By Michael Rushton
Phanatic Magazine
My, how quickly things can turn around.
At this time last year, Flyers fans everywhere were wondering just what the heck happened to their team. Despite a roster that featured one of the best players in the world in Peter Forsberg and goal-scorer Simon Gagne, the Flyers were at the bottom of the East with no help on the horizon.
A banged up and inexperienced defense coupled with shaky goaltending was to blame and the Flyers addressed that and more this past offseason. While Forsberg and his nagging foot was shipped off, Philly brought in Martin Biron to shore up the net, Kimmo Timonen to add experience to the blue line and Daniel Briere to replace Peter the Great as the playmaking center.
Obviously, the Flyers were expected to be better than last year's 22-48-12 version, few expected all the new pieces to fit together this quickly.
Yet, at the All-Star break, the Flyers are tied with New Jersey atop the Atlantic Division with 59 points, three more than they had all of last year.
So, how did they get to this point?
1st Half MVP: Mike Richards
Statistically, Richards had been underachieving in Philadelphia. While even last year he was showing he was an every-situation player, the points just weren't coming. An abdominal injury also cost him some time, but the future captain has been everything the Flyers could have hoped for and more this year.
Richards leads the team with 21 goals, 34 assists and 55 points, all career highs. He kills off penalties with deadly precision and has four shorthanded goals on the season. He also plays the point on the power play, is already an assistant captain, and will drop the gloves when he thinks it is necessary. Oh, and you can catch him in this year's All-Star Game for the first time in his career this weekend as well.
At this rate, few Orange and Black faithful will think the 12-year extension that Richards got was a bad idea.
Best forward (other than Richards): Joffrey Lupul
Instincts says Briere gets this spot, and while his 48 points (25 on the PP) are great, his minus-13 rating and 50 penalty minutes leave something to be desired. Instead, lets go with Lupul, another player far exceeding expectations.
Lupul is tied for third on the team with 35 points, has a pair of hat tricks this season and his 16 goals already matches last season's total with Edmonton. Assuming he comes back from his spinal injury okay (it took a Flyer to slow him down), he has a good shot of reaching 30 goals for the first time in his career.
Lupul's play this year is just another reason general manager Paul Holmgren is a genius. Holmgren turned the underachieving Joni Pitkanen and expendable Geoff Sanderson into Lupul and captain Jason Smith.
Speaking of which…
Best defenseman: Jason Smith
Yes, Timonen is going to Atlanta for the All-Star game, but it is Smith who is making the difference at the blue line. He blocks shots like a magnet and brings a gritty, tough edge to Philly's defensive unit that was missing big time last year.
Smith finds himself in the penalty box a tad bit too much and he isn't going to rack up points (just six so far), but he is fierce and a great leader.
Most improved: R.J. Umberger and Antero Niittymaki
Flyers' broadcasters Jim Jackson and Keith Jones have made no secret that Umberger worked very hard this summer to improve his conditioning and speed, and it has paid off in a big way. Umberger is constantly finding himself behind the defense and is generating scoring chances at a great rate.
After a great freshman campaign in 2005-06, he took a step backwards last year, posting 10 less points than the year before and a minus-32 rating.
This year, his 35 points are tied for third on the team and if he can develop a finishing move to compliment his now breakaway instincts, he could turn into a 25-goal scorer easily.
As for Niittymaki, a hip injury hindered him last year and prompted the Flyers to go and get Biron. Nitty went just 9-29-9 in 52 games last year with a 3.38 goals-against average, but has been the perfect backup this year.
9-5-1 with a 2.59 GAA in 17 games this year has Nittymaki pushing Biron for playing time.
Michael Rushton can be reached at rushpac@comcast.net
Phanatic Magazine
My, how quickly things can turn around.
At this time last year, Flyers fans everywhere were wondering just what the heck happened to their team. Despite a roster that featured one of the best players in the world in Peter Forsberg and goal-scorer Simon Gagne, the Flyers were at the bottom of the East with no help on the horizon.
