30 in 30: Philadelphia Flyers
Philly are looking to bounce back from a disheartening 2012-13, they were certainly the surprise absentees from the postseason in the East. There’s been an admirable effort to not overreact to the down season, GM Paul Holmgren and head coach Peter Laviolette have perhaps surprisingly both remained in their jobs. When you consider the amount of money spent by the former and the talent available to the latter it would seem they can’t afford another disappointment. Most of the Flyers’ core forwards moving forward are locked up for the next three years minimum, so this should be a season for them to kick on.
Notable Ins: Vincent Lecavalier, Mark Streit, Ray Emery
Notable Outs: Ilya Bryzgalov, Daniel Briere, Simon Gagne, Ruslan Fedotenko
Unloading Bryzgalov and Briere via compliancy buyouts freed up $12 million in cap space only for most of that to be immediately filled by the free agency signings of Vinny Lecavalier and Mark Streit. Don’t get me wrong I’m a big fan of Streit, but when you already have Kimmo Timonen where was the need to ink a 35 year old to a 4 year deal worth $21 million? Lecavalier was arguably the premier free agent available and looks great as a second line center, again though you have to wonder about the implications of a contract that ends when he’ll be 38.
In contrast, snapping up goalie Ray Emery up may well be shrewdest move of the entire summer. His stats for backing up Corey Crawford in Chicago last season read 19 starts/17 wins and a save percentage of .922, much deserving of this chance to be a No.1 goalie again. Emery’s prior stint at Wells Fargo Center was cut short by the avascular necrosis that kept him out of action for 15 months, making this return to prominence even more impressive. Trade deadline acquisition Steve Mason will provide competition for starts, another man with a point to prove and a high ceiling in the right circumstances. It’d be an unlikely duo to end the apparent goalie curse hanging over the Flyers, but it’s a welcome attempt after going big bucks with Bryzgalov failed pretty spectacularly.
Claude Giroux should be fired up after a less than ideal first season as captain, one plus side was the chemistry between Giroux and Jake Voracek in breakout form, they’ll team up with Scott Hartnell again. Outside of their highly paid veterans there’s serious potential for growth, though typically for younger talents the fortunes of their top prospects mimicked the team’s last season. Voracek, Sean Couturier and Brayden Schenn are all top 10 picks and the latter two now have enough major league experience to make a big stride. This wouldn’t be the Flyers without a bit of nasty thrown in, fourth lines don’t get much more brash than Jay Rosehill, Adam Hall and Zac Rinaldo.
Despite looking strong on paper the biggest question on defence is will Chris Pronger ever play in the NHL again? Unfortunately for the Norris Trophy winner the answer appears to be no. Streit adds the mobility it lacked to a group that isn’t short on physicality: Nicklas Grossman, Luke Schenn and Braydon Coburn are all big bodies. Along with being middle of the road in shots against they finished third in shots blocked and fifth in hits, a solid effort and something to build on.
Plenty rests on the goalies, but if their offence reignites the Flyers may well end up competing for the division title. I’ll pitch myself in the middle and say they’ll be fighting it out for the wildcard spots.
Prediction: 5th in Metropolitan Division.