by Roger Quinn

Created on: August 13, 2010   Last Updated: August 15, 2010

The Philadelphia Flyers are a team loaded with talent.  They underachieved last season and made the playoffs the last day of the regular season.  Once in the playoffs they finally played up to their potential and made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals.  In the off-season they revamped their defense and decided to stay put with a journey man goalie.  Time will tell if the gamble pays off.

Offensively the Flyers have very balanced scoring over their first two lines.  Brad Richards, Jeff Richards, and Danny Briere provide the Flyers with three scoring centers; or two centers and another winger if they prefer.  They can put one on the wing because Ian Laperriere can cover the third line center, a luxury most teams do not have.  The Flyers are well set up on the wings as well with Scott Hartnell and Daniel Carcillo as a third line grinder.  They will have more of their scoring come from the center positions than normal teams but that is okay when the wingers can stay high and play defense.

Speaking of defense, the Flyers have the best group in the NHL.  Not only do their forwards all play great defense, but their defensemen are second to none.  Chris Pronger and Braydon Coburn are back, as well as Matt Carle.  In addition to last them the Flyers acquired Andrej Meszaros and Sean O'Donnell.  The Flyers now have four or five top pair quality defensemen to put in front of Michael Leighton and Brian Boucher.  These group of defensemen automatically put the Flyers close to the top of the Eastern Conference power rankings, and if their offense can click at the start of this season they will be the team to beat.

Most Philly fans wanted the Flyers to go out and sign a free agent goalie, such as Marty Turco or go after a trade like Jaroslav Halak.  By keeping their two questionable goalies they were able to go out and add an Andrej Meszarjos without giving up too much offense.  The added defenseman could be like an upgrade in goalie, as long as the current duo is not absolutely terrible.

The Flyers are a team built for the playoffs.  Over the course of a seven game series they will wear down any opponent in front of them.  The only thing that could keep them from the cup is their lack of a true superstar goal scorer, like an Ovechkin, Crosby, or Hossa.  If their scoring is as balanced as it was in the postseason look for them to get a top spot in the conference and make a Cup run.

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