Season Review:

The Flyers had perhaps one of the most disappointing seasons in the history of their team. After making the playoffs the previous year, Philadelphia was looking at a Cup run. However, they imploded and ended up playing horribly and received the #2 pick in the draft. How did this happen? Well, the Flyers had inconsistent goaltending led by Esche and Niittymaki. Also, their defense was old and slow. Not to mention many of the forwards didn't live up to their potential.

Offseason Needs:
After a busy trade deadline last season, Philadelphia went ways to improving itself this year. They acquired a new #1 goalie in Marty Biron. They received a couple of young defensemen and they increased their cap space. That space must be used to sign a #1 center to fill the void left by the Forsberg trade last year. Scott Gomez and Dan Briere are their top 2 targets. Acquiring Kimmo Timmonen and Scott Hartnell went ways to improving their team defensively. If they can nab that #1 center and maybe another scoring winger, then the team will be looking at a playoff run this post season.

Next Season Outlook:
Philly will be back in contention for the playoffs. Signing Timmonen and Hartnell to huge contracts and courting Gomez & Briere show they want to win now. Simon Gagne is an elite winger and both Jeff Carter and Mike Richards should continue to grow and form a strong core of top 6 forwards. The defense might be shaky at the start of the season with so many new faces from last year's opening roster, but they should settle down enough to make it to the 1st or 2nd rd of the playoffs.

This was definately the worst season in Flyers history based on expectations.
I am really happy with what they have done since the trade deadline. The forwards were decent last year and I think would have been better if they could have been more confident in the defense and goaltending. They are going to have a really good season this year and with Biron and Nitty they will have a very good goaltending duo.

Lets not forget that last offseason, what was it, 17 players had surgery? Its tough to get into hockey shape when youre rehabbing all summer. They better be fresh at the start of this coming season though...theyll have had plenty of time to recover.