Flyers Camp Stories: Offense

A NEW YEAR

The Flyers offense of 2008-09 was certainly formidable finishing tied for fourth in the entire NHL with a 3.17 goals forced average (GFA) per game. The orange and black were also one of only two teams, the other being Detroit, to have four different skaters net 30 or more goals during the course of the season. On top of that six Flyers scored 20 or more goals, a feat matched only by the Boston Bruins who only had one player surpass 30 goals. It’s also important to remember that Philadelphia did all of this without Danny Briere, a perennial 30 goal-scorer, and the talented Claude Giroux who only broke into the NHL late in the season.

That left the Flyers with enough offensive depth to make moves that would improve other areas of the team. On the way out were two of the Flyers’ 20 goal-scorers, Mike Knuble and Joffrey Lupul. Lupul was of course used in a trade to acquire defensive juggernaut Chris Pronger from Anaheim, who provides just as much offense though less in goal production, and Knuble ended up being a cap casualty. 52 total goals of offense vanished from the offensive unit, so how do the Flyers expect to make up for these losses going into camp?

DOWN THE MIDDLE

Down the middle the Flyers are arguably the best in the NHL. While it’s hard to argue against Lord Stanley’s current keepers that reside on the other side of the Appalachian Mountains, Philadelphia offers its own breed of center depth. Giroux is now slated to center one of the Flyers’ three scoring lines according to the organization, a move that was already an understood fixture for next season after Giroux’s brilliant performance in the last month and into the playoffs. The other two scoring lines will of course be centered by Selke runner-up Mike Richards and Rocket Richard runner-up Jeff Carter. While this leaves Briere as a full-time winger he seemed okay at the position after

returning to the Flyers line-up. He and Giroux quickly took the league by storm and were the center pieces of the Flyers’ best line down the stretch.

With Giroux’s potential, that could have him surpassing every forward on the team in the upcoming seasons, the middle for the Flyers has something not many teams can boast; three number one lines. It would be a mistake to consider any of the lines the Flyers’ best right now. Even Pittsburgh runs a traditional third checking line with Jordan Staal’s offensive abilities seemingly limited. Other teams have very good scoring depth at center as well, but do not have the offensive potential directly down the middle that the Flyers have. It’s also important to remember that all three of these centers are among the Flyers’ four best two-way forwards. The orange and black down the middle are arguably the scariest, most talented force assembled in the NHL.

Outside of the top three lines the Flyers have a question mark as to who will be centering the energy line. Darroll Powe and Ian Laperriere could find themselves lining up for faceoffs on the bottom line if other players make the cut above them as wingers. If both Powe and Laperriere find themselves on wings in the top nine, which is the most likely scenario, Jonathan Kalinski and Jared Ross will likely end up fighting in camp for the position. Jonathan Matsumoto also has an outside shot at getting it though he will likely remain in the AHL due to the depth above the energy line.

ON THE WINGS

While the center position may be set for the most part there is far more confusion on the wings. Gone are the natural right-wings Knuble and Lupul, leaving the Laperriere the closest thing to a natural winger on the right side. Even

Laperriere though has spent much of his career in the middle taking faceoffs. The best right wing on the Flyers immediately becomes Briere who could end up playing on any of the lines though will likely be rejoining Giroux’s line. The other pairings the Flyers will likely keep together are Simon Gagne with Richards at faceoffs and Scott Hartnell with Carter in the middle. Those combinations, just like the one with Giroux and Briere, are ones that proved to be effective last season.

While the possibility that Briere plays with either Richards’ line or Carter’s line remains, it makes far more sense to keep the pairings together. That leaves a gaping hole on each line though. Someone has to step up for the Flyers to fill out this depth.

DEPTH CONCERNS

The concern with the Flyers is that outside of Gagne, Hartnell, and Briere there is nothing set in stone on the outside. While Arron Asham will be on the outside it still remains to be seen whether he can crack the top three lines. It is possible that if Briere finds himself with Richards and Gagne yet again, Asham could find himself in a battle to play with Giroux against Laperriere or Powe. Dan Carcillo, Giroux, and Asham worked somewhat effectively last season but was eventually thrown out when Briere came back and Powe proved he could play in the top nine. Even Carcillo could end up on the fourth line if other players beat him out. That of course would drop Riley Cote to the 13th forward since Carcillo would be more effective in Cote’s position. Andreas Nodl, who played a considerable amount of time in the NHL last season, is also going to have to compete for a spot and may end up in the AHL for the year after skipping that part of his development early in 2008-09.

