One Week Down

I was just speaking with Captain Obvious about how this year's Flyers team is very different from last year.  After speaking Captain Slightly-Less-Obvious, it's clear that the Flyers this year will be playing a very different game than any Flyers team in memory.  Now that the Flyers have played a few games, some judgments may be made.

This year's Flyers team will not be able to impose their will on other teams.  Long gone are imposing centers like Lindros and Primeau, but even last year's depth at center with Carter, Richards, Briere and Giroux looks much less formidable this year.  This team will be opportunistic on offense, and likely rely on their power play a fair amount.

The team spends most of its money on experienced defensemen and goaltending, creating a team that will be a tough nut to crack (hopefully).  More noteworthy is Bryzgalov's style of play; minimal movement, and a big shot blocker.  I'm not sure the Flyers have ever had a "percentage" goalie like Bryzgalov before.  Personally, I love it.  Last year the Flyers were the only team in the NHL not to earn a shutout, and you knew that wasn't going to happen this year.  I just thought it might take longer than 2 games to occur.

Another difference with this Flyers team is their size, which is often lost in the shuffle of this offseason.  Nearly every player they added is big; Jagr 6'3", Couturier 6'4", Voracek 6'2", and Simmonds 6'2".  Throw in these mobile, big players and I think the Flyers roster mix fits Laviolette's style of play much better.

Other Notes:
-Couturier could be staying with the big club for the season.  Getting all those PK minutes is highly unusual for an 18 year old player.  He plays a very smart game and doesn't look out of place at all, and the team is currently structured with him as the clear #1 PK center without a clear replacement if he is sent back to juniors.  The Flyers need to weigh this against his long term development, and being a PK guy for a few years isn't always the best way for a guy to blossom into a future top line player (which is what the Flyers should expect from him).


-With Betts coming back from waivers due to failing a medical, the Flyers have had 2 problems.  Betts' return eats cap space, and the Flyers were forced to make a minor trade to get under the 50 contract limit yesterday.  Betts' injury status convolutes the Flyers ability to waive him, though waiving him removes him from the salary cap.  With Shelley's suspension, Betts and Schenn's injury/AHL status, Walker's injury, and Couturier's uncertain prospect of sticking around, the Flyers roster situation is messy, and I'm not sure how they will choose to resolve it all.

-On the subject of Betts, it is curious to me that they are casting him aside so casually while laying such a big penalty killing burden on 2 rookies (Read and Couturier).  I'm not sure of the wisdom on this.

-Bryzgalov is making friends in Philly.  Timonen: "I knew very little about Bryz, but he's been promising and a really good guy.  Not a typical Russian...or like Zherdev."  Okay, so I made up the Zherdev part.  Also, apparently Bryzgalov delighted reporters with a Scarface impression the other day, but I don't know of any video of it.  *sadness*

-I can't be too hard on a guy who has 2 goals in three games, but I'm not terribly impressed with what I've seen from Voracek.  He has a few good shifts here and there, but most of his shifts are not helpful to his teammates.  That whole line isn't doing much.