie in the Flyers opener against Pittsburgh. He played with confidence and made some fantastic saves against the star-studded Penguins, leading the Flyers to a 3-2 victory and was named first star of the game.
It appears that Boucher and Bobrovsky will be splitting time for the time being. Boucher looked solid as well despite falling 2-1 in OT against St. Louis on Saturday. Will the veteran-rookie combo be enough behind a veteran blueline corp?
But the real question could be if one of these two goalies goes on a hot streak in net, what will the Flyers do when Leighton returns from injury?
It's just another day in goal for the Philadelphia Flyers.
How Will the New Additions on Defense Fare?
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Despite the addition of former Hart Trophy winner Chris Pronger, the Flyers brass was left dissatisfied after their third defensive pairs got exposed in the Stanley Cup Final against Chicago. The Flyers looked to add sized and physicality to already one of the deepest defensive corps in the league.
The Flyers opened the off season aggressively by trading Ryan Parent to Nashville for the rights to Dan Hamhuis, After negotiations failed with the free agent, they made a splash just before free agency trading draft picks to Tampa Bay for defensemen Andrej Meszaros.
Meszaros had several solid seasons in Ottawa before fizzling out the past two years in Tampa Bay. The Flyers hope a change of scenery and a veteran presence around him will allow the young Meszaros to revert back to form.
The Flyers also signed seasoned veteran Sean O'Donnell to a one year deal. O'Donnell has been around the NHL for more than 15 years and has won a Stanley Cup. O'Donnell and Meszaros bring an immediate upgrade to the Flyers third defensive pair and make the Flyers have arguably the deepest defense in hockey.
The Flyers also acquired Matt Walker from Tampa Bay in the Simon Gagne deal. Walker and Oskars Bartulis will compete for time to fill that sometimes needed 7th defensemen spot. Also, if one of the Flyers big four defensemen get hurt. Meszaros can easily fill one of those roles. At his best, Meszaros can play in the top 3 spots for several teams.
But the question is can these new additions help provide that depth needed to have another playoff run? There is some potential, especially with Meszaros. But will he return to his near all-star form when he was a Senator, or fizzle out like he has recently.
Will The Flyers Be Haunted By The Gagne Trade?
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The end of era in Philadelphia Flyers took place this summer when Simon Gagne was traded from Philadelphia to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Matt Walker and a draft pick.
Gagne in 10 seasons with the Flyers, amassed 259 goals and over 500 points. When he was healthy, he was among the most dangerous two way players in the NHL. Unfortunately, the Flyers found themselves in cap trouble and Gagne's modest 5.25 million dollar hit was expendable.
With the trade, the Flyers looked to their young players Claude Giroux, James vanRiemsdyk and Ville Leino to contribute on the offensive output. The Flyers also signed Nik Zherdev to help offset the loss of Gagne as well.
Despite being slowed by injuries in recent seasons, Gagne was one of the key contributors on the nights he could play. His return from injury in the 2010 playoffs against Boston and two game winning goals helped spark the Flyers to one of the greatest comebacks in history.
Gagne was one of the most beloved Flyers in recent memory and held in high regard by fans. If the Flyers have issues in replicating the offense loss in the trade by their young players, there will be some backlash, especially if he has a great year in Tampa Bay.
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Which Nik Zherdev will Show Up this Year?
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It became very apparent to Flyers fan that Simon Gagne was likely to be traded after the team signed Nik Zherdev to a one year deal for 2 million.
Zherdev, 25, had spent the 2009 season playing in the KHL as the New York Rangers chose not to match the arbitration salary awarded to him. Zherdev has shown flashes of talent since the Columbus Blue Jackets made him their fourth overall pick in 2003, where he has put together three 50 point seasons in his career so far.
However, Zherdev has a reputation for taking plays off and avoiding physical play. He also lacks somewhat defensively and has a tendency to break off down the ice early.
But the Flyers hope Zherdev's stint in the KHL helped him to mature on and off the ice and live up to his high draft pick potential. He can be at times one of the most dynamic players on the ice and teammate Claude Giroux has already given rave reviews from camp.
The Flyers are banking on a high risk, high reward with Zherdev. He has a ton of talent and goal scoring ability. In six preseason games with the Flyers, he found the back of the net five times. But will his play be as consistent as it was in September, or will he revert to the inconsistant play that frustrated Jacket and Ranger fans.
Will the Young Flyers Step Up this Year?
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After the Flyers let Mike Knuble sign with Washington and traded Joffrey Lupul to Anaheim for Chris Pronger in 2009, they traded away 50 goals of offense. They were hoping that the emerging Claude Giroux and rookie James vanRiemsdyk would be able to make up the loss of offense.
Instead, they combined for only 31 goals and coupled with the rest of the inconsistent offense, were said to have a somewhat underwhelming season.
However, once the Flyers made the playoffs, Giroux was unleashed. After only scoring 16 goals in 82 regular season games, he exploded for 10 goals to finish with 21 points in 23 games. JVR was not nearly as explosive in the playoffs, but registered a late goal in the 1st period of Game 7 against the Bruins that helped swing momentum.
This season the pressure is on the young guns to be major contributors in the offense. Giroux is seen by many pundits as a budding young star while vanRiemsdyk gained some muscle and looks live up to the John LeClair comparisons he had coming out of the draft.
In the young season, it seems like these two will finally elevate their games like many people know they can do. Giroux already has two shorthanded goals in three games while vanRiemsdyk is becoming a physical presence in front of the net. If this young duo can keep it up, the Flyers are in store for a lot of success.
Will Injuries Doom The Flyers?
