Flyer’s offseason facelift

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – It all started when the President of the Flyers, Ed Snider, ordered that goaltending be made a priority, and before anyone could bat an eye, the captain, Mike Richards, and leading goal scorer, Jeff Carter, had been shipped off, replaced by big young forwards and draft picks.
This is part three of a three-part series taking a look at the moves made by Flyers GM, Paul Holmgren, since being miserably bounced from last season’s playoffs in the second round. In part one, I discussed goaltending, part two took a look at defense, and, finally, this week, we‘ll wrap up with the forwards.
To view the previous two articles on goaltending and defense, go to http://www.prohockeynews.com/hockey/publish/nhl/Flyer_s_offseason_facelift.shtml http://www.prohockeynews.com/hockey/publish/nhl/Flyer_s_offseason_facelift2.shtml
What happened this summer? As former Flyer anchors, Richards and Carter, found new homes in L.A. and Columbus respectively, the team went through a substantial over-haul. It was a dizzying affair, and has likely left a lot of Flyers fans wondering how it all fits together.
Other than Richards and Carter, several other names have also left the city of brotherly-love, including, Ville Leino, Darroll Powe, Dan Carcillo, Kris Versteeg, and Nik Zherdev.
The additions include, former Penguin star winger, Jaromir Jagr, Braydon Schenn and Wayne Simmonds (both acquired in Richards deal), Jacob Voracek (acquired in the Carter deal), and Max Talbot who was signed away from the Penguins in free agency.
The additions may sound strange, but one thing’s for sure, the team is bigger and younger.
Wayne Simmonds, 23, is an upgrade to Carcillo. He’s a big lanky winger, who can fight when needed, throw a decent check, goes hard to the net, and has hands that, Holmgren believes, the tough winger can use to have a 20-goal season. He’s also a defensive minded player, who can help out on the penalty kill, and third-line minutes. Voracek, a 21-year-old winger, referred to by Holmgren as, “a bigger, probably faster, version of Ville Leino.”
That’s high praise as recently lost Leino was a part of the most consistent offensive line the Flyers used in the past two seasons. Voraceck has, so far, been an underachiever, and is looking for a chance to breakout, probably beside Danny Briere and Scott Hartnell. But he’ll likely need a mentor to reach his full potential.
In comes, former superstar, Jagr, who was a perennial favorite for the Hart Trophy, as a member of the Penguins in the nineties. He’s spent the last three seasons, as a member of the Omsk Avangard of the KHL. He’ll likely have little to offer a young high speed team such as the Flyers, but he can still offer his size and experience to help develop some younger players.
Two seasons ago, when the Flyers made a miraculous run to the Stanley Cup finals, the X-factor was believed to be Ian Laperriere, who sustained a substantial head injury during the first round. The team hopes to re-capture that by bringing in former Penguin, Max Talbot. Talbot’s a fourth line grinder, who can fight when the game’s on the line, and while he doesn’t offer much on the scoresheet, he’s a guy who can offer the kind of lockerroom attitude that the team may have needed last season. He’s a well liked player, who’ll handle the dirty work. He can play center or wing on the fourth line, and will likely be a penalty killer.
The player who’s received the most press so far is 20-year-old Braydon Schenn. Of Schenn, Holmgren said, “We view him as one of the top young players not playing in the league. He’s had a little bit of a taste with Los Angeles over the last two years, and he went to the American league last year and played some games at the end of the season.”
Schenn is a lock to make the Flyers this season, and has a good chance of competing for the Calder Trophy, as rookie of the year. He’s a quick player with great hands, who also prides himself for helping on defense. He’s been compared to Richards, but until he has some experience, it’s likely the comparison isn’t entirely accurate.
Defenseman, Luca Sbisa, in 2008, was the last time the Flyers brought one of their own first round draft picks to camp, and this season, Sean Couturier, number eight overall, changes the landscape a bit. Because of his small frame, its believed he’s not yet NHL ready, but his offensive and defensive capabilities have garnered comparisons to Penguin’s centerman Jordan Staal, who was in a similar circumstance. When Staal came into the league, at age 18, he wasn’t eligible to play in the AHL, just like the 18-year-old Couturier, so the Penguins offered him an eleven game try-out, and he never left. It’s possible the Flyers could offer their first round draft pick the same deal.
Two other names that could see some attention are Tom Sestito and Zac Rinaldo, who are a couple of tough guys who’ve seen a small amount of NHL action. There are grumblings that Jody Shelley hasn’t lived up to his $1.1 million dollar contract, and the organization would like someone younger in the role, such as 23-year-old Sestito at 6’5″ and 228-pounds or 21-year-old Rinaldo at 5’11” and 180-pounds. Each would be an upgrade for skating, and with Sestito’s size, he could be an intimidating force on the fourth line.
Other names that could see some time with the Flyers are 21-year-old Eric Wellwood, who saw some action last season, and played well, but could be held back by his small 5’11” frame, Ben Holmstrom, 24, a defensive specialist and penalty killer, who saw limited time with the club. Holmstrom has been in the system for some time now, and could be looking at an age issue. And finally, Matt Read, a late-bloomer who came into his own at Bemidji State University, and went on to score 7 goals and 13 points in 11 games with the Phantoms last season. However, at age 25, he’ll likely remain a Phantom if he can’t wow the Flyers brass.
How it shakes out.
A top offensive line of Briere, Hartnell, and Voracek could be exceptionally potent if Voracek can develop and open up space with is puck-handling. Placing the experience and slower pace of Jagr with the wheels of Giroux and the power of JVR is a risky move, but if the former Hart Trophy winner can contribute and at least take some heat off of the younger stars, it’s a line that could produce. Otherwise, look for a younger guy like Talbot, Wellwood or Rinaldo to make his way onto this line.
The third line should look something like Schenn along with Simmonds and Andreas Nodl, except for the beginning of the season, inwhich Couturier should be given a try-out on this line. It’ll be great to see if Couturier can make an impact and stay, pushing Nodl to either fourth line duty or possibly into a trade. However, the Flyers are typically slow to develop their youth and at 6’4″ and 191-pounds, his small frame and inexperience could make him a target at the NHL level. Look for Nodl to keep his job, for now.
Blair Betts has made himself a name as a guy who can kill penalties and win face-offs, and he’ll remain as the fourth line centerman for one more season. Talbot will play his wing, and Sestito will likely win out the final opening night roster spot, causing Shelley’s $1.1 million dollar cap hit to be hidden in the minors.
It should be an exciting year for the Flyers, but one thing that stands out, is their lack of a shutdown centerman. The loss of Richards will be felt in the playoffs next season, as they’ll need a former Selke Trophy candidate to shutdown their opponent’s best offensive players.
So that’s a wrap on the 2011-2012 Philadelphia Flyers.  A team this stacked with talent should be a lock to go deep into the playoffs, but whether or not their youth can overcome a lack of experience to go all the way to the finals, is another story.
Contact Chuck.Tay@prohockeynews.com
Photographer Lewis.Bleiman@prohockeynews.com