Those players equate to only have the cluster on the roster though. There is a multitude of players coming into camp to compete for one of three open positions in the top nine.

Swedish Elite League two-way star Mika Pyorala signed a one-year contract for the league minimum to make his shot at the NHL. If he displays a decent amount of offensive skill at camp he could end up finding himself on one of the wings

in the top nine and playing considerable time on the penalty kill.

Lukas Kaspar, a first round selection by the San Jose Sharks in 2004, was also signed to a one-year contract at the league minimum to try for an NHL roster spot. With rumors floating that he was going to jump to the KHL he signed with the Flyers to give the world’s best league one more shot in a new environment. While Kaspar had effort concerns in San Jose the orange and black hope he can progress into the lineup. He offers size as a power-forward and has the potential to be a real solid winger on the Flyers. Over two seasons he has 16 total NHL games under his belt and four points to show for it.

Krys Kolanos is another former first round selection who signed for a one-year deal at the league minimum. Chosen 19th overall by the Phoenix Coyotes back in 2000, he showed quite a bit of potential early on in his career. A string of concussions and post-concussion issues set his development back considerably, and he has never been the same player. In 2005-06 Kolanos spent time with both the Phoenix Coyotes and the Edmonton Oilers in the NHL. On top of that he played with Phoenix’s AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage, Colorado’s AHL affiliate at the time, the Lowell Lock Monsters, and Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate. the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. In 2006-07 he spent time on Detroit’s AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, and Langnau of the Swiss-A League. Kolanos then finally broke out as a point-per-game AHL player in his next two seasons spent with Calgary’s AHL affiliate, the Quad City Flames, and Minnesota’s AHL affiliate, the Houston Aeros. Because of his play in Houston he earned a call-up to the NHL once again with the Wild where he performed moderately well on the bottom lines in 21 games. While a natural center he could compete for a job on the wings if not for the fourth line center position.

Along with those three forwards there is another reclamation project that General Manager Paul Holmgren has brought into camp for a tryout. Mark Bell was a gigantic power-forward taken 8th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in 1998. He quickly became an important member of the team until an off-ice incident involving alcohol and a car accident got him into legal trouble. He was never the same player, and after being a part of three different organizations over the last three years since the incident the former 20 goal-scorer has made it to Philadelphia’s camp. The Flyers have one contract spot available thanks to a technicality. Bell could get a contract similar to that of Kolanos, Kasper, and Pyorala if he performs well at camp. He offers another possible depth winger for the organization, and if he can once again find that level of a 20 goal scorer he could be one of the biggest keys to the Flyers’ push for the

Cup.

With the positions at wing so wide open there are a number of prospects who could wind up with jobs instead of some of these veterans. With Powe cemented on the roster, likely in a top nine position, it’s possible that players who had NHL time at winger last season such as Kalinski and Nodl get left out on the fun this season. Instead there are other forward prospects who have had outstanding camps. Patrick Maroon immediately comes to mind as a player who is coming into his own. After an outstanding prospect camp the former late draft pick is turning a few heads. His hands have always rivaled some of the best prospects in the game, and now, after a couple years of getting into shape, Maroon is getting his skating to level it needs to be in order to compete on an NHL level. On top of this he still has the size to compete at an NHL level. He could break out very well in a roll similar to Knuble’s.

On the other end of the draft board, former 2nd overall selection James van Riemsdyk, has been busy getting himself ready for the NHL. Every time he is asked a question about his progress and readiness for high-level competition he repeats that he wants to make this team out of camp. He does not want to spend a year in the minors. If van Riemsdyk or even Maroon is ready for NHL duty it could go a long way toward easing any depth concerns involving the Flyers’ offense for 2009-10.

I Hope you enjoyed this post. As always, leaving a comment below is both appreciated and encouraged. Thanks!

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