Don't Forget About the Flyers
Posted 8:23 PM ET | Comments 9
Rangers sign Drury and Gomez! Rangers re-sign Shanahan! Rangers re-sign Lundqvist! Well, you get the idea...
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Everyone is talking about the moves that the Rangers have made in the off-season. And granted, they do play in the biggest media market in the United States, so that alone will get you lots of press coverage. But no one is talking about their rival 2 hours down I-95!
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The Philadelphia Flyers have had the most productive off-season of any team in the NHL. They transformed their team from the worst team in the league to a Stanley Cup contender. And I know it's a bit early to start naming contenders, but on paper.... there aren't many teams with the depth the Flyers have.
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Now I won't fool myself into thinking that they are the only team in the East that has made improvements. The Rangers (as much as I hate to admit it) have picked up some good players. Ottawa is going to be strong again, without making a major move. The Devils will always be tough as long as Brodeur is in net. And who can forget Sid the Kid and the Penguins. But, the Flyers have made all of the right moves to become the powerhouse they haven been for most of the 40 years they have been in existence.
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OF course, we must start with their biggest move...the signing of Daniel Briere. Briere brings so much to the Flyers. Leadership, a tremendous amount of skill, speed and a boost to the power play. But a lot of people have forgot about the moves that they Flyers made prior to free agency.
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Arguably, their biggest move was made during their forgettable 2006-2007 season. The acquisition of Martin Biron solidified a position that has been shaky since Ron Hextall manned the net. In 35 games last season, with a shaken and injury-riddled line-up in from of him, Biron won 18 games. If you calculate that over 70 games, he is a 40 game winner. Now imagine how many games he is going to win with a much-improved team in front of him.
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Other trades came about during last season, trades that have brought youth and skill to the team. They picked up Braydon Coburn from Atlanta...a former top 10 pick. His skating ability and youth will be a welcome addition to the team. They also picked up Scottie Upshall in the Peter Forsberg trade. Upshall quickly became a fan favorite...displaying speed and toughness to go along with a scoring touch. Along with Upshall, the Flyers also acquired Ryan Parent...a top-notch defensive prospect that is going to be a mainstay on the Flyers blue line for a long time.
<p>
Then, just prior to the opening of free agency, the Flyers did something that shocked the hockey world. They traded a draft pick they acquired from Nashville in the Peter Forsberg trade back to Nashville for the rights to Kim Timonen and Scott Hartnell. Now this move was criticized widely among the media...but hey, it was legal and you have to commend Paul Holmgren for thinking outside the box. He was able to trade his extra first round pick for the rights to two highly touted free agents. Kim Timonen was arguable the top free agent defenseman available. And Holmgren was able to get him under contract without letting any other team talking to him. The same can be said for Hartnell. He had 23 goals in only 63 games played, so over an entire season, he would've scored at least 30 goals. So, in essence, the Flyers received Timonen, Hartnell, Upshall and Parent for Peter Forsberg. WHAT A DEAL!
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And let's not forget the trade that brought them Jason Smith and Joffrey Lupul. Granted, they did give up a highly skilled defenseman in Joni Pitkanin, but his days were numbered in Philadelphia. In Smith, they get a gritty, hard-nosed defenseman with a tremendous amount of heart and leadership. And Lupul brings scoring ability to their 2nd or 3rd line. he has a lot of upside and if he can perform the way he did for the Ducks two seasons ago, he can be a steal.
<p>
Now, the Flyers do have to make sure all of these personalities mesh in the locker room...because if they do, the Flyers can think about having another parade down Broad Street.
<p>
Everyone is talking about the moves that the Rangers have made in the off-season. And granted, they do play in the biggest media market in the United States, so that alone will get you lots of press coverage. But no one is talking about their rival 2 hours down I-95!
<p>
The Philadelphia Flyers have had the most productive off-season of any team in the NHL. They transformed their team from the worst team in the league to a Stanley Cup contender. And I know it's a bit early to start naming contenders, but on paper.... there aren't many teams with the depth the Flyers have.
<p>
Now I won't fool myself into thinking that they are the only team in the East that has made improvements. The Rangers (as much as I hate to admit it) have picked up some good players. Ottawa is going to be strong again, without making a major move. The Devils will always be tough as long as Brodeur is in net. And who can forget Sid the Kid and the Penguins. But, the Flyers have made all of the right moves to become the powerhouse they haven been for most of the 40 years they have been in existence.
<p>
OF course, we must start with their biggest move...the signing of Daniel Briere. Briere brings so much to the Flyers. Leadership, a tremendous amount of skill, speed and a boost to the power play. But a lot of people have forgot about the moves that they Flyers made prior to free agency.
