Philadelphia Flyers 2009-2010 Season Outlook

James van Riemsdyk, Flyers’ 2007 draft pick and current rookie, is on pace to break the NHL record with 123 assists in his first season, or at least that’s what you’d hear around the water cooler here in Philly.  Having posted a team high of three assists in the Flyers two wins to start the season, van Riemsdyk is showing the skill and poise expected of him when he was selected second overall in the draft that saw Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane’s entry into the NHL.  

As just one of many players of growing skill among the Flyers’ roster, van Riemsdyk is part of a club with high hopes for this season’s fortunes after being eliminated in the first round of the 2009 NHL playoffs by the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

It appeared as if things were in line last season, with the Flyers’ depth shining as six separate 20 goal scorers came through, a league high.  However, down the final stretch of the season and into the playoffs, a weakness opened up.  The defense of the Flyers simply couldn’t fend off the stronger forwards who came crashing down on the net, resulting in many goals within close proximity to the crease.

In the offseason, moves have been made to rectify this, among other problems.  Chris Pronger, the 6′6″ 223 lb defenseman acquired in a trade from the Anaheim Ducks looks to bring that much needed strength and physicality to the Flyers defense lineup.  Goaltender Ray Emery was also acquired.  Former Ottawa Senators star, Emery spent a season in Russia playing for the Kontinental Hockey League after a series of incidents and confrontations with teammates that had him exiled from Ottawa and the NHL.  Seeing him as a changed man out to prove the doubters wrong, GM Paul Holmgren has placed his trust in Ray “Razor” Emery to lead his Philadelphia Flyers from his crease.  Backing up Emery will be former Flyer from the San Jose Sharks, Brian Boucher.  Boucher enters the season on the injured reason, however.  Johan Backlund will be sitting on the bench temporarily in his steed.

Tough guy fourth-liners Ian Laperriere and Blair Betts have also been thrown into the mix, teaming up with Dan Carcillo to round out the Flyers’ dedicated checking line.  Already showing themselves to be experts at wreaking havoc in the offensive end, with Ian Laperriere even producing his first goal as a Flyer in Saturday’s win over the New Jersey Devils.

Second year player Claude Giroux will be making his return this year after exploding onto the scene late last year.  Showing extreme patience and playmaking ability, the young Giroux was able to make mincemeat of opposing defenses.  Entering his first full year as a Flyer, expectations are high, both from himself, and from those around him.

So with a potential gamble in the acquisition of hothead Emery and the placing of much more responsibility in the hands of youngsters such as Claude Giroux and James van Riemsdyk, the Flyers cleared the space under the salary cap necessary to fund a proper defensive lineup the likes of which they lacked last year. 

The way things look, those young players will pick up these responsibilities in stride as the Flyers’ toughen up to clear space on the ice for the likes of known scorers Simon Gagne, Mike Richards, Danny Briere, and Jeff Carter, who was second in the league in goals scored last season at 46.

Only time will tell as the Flyers host two of the league’s premier stars this upcoming week in the form of the Alexander Ovechkin-led Washington Capitals and the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins led by Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby on Tuesday, October 6th and Thursday, October 8th respectively.