PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
The Flyers were scorned by the media cadres last season, a sure sign of a team that plays defense. Philadelphia tied New Jersey for fewest goals allowed, a mark coach Ken Hitchcock will be looking to hit again. The blue line, though lacking a warlord like Stevens or Hatcher, is admirably deep and greatly helped by conscientious forwards. Every team talks about team defense; the Flyers were among the few to execute it regularly last year, led by Keith Primeau, who has evolved into a bruiser of a checking center.
Much depends on how Jeff Hackett handles the goaltending job. He has played over 50 games just three times in a 13-year career. Despite the playoff meltdowns, Roman Cechmanek put up great numbers during his time in Philadelphia. The Flyers will gladly accept a small step back in regular season goaltending if Hackett brings his best game at playoff time. That's the biggest if on the Philadelphia agenda.
It's a good thing the goal-prevention was so good, because almost nobody on this team could score last year. The power play was abysmal and none of the big-name, big-money forwards had a season to remember. Jeremy Roenick needed just 59 points to lead the team in scoring.
Which is where the promised "youth movement" comes in. Leclair, Amonte, Primeau and Recchi have had declining point totals for the last several years, so bigger roles are planned for the likes of Simon Gagne, Justin Williams, Michal Handzus and Kim Johnsson.
Trouble: The Flyers' lack of speed is exposed by nimble teams like Colorado and Ottawa. Another good reason to expand the role of younger skaters.
On the Spot: If a new generation of Flyers is expected to flourish, Simon Gagne is the guy to lead the way. The best pure scorer on the roster, Gagne had injury trouble last year and managed just nine goals in 46 games.
The Forecast: The Flyers are too consistent to fall back this season. But whether this is a championship contender or a team caught between fading 30-somethings and not-quite-ready 20-somethings will not be known until April.
The Call: Second in the Eastern Conference.
Who's in:
Goaltender Jeff Hackett (free agent from Boston)
Who’s Out:
Goaltender Roman Cechmanek (trade to Los Angeles)
Defenseman Dmitri Yushkevich (trade to Washington)
Right winger Joe Sacco (unsigned free agent)
Center Marty Murray (trade to Carolina)
2002-03 Regular Season Numbers:
Payroll:
$56,045,833, 6th overall
(Hockey News, November 15/02. Bonuses not included.)
- Record: 45-20-13-4 for 107 points.
- At home: 21-10-8-2.
- On the road: 24-10-5-2.
- Finish: 5th overall, 4th in Eastern Conference, 2nd in Atlantic Division.
- Goals for: 211 (2.57 per game), 17th overall.
- Goals against: 166 (2.02 per game), Tied for 1st overall.
- Goal differential: Plus-45, 7th overall.
- Power play: 14.3 percent, tied for 21st overall.
- Penalty kill: 85.2 percent, 9th overall.
Goaltending:
- Roman Cechmanek, 58-33-15-10, 1.83 GAA, .925 SV PCT, 6 SO.
- Robert Esche, 30-12-9-3, 2.20 GAA, .907 SV PCT, 2 SO.
Leaders:
- Scoring: Center Jeremy Roenick, 79-27-32-59.
- Power play points: Right winger Mark Recchi, 79-8-16-24.
- Game-winning goals: Center Michal Handzus, 9.
- Ice time: Defenseman Kim Johnsson, 24:05 per game.
- Plus/minus: Defenseman Eric Weinrich, plus-30.
2002-03 Playoff Numbers:
- Round One: Defeated Toronto 4-3.
- Round Two: Lost to Ottawa 4-2.
Goaltending:
- Roman Cecmanek, 13-6-7, 2.15 GAA, .909 SV PCT, 2 SO.
- Robert Esche, 1-0-0, 2.00 GAA, .929 SV PCT, 0 SO, (30:03 played).
Leaders:
- Scoring: Right winger Mark Recchi, 13-7-3-10.
- Power play points: Defenseman Eric Weinrich, 13-1-3-4.
- Game-winning goals: Six tied with 1.
- Ice time: Defenseman Kim Johnsson, 26:07 per game.
- Plus/minus: Defenseman Dmitri Yushkevich, plus-7.
