by Marc Phillippe Babineau

Created on: May 06, 2008

The 2007-2008 Philadelphia Flyers are redefining the meaning of rebuilding. From last place in the National Hockey League (NHL)last season, their worst showing in club history, and only their eighth time in franchise history to not make the playoffs, to making the playoffs and making it to the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins, this is not the same team as last season. In 2006-2007, Philadelphia missed the playoffs for the first time since 1994, with a record-breaking futility season record of 22-48-12, for a measly 56 points, one season after acquiring 101 points in the regular season. This points differential between two back-to-back seasons is the greatest of any in the history of the NHL. Major changes were deemed necessary, and were made through trades and free-agent signings. The difference between last seasons' record and this seasons' was monumental, finishing with 39 more points this year. The changes that were made seemed to have done the job, and Philadelphia is playing with the bravado and physical style of play that is normally accredited this team.

With some of the best scouting in the NHL, the Flyers' executive offices looked around the NHL and made their choices. Through trades, waiver claims and draft picks, the Flyers brought in Daniel Briere, Vincent Prospal, Ryan Parent, Kimmo Timonen, Scott Hartnell, Lasse Kukkonen, Braydon Coburn, Scottie Upshall, Kyle Calder, Martin Biron, Jason Smith and Joffrey Lupul. That is nine of twenty-two players changed, plus the starting goalie, over last season. And with the results in the regular season and thus far into the post-season, those changes seem to have been nothing short of genius.

The Flyers all-time winning percentage of 0.576 is the second best in the NHL, behind only the Montreal Canadiens. The acquisition of goalie Martin Biron had a lot to do with the teams' successes this year, as confidence in their goalie let the team concentrate more on their offensive play. Coach John Stevens has righted the ship, as the Flyers finished fifth in the Eastern Conference, and qualified for the post-season again. With a match-up with the red-hot Pittsburgh penguins, who only needed nine games to win two series coming up, the real litmus test is about to start for this team that has stuck up for each other all season long, fought hard, finished their checks and charged the net with reckless abandon. As long as this tough assortment of players can keep out of the penalty box for one-sided penalties (not double minors), the Flyers should stand a good chance against any team in the NHL this year. The fact that Philadelphia has had more fights on a team-by-team basis with the Pittsburgh Penguins than any other team in the NHL might just bear well for a rough and tumble Eastern Conference Finals in this post-season. And that is exactly what the Flyers are counting on.

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