Flyers: Can they make the playoffs?

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

We've all seen teams go deep in the playoffs and then miss the playoffs entirely the following season. Does anybody think the Flyers can go from a league low of 22 wins last year to making the playoffs this year?

I love the moves they've made so far. They've added nothing but quality players IMO.

I don't really know how they'd do their lines but I tried to fill them in

Gagne-Briere-Knuble

Hartnell-Carter-Lupul

???-Umberger-Kapanen

Eager-Richards-Upshall

Timonnen-Smith

Hatcher-Picard

Gauthier-Rathje

Coburn

Kukkonen

Biron

Nittymaki

I'm on the fence right now. If Biron is stellar then I think they could make the playoffs. You gotta like them adding Briere and Smith and Timonnen. All very good players and guys who know how to win and battle. Hartnell, well we all know what he can do both good and bad. I really like them getting Lupul though. He was great 2 years ago and then awful last year with the Oilers but lets face it the Oilers were terrible. I think Richards, Umberger and Carter will also be better.

[MacK_Attack 108]

Depends on a little thing called chemistry. Anything can happen when you throw that many new players together. They might gel, they might not.

They're looking a lot better than they did a couple weeks ago, that's for sure. But then again, the Flyers always have a knack for looking better in the summer than they do in January.

(Also, I think Rathje is pretty well done.)

Edited July 2, 2007 by MacK_Attack

[Opie 308]

Flyers always have a knack for looking better in the summer than they do in January.

Ain't that the truth ruth.

BTW that is a great checking line they have as the 2nd scoring line.

I hope the wings never have a line that looks like that as their second attack line.

That first line will win the award for highest percentage of their teams scoring on even strength shifts.

[Zion 93]

True. But they look REALLY good on paper.

[BeeRYCE 2]

It is absolutely RIDICULOUS how deep this team is. However, we said pretty much the same thing last off season, and look how much they underachieved. We'll just wait and see. If this team does not make the playoffs, I'd consider them maybe the most underachieving team ever.

[akustyk 84]

Depends on a little thing called chemistry. Anything can happen when you throw that many new players together. They might gel, they might not.

my thoughts exactly. too many new faces, too little core to keep it all together

they have astonishing talent now, but whether this is enough to put them in playoff picture depends on how their coaches handle the situation and to what extent those players are team guys able to see beyond own interest.

my guess is we'll see it around December. they've shown some good teamwork and heart later this season which makes me think this team is capable of returning to the top, albeit not a serious playoff contender for the reasons stated above.