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It appears that this season will be struggle for the Flyers to stay healthy as it was one of the major plagues of last year. There are already several players to fall victim to injury so far in 2010.
Goaltender Michael Leighton hurt his back during camp and was only expected to miss a month. Now that he needs surgery, he's expected to miss over two months. Defensemen Chris Pronger had a lingering knee issue and after surgery missed all of training camp and the start of the regular season before his return Monday night. Penalty kill specialist Ian Laperriere's career might be over due to concussion symptoms from taking a puck to the head during the playoffs last year.
Injuries plagued Simon Gagne, Leighton, Brian Boucher, Ray Emery and Jeff Carter for periods of time last season and were part of the problem that sent the Flyers on a tailspin early last season.
So far the team seems to be adjusting to the injuries this year. Rookie Sergei Bobrovsky has been solid in goal in Leighton's absence. The Flyers defensive depth has helped shadow the loss of Pronger early and outside of that the Flyers hope to avoid the injury bug.
It's hard to say what would happen to this team if one of their stars like Mike Richards or Danny Briere would be lost for a period of time from injury. If last year is any indication of that, then fans better hope they can stay on the ice rather than off.
Is Jeff Carter Here to Stay in Philadelphia?
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Every off season, it seems the main issue in Philadelphia is their restraints by the salary cap. This is expected since they have several talented players and a lot of money tied up between them.
The Flyers have a big problem on their hands as Jeff Carter is set to become a restricted free agent after this season. Carter is one of the most pure goal scorers in league and has been among the league leaders in shots on goal. Carter is making 5 million this season and is expected to warrant a larger contract next year.
Carter had a somewhat disappointing season last year after he dropped from a career 46 goals in 08-09 to 29 goals in 09-10. He was the subject to trade talks over the summer as the Flyers were looking to acquire a young talented goalie. Instead, Simon Gagne was the one to go in the cost cutting move and Carter remained a Flyer.
Carter has enjoyed his time in Philadelphia and hopes to sign an extension at some point during the season. But the Flyers also have to think about their young talent Claude Giroux, who also is set to become a RFA and the emerging Ville Leino, who tied an NHL rookie record for points in the postseason, is also a free agent.
Carter can help his cause by having a strong 10-11 campaign and convince Flyers management that he is worth the long term investment. If he struggles, he might become expendable and a valuable piece in future trade talks.
Will Danny Briere Finally Live Up to His Contract?
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Danny Briere was one of the most coveted free agents after the 2006-07 season. After signing a long term front loaded deal with the Flyers, he has underperformed the value of his contract. He saw his production drop nearly 20 points in his first year in Philadelphia and saw his second season cut short because injury.
After a third season of modest totals, fans and experts felt that Briere was one of the most overpaid players in the NHL. Many in Philadelphia hoped to rid of his contract, the highest on the team, but it was unlikely that any team would want to pick up the long term contract.
However, Briere started to change opinions of his play after his magnificent run in the playoffs last season. He averaged more than a point per game and finished with 12 goals and 18 assists in the postseason.
Ville Leino's placement on Briere and Scott Hartnell's line helped carry the Flyers into the Finals and generate a majority of the offense. Fans are hoping that a full season together will return Briere to his Sabres play making ability.
A regular season reminiscent of his play in the playoffs would be among the best in the NHL and finally let Briere be worth the value of his contract.
Can The Flyers Win The Division?
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The Flyers have not won a division title since the return from the lockout. They have watched the New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins battle it out for Atlantic Division supremacy for the past five years.
Can they finally overtake these two perennial contenders and finally win a division crown.
They have had split success over these two teams recently as the Sidney Crosby and the Pens seem to own Philadelphia, while the orange and black have tamed the Devils as of late, including winning their quarterfinal series last year 4 games to one.
The Flyers were supposed to compete last season for the division crown but injuries and inconsistencies derailed those dreams. Now, battle tested after a unbelievable run to the Stanley Cup finals, these Flyers should be ready to challenge for the division title.
With the Rangers full of talent and the Islanders starting to rebuild their franchise, the Atlantic Division is always among the toughest in hockey. Last year the Flyers barely qualified for the playoffs with 88 points, good for third but finished over 12 points back of NJ and Pittsburgh.
With the dynamic young talent and veteran defense, if the Flyers can stay healthy and avoid long slumps, there is no reason why they can't challenge or even win the division.
Will The Flyers Make It Back to the Stanley Cup Finals?
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While winning the division title would help their seeding in the quest back to the Stanley Cup Finals, it would not make much of a difference for the Philadelphia Flyers.
After clinching a spot in the playoffs on the last game of the season, the Flyers found themselves at the No. 7 seed in the East conference and a first round date with New Jersey. Two months later they found themselves just two wins short of winning the franchise's third Stanley Cup.
The Flyers bring back a majority of the roster that was relentless in their march through the Eastern Conference. They stuck with Michael Leighton and helped build a deeper defense around him with several acquisitions. Philadelphia is surrounded with young talent and veteran leadership led by captain Mike Richards and defenseman Chris Pronger.
After a disappointing regular season, the Flyers flourished in the playoffs and look to build off of that this season. They'll have to survive two months without Leighton but the goaltending play of Sergei Bobrovsky has made fans excited for this year.
Expectations have not been higher since before the lockout for the Flyers. Seen as the underdog for much of the playoffs, they are now considered one of the favorites in the Eastern Conference.
Last spring showed that the Flyers have the talent and mental game to reach the Finals regardless of how they were in the regular season. The real question is can this team live up to the pressure once again for an entire year and make another run at Lord Stanley's Cup.
The fans have had a taste of what they could have had when Chicago skated around with the Cup on their ice. Now its time to see what their team can do.
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