Philadelphia Flyers: A Look at Players Under 25 and the Franchise's Future

If you were busy down the shore this summer and came back to watch the Flyers come September, you might think that you were watching a whole new team.

The Orange and Black made some drastic changes this offseason, hoping to better themselves for a Stanley Cup run in 2012 and also for a better future.

The future—that seems to be the key phrase thrown out at all the moves Paul Holmgren made this season. The GM stockpiled young prospects to better themselves, not only for this season, but for years to come.

With all the young new faces in place here in Philadelphia, let's take a look at the "Who's Who" of the young guns of the Orange and Black.

Claude Giroux, C

Age: 23 years old

Under contract until: 2014

First, let's start with the players that we are all familiar with. Claude Giroux is all of a sudden turning into the player that everyone thought he would become.

Giroux led the Flyers in points recording 25 goals and 51 assists last season.

The Flyers better think about giving him another extension soon because he is quite possibly the Flyers captain in waiting.

Andres Nodl, RW

Age: 24 years old

Under contract until: 2013

Andres Nodl finished up his first full season as a Flyer by tallying 11 goals and 11 assists. Nodl is still improving and is still young enough to get take his game up to another level.

Nodl will never become a star, but he has got the potential to get to a second line.

James van Riemsdyk, LW

Age: 22 years old

Under contract until: 2012

James van Riemsdyk's playoff breakout showed everyone why the Flyers coveted the New Jersey native and ended up taking him with the second pick in the 2007 NHL entry draft.

The Flyers, and the fans, only can hope that JVR continues the torrid streak that he was on. In 75 regular-season games, van Riemsdyk scored 21 goals. In only 11 playoff games, JVR lit the lamp seven times.

JVR is expected to pick up the scoring vacated from the departed Jeff Carter and Mike Richards.

Oskars Bartulis, D

Age: 24 years old

Under contract until: 2013

The Flyers have some veteran All-Stars manning their blue line on the first two lines. Lost in the shadow a lot of times is the young group of defensemen establishing themselves on the ice.

Oskars Bartulis is a guy that has stepped in the past two seasons and contributed. Even so, Bartulis may struggle to find playing time this season with some new young guns coming in this summer to help out on the blue line.

Erik Gustafsson, D

Age: 22 years old

Under contract until: 2013

Erik Gustafsson is one player that hopes to make sure Oskars Bartulis stays in the minors.

Gustafsson is now in the second year of an entry-level deal he received from the Flyers after three seasons at Northern Michigan.

He really impressed the Flyers early on, earning some playing time and then was almost immediately sent back down to the Phantoms for the remainder of the season.

At 5'10", it will be tough for Gustafsson to battle big forwards behind the blue line. He'll have to make up for it with his great stick work and skills.

Sergei Bobrovsky, G

Age: 22 years old

Under contract until: 2013

Sergei Bobrovsky was nothing short of brilliant in his rookie season. Well, the playoffs may be a different story, but Flyers fans had to be impressed with how consistent he was throughout his first season in the States.

His future now looks a bit iffy though with the Flyers giving Ilya Bryzgalov $51 million. Bob is under contract for two more seasons, but it remains to be seen what his role will be.

He may turn into midseason trade bait.

Brayden Schenn, C

Age: 19 years old

Under contract until: 2014

Brayden Schenn was the prize of the offseason for the Flyers. Ilya Bryzgalov was big, but it seems like there is so much hype surrounding this young prospect from Canada.

For four seasons now, Schenn has been absolutely lighting up teams in the WHL. He has only played nine career games in the NHL though, but will be counted on right away to help the center position since Mike Richards is gone.

In Schenn, you are looking at another possible Flyers captain of the future.

Wayne Simmonds, RW

Age: 22 years old

Under contract until: 2013

Wayne Simmonds came from the same draft as JVR did (2007). Since he was drafted, Simmonds played right away in Los Angeles.

In 240 career games already, Simmonds has tallied 39 goals and 54 assists. Simmonds will bring both his above-average speed and toughness to Broad Street.

Jakub Voracek , RW

Age: 22 years old

Until contract until: 2012

Jakub Voracek is yet another Flyer now hailing from the 2007 draft. Voracek was drafted five spots behind James van Riemsdyk in the first round.

In three seasons, Voracek is averaging right around 45 points per season. The Flyers definitely want to get more out of him since they gave up Jeff Carter to acquire him.

Voracek shows plenty of playmaking ability and plenty of room to improve and become a star.