Last year, the Flyers wanted
“vengeance.”
This year, they’re “hungry for
more.”
The Flyers’ marketing department
can come up with whatever
they wish, but Flyers fans
would still tell you there are certain
things that must be accomplished
before this season can be
called a success.
With the inspiring, but disappointing
loss to the Penguins in
the Conference finals last year,
this year’s season is apparently
limitless. They have an overall
healthy lineup, and a depth that
teams in earlier seasons could
not match if they genetically
cloned their first line three times.
How can that be possible?
Well, each three lines have been
given a center that is capable of
scoring 30 goals and dishing out
70 assists, supported by a skilled
winger that is usually faster and,
also, a strength player to crash
and harass opposing goaltenders.
Centers Mike Richards
and Jeff Carter give the Flyers
great passing and shooting
options, and the grit that both
show each night is also commendable.
What is even more noteworthy
for the Flyers is their new captain.
Last year, the team made a
safe pick and went with 34-yearold
defenseman Jason Smith,
who is now with the Ottawa
Senators. Smith in the “captaincy”
proved valuable, as the old
man provided leadership and a
gritty veteran presence that others
fed off of.
But after his departure in the
offseason, it was time to look to
the future, and none other than
star Richards would fit the bill to
become the Flyers’ 17th captain.
This was just a matter of time, as
the 5’11” Canadian center has
shown he can do it all. He can
score, set up a goal for his
wingers, keep the opposing
team’s star scorer in check, make
a big hit on some unsuspecting
victim to charge up the fans, or
score a shorthanded goal. The
man is so multifaceted he could
probably drive the Zamboni better
than the current Zamboni
operator.
That’s how valuable a player
Richards is for the team, so it
came to no one’s surprise that
the man would be the new captain.
What was surprising to some
Philadelphia fans was the Flyers’
trade to rid the team of their
biggest postseason scorer, R.J.
Umberger, whom the Flyers
traded to Columbus. The former
Flyers Centerman was a huge
reason for the Flyers’ resurgence
last year, proving to be a dominating
force by his physically
imposing nature and quick
speed for his size. The team had
to make the deal, though,
because they couldn’t keep him
and their other star center, Jeff
Carter.
The team also made valuable
pickups in defensemen Ossi
Vaananen and Steve Eminger,
two capable puck carriers who
also can throw their weight
around. Management then
rounded out the squad by signing
Aaron Asham and Glen
Metropolit to the fourth line to
accompany Riley Cote to check
the opposition into submission.
Probably the most interesting
aspect of this year’s team is Swiss
defenseman Luca Sbisa, who
became the second-youngest
defenseman to ever start for the
Flyers at the age of 18. The firstround
pick in 2008, he originally
got his shot when teammates
Randy Jones and Ryan Parent fell
to long-term injuries before the
regular season. If the Flyers
keep him for nine games, he will
have to stay with the squad. To
start at 18 in the NHL at any
position is remarkable, but for a
defenseman to do it just shows
how talented and mature Sbisa is
already as a player.
The Flyers have the depth to
compete in the surprisingly deep
Eastern Conference this year.
Flyers fans are just hoping they
are able to avenge the loss to the
Penguins and go even further
into the playoffs. After all, with
a new captain, anything is possible.