Flyers Season Preview

I am one of the few, the proud...A FLYERS PHAN! I'm totally psyched now that another season is upon us. I can think of nothing better than spending many an evening over the next nine months watching my Flyers skate against the NHL's best. However, I'm saddened to say that I don't foresee good things for the Orange & Black this year.

I was all set to write this column and optimistically put the Flyers in the bottom half of Eastern Conference playoff teams, but after reading about 25 season previews I realized that EVERYONE has them finishing in this area. There is no way this many people can be right about any single topic. Therefore, I quickly decided in the last day or so that I had to readjust my prediction. That left me two options...put the Flyers in the Top 3 in the East or place them as one of the teams on the outside looking in come playoff time. Due to the talent level of this year's squad, it was an easy decision. With much sadness and regret, I must report that I don't see our local organ-I-za-TION reaching the playoffs for the first time since the 1993-1994 season.

I absolutely hate the defense. I realize that Hatcher HAS to be better than he was at the end of last year, but still don't see him ever regaining his status as a stud NHL defenseman. Rathje looked like a pylon in the playoffs last year, but offseason hip surgery was supposed to change all that. However, it has been recently reported that he is having back problems which require cortisone shots. Plus, he's going to be teamed with Hatcher to start the year. Who on earth thinks this is a good idea?!??!!? As for the other defensemen, Meyer is a number 5 at best; Pitkanen is still an enigma; Gauthier is a great #6, but how long until he infuriates Hitch with stupid penalties; and the Flyers are pinning their hopes on some guy named Lars to be a power play specialist and big time puck carrier even though he has been playing in Sweden the last couple years. In short, I'd be shocked if the Orange and Black are forced to trade for a more competent defensemen at some point during the year. About the only positive thing I can say about this group is that it does NOT include Chris Therien.

On to the goaltending....I hate Robert Esche....I hate Robert Esche...I hate Robert Esche. Ok, I'm glad I got that one of my chest, but I really don't like this guy. "Eschie" talks like he's Patrick Roy, but he's not even close to being in the same ballpark. Sh*t, as Jules Winfield would say, he's not even playing the same sport as Patrick Roy. Coming into the preseason, I was really hoping to see Nitty win the starting job, but he's playing on one surgically repaired hip and the other hip requires cortisone shots that will also have to be repaired in the offseason. I thought this would be a simple decision, but why wouldn't the organization just take care of this now and have Nitty get the surgery? The rehab time is three months, which would bring him back after the holidays. Since we all now the first 2-3 months are meaningless, this decision is ridiculously absurd and could wind up destroying the season.

Ok, onto the forwards....Of course, I love the first line, but how many games can we realistically expect out of Foppa before he has his annual injury? I put the over/under at 62 games. Once Forsberg goes down, Gagne and Knuble become pretty much useless since both of their games are reliant upon Foppa getting them the puck in scoring areas. I like the current second line of Richards, Carter and Calder, but I don't see this line lasting. I really liked Carter playing at center with Umberger last year, so I expect to see them reunited as soon as soon as Captain Kangaroo gets itchy. Plus, it would be nice to see Richards paired with Kapanen to give this team some semblance of a checking line. Although, I do expect to see the third and fourth line contribute a bit more this year with guys like Sanderson and Robataille replacing bums like Branko and Brashear. I also expect Calder to be a really nice addition for our second line.

Sorry guys, but this all adds up to a 10th place finish in the East. I'd be lying if I said tonight's piss poor 4-0 loss to the Pens didn't play into my prediction. Yes, I do realize this could be an over reaction, but this team is NOT ready to play. They could be faced with having to dig out of a pretty big hole if they don't rid themselves of their lackadaisical play.

However, the biggest thing to come out of tonight's game is that we've been passed by the Penguins. Crosby is going to be an absolute stud and Fleury is starting to show why he was a number one pick. Plus, Little Staal and Malkin are ready to explode on the NHL scene as well. I just hope their new owner moves them out to Winnipeg so we aren't forced to get pounded by these guys when they all start to mature and gel into a real powerhouse.

By the way, in case anyone cares, I like Buffalo to beat Anaheim in the finals for their first Cup.