Great Expectations?

Ray Emery's Return Is The Biggest Key For The Flyers

“We spent as much money as we could, and got as little for it as people could make up their minds to give us.”
Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

The Philadelphia Flyers spent the 2008-09 season spending every possible cent allowed by the NHL’s salary cap, and fell far short of their expected goal, losing in the first round to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

The season saw inconsistent play from most of the roster. Captain Mike Richards was criticized for not being a more forceful leader, and for seeming to have a ho hum attitude about late season losses. Goaltender Martin Biron never managed to find a groove and struggled off and on all year. GM Paul Holmgren was forced to make some questionable moves due to the team’s high payroll.

Yet, this is the team that The Hockey News has selected as the 2009-10 Stanley Cup Champions. On paper, the Flyers look to have the talent to break the franchise’s 35 year drought.

However, as the old canard goes, they don’t play the games on paper. The Flyers have some serious questions to answer.

The most important will be in goal. Ray Emery has returned from his Russian exile, doing and saying all the right things. He’s looked sharp in team scrimmages, and seems to have lost none of the amazing quickness and athleticism that made him a key piece of Ottawa’s finals run a few years ago.

Of course, we’ve only had a few months to look at here. So long as no trainers get near Emery with a hat, we should be fine. Emery realizes he has a golden opportunity to not only win a Stanley Cup, but also re-establish himself as a top NHL goalie.

Almost as important as how well Emery plays is how the new puck attack system head coach John Stevens installed works out. The Flyers often were guilty of playing 40 minutes of very good hockey last year, instead of 60. A high pressure system based on guys skating more would, at the very least, eliminate the perception that the Flyers are a team that feels they can throw a switch whenever they need to and win games.

Hand in hand with that will be the line combos. Stevens is a coach that has adopted the philosophy of pairing guys, rather than adopting concrete three man lines.

From camp thus far, it seems the pairs will be Danny Briere and Claude Giroux, Jeff Carter and Scott Hartnell and Richards and Simon Gagne.

The guys who will fight to join those duos are Ian Laperriere, Darroll Powe, Dan Carcillo, Blair Betts, Mark Bell, James van Riemsdyk, Miika Pyorala, Patrick Maroon, Andreas Nodl and Jon Kalinski. They are a mixed bag of agitators, top prospects, veterans on try out deals and kids that came out of nowhere to make an impact.

One guy who seems to be a lock to make the roster is enforcer Riley Cote, although he won’t be playing with any of the above pairs, unless he gets caught on a long shift.

Finally, the defense is probably as deep as it has ever been. Chris Pronger was a big addition. Not only does he remain an elite defenseman, he’s also a veteran who has a Stanley Cup ring, plays 30 minutes a night, can provide leadership, offense, physicality…he’s the complete package.

One of the more understated things Pronger brings is the ability to properly slot the rest of the defensemen. Kimmo Timonen is more suited to being a number two defenseman. Developing guys like Braydon Coburn and Matt Carle will get the benefits of the experience and solid play of Pronger and Timonen. Second year man Ryan Parent can settle in as a third pair guy who sees time on the PK, while Randy Jones can remain a very solid third pair guy, who won’t get exposed by playing too many minutes on a regular basis.

Even if the Flyers had not been tabbed by THN, it would have been a season of great expectations from the team and it’s fans. The Flyers are a very talented team, that should grow from last year’s disappointment, and also be playing with a nice big chip on their shoulder.