<p>
Arguably, their biggest move was made during their forgettable 2006-2007 season. The acquisition of Martin Biron solidified a position that has been shaky since Ron Hextall manned the net. In 35 games last season, with a shaken and injury-riddled line-up in from of him, Biron won 18 games. If you calculate that over 70 games, he is a 40 game winner. Now imagine how many games he is going to win with a much-improved team in front of him.
<p>
Other trades came about during last season, trades that have brought youth and skill to the team. They picked up Braydon Coburn from Atlanta...a former top 10 pick. His skating ability and youth will be a welcome addition to the team. They also picked up Scottie Upshall in the Peter Forsberg trade. Upshall quickly became a fan favorite...displaying speed and toughness to go along with a scoring touch. Along with Upshall, the Flyers also acquired Ryan Parent...a top-notch defensive prospect that is going to be a mainstay on the Flyers blue line for a long time.
<p>
Then, just prior to the opening of free agency, the Flyers did something that shocked the hockey world. They traded a draft pick they acquired from Nashville in the Peter Forsberg trade back to Nashville for the rights to Kim Timonen and Scott Hartnell. Now this move was criticized widely among the media...but hey, it was legal and you have to commend Paul Holmgren for thinking outside the box. He was able to trade his extra first round pick for the rights to two highly touted free agents. Kim Timonen was arguable the top free agent defenseman available. And Holmgren was able to get him under contract without letting any other team talking to him. The same can be said for Hartnell. He had 23 goals in only 63 games played, so over an entire season, he would've scored at least 30 goals. So, in essence, the Flyers received Timonen, Hartnell, Upshall and Parent for Peter Forsberg. WHAT A DEAL!
<p>
And let's not forget the trade that brought them Jason Smith and Joffrey Lupul. Granted, they did give up a highly skilled defenseman in Joni Pitkanin, but his days were numbered in Philadelphia. In Smith, they get a gritty, hard-nosed defenseman with a tremendous amount of heart and leadership. And Lupul brings scoring ability to their 2nd or 3rd line. he has a lot of upside and if he can perform the way he did for the Ducks two seasons ago, he can be a steal.
<p>
Now, the Flyers do have to make sure all of these personalities mesh in the locker room...because if they do, the Flyers can think about having another parade down Broad Street.
First of all, over 70 games thats 36, and second of all, Biron was like 6-8 with Philly. Also, Hartnell didn't play the full season because he got injured, which he has a history of doing. Why will it stop now?I do, however, agree that Philly will be way better than last season, and should take a top 6 place in the East. But when you look at the start of last season, Philly was also predicted as a top 5 team, and look what happend to them.
Nice blog, but though I'm a diehard Philly fan, I think you have overated the flyers a bit. Look for 95-100 pts, a return to the playoffs, and at best maybe a trip to Conf. finals if they stay healthy and can add another puck moving d-man at the deadline. Still think they are at least another year away from being a true cup contender.
Biron will struggle this coming year, Brier/Gagne will be a scary tandom.
im a huge flyers fan and hope u are right....but i just dont see them being as dominant as you see them this year....and most experts are saying the same thing....a certain hockey magazine/newspaper (the hockey new) predicted them to finish 9th in the East out of the playoffs...now i dont agree with 9th, im thinking maybe 6, 7, or 8.....but there are still alot of question marks with this team.....i hope they prove me wrong....only time will tell
m a huge flyers fan and hope u are right....but i just dont see them being as dominant as you see them this year....and most experts are saying the same thing....the hockey news predicted them to finish 9th in the East out of the playoffs...now i dont agree with 9th, im thinking maybe 6, 7, or 8.....but there are still alot of question marks with this team.....i hope they prove me wrong....only time will tell
sorry about the double post....delete button not working after i hit the button twice on accident
The Flyers had done a remarkable job turning the ship back on course. I think they are a year or two from making the big jump to contenders. They will have to sign a lot of young players during that time and this is where I am leary as to what they will look like a year from now. I think Pittsburgh will be very, very good this year and play in the cup for the east. Out of the west it is a crap shoot, but I think I would go with Detroit. The Flyers will get to the playoffs this year and may even win a round.
Good stuff, kinda worried about the flyers this season. Probably had the best offseason and now just need to put it all together, which i think will be tough. I think there is a big transition period when you bring in that many new players all to a new system. Goaltending is questionable as well. Since the rangers kept their core players, i think we may have a slight edge. Pitt is also very young which i think will give them problems as it did last yr in the first round. but hey who knows.
Biron will suck this year he hasn't had a starting role in like 5 years almost he lost it to Norrenan look where he is now.