A banged up and inexperienced defense coupled with shaky goaltending was to blame and the Flyers addressed that and more this past offseason. While Forsberg and his nagging foot was shipped off, Philly brought in Martin Biron to shore up the net, Kimmo Timonen to add experience to the blue line and Daniel Briere to replace Peter the Great as the playmaking center.
Obviously, the Flyers were expected to be better than last year's 22-48-12 version, few expected all the new pieces to fit together this quickly.
Yet, at the All-Star break, the Flyers are tied with New Jersey atop the Atlantic Division with 59 points, three more than they had all of last year.
So, how did they get to this point?
1st Half MVP: Mike Richards
Statistically, Richards had been underachieving in Philadelphia. While even last year he was showing he was an every-situation player, the points just weren't coming. An abdominal injury also cost him some time, but the future captain has been everything the Flyers could have hoped for and more this year.
Richards leads the team with 21 goals, 34 assists and 55 points, all career highs. He kills off penalties with deadly precision and has four shorthanded goals on the season. He also plays the point on the power play, is already an assistant captain, and will drop the gloves when he thinks it is necessary. Oh, and you can catch him in this year's All-Star Game for the first time in his career this weekend as well.
At this rate, few Orange and Black faithful will think the 12-year extension that Richards got was a bad idea.
Best forward (other than Richards): Joffrey Lupul
Instincts says Briere gets this spot, and while his 48 points (25 on the PP) are great, his minus-13 rating and 50 penalty minutes leave something to be desired. Instead, lets go with Lupul, another player far exceeding expectations.
Lupul is tied for third on the team with 35 points, has a pair of hat tricks this season and his 16 goals already matches last season's total with Edmonton. Assuming he comes back from his spinal injury okay (it took a Flyer to slow him down), he has a good shot of reaching 30 goals for the first time in his career.
Lupul's play this year is just another reason general manager Paul Holmgren is a genius. Holmgren turned the underachieving Joni Pitkanen and expendable Geoff Sanderson into Lupul and captain Jason Smith.
Speaking of which…
Best defenseman: Jason Smith
Yes, Timonen is going to Atlanta for the All-Star game, but it is Smith who is making the difference at the blue line. He blocks shots like a magnet and brings a gritty, tough edge to Philly's defensive unit that was missing big time last year.
Smith finds himself in the penalty box a tad bit too much and he isn't going to rack up points (just six so far), but he is fierce and a great leader.
Most improved: R.J. Umberger and Antero Niittymaki
Flyers' broadcasters Jim Jackson and Keith Jones have made no secret that Umberger worked very hard this summer to improve his conditioning and speed, and it has paid off in a big way. Umberger is constantly finding himself behind the defense and is generating scoring chances at a great rate.
After a great freshman campaign in 2005-06, he took a step backwards last year, posting 10 less points than the year before and a minus-32 rating.
This year, his 35 points are tied for third on the team and if he can develop a finishing move to compliment his now breakaway instincts, he could turn into a 25-goal scorer easily.
As for Niittymaki, a hip injury hindered him last year and prompted the Flyers to go and get Biron. Nitty went just 9-29-9 in 52 games last year with a 3.38 goals-against average, but has been the perfect backup this year.
9-5-1 with a 2.59 GAA in 17 games this year has Nittymaki pushing Biron for playing time.
Michael Rushton can be reached at rushpac@comcast.net
1 comment:
"While Forsberg and his nagging foot was shipped off, Philly brought in Martin Biron to shore up the net, Kimmo Timonen to add experience to the blue line and Daniel Briere to replace Peter the Great as the playmaking center."
Timonen has been great but A) has Briere shown himself to be as good as his contract was worth? Certainly not as good as last year. And B) is the goaltending issue really solved in Philly? I feel like year after year we end up asking ourselves the same question around this time. Biron is inconsistent and what the hell happened to Antero during the Devils match? Speaking of which - we look good to advance in the post-season, but can we beat the Devils? We will need to go through them and unless the entire team goes to see a therapist, we will continue to be their bitch.
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