Taking Flyers to the top

[Terva]

EHM 2007 3.0.4 - original database

Philadelphia Flyers

Coming to a team with good financials and passionate fans starving for their first Stanley Cup glory in 30 years it was really time to go to work.

The first thing was to build a team for the task. I´m going for a simple but modern type of hockey with high forecheck and pressure all over the ice. Depending on the material I´ll utilize two scoring lines and one checking lin / three scoring lines. The fourth line is intended for development.

A quick look at the roster shows that the Flyers have good offence but lacks in defence so I got quite busy.

First thing was to pick one goalie so I chose Niitymäki and traded away Esche for Bruins Brad Stuart - good overall D-man who play well at both ends. I also traded away Mike Richards for Lubomir Visnovsky. My usual philosophy for the defenders are one offensive and one defensive in every pair and I usually go for two bluechip defenders in my team. With both Pitkänen and Visnovsky I have the offensive power at the blue line.
Finally, before the season started I buffed up som future draft picks. The idea is to keep Forsberg-Gagne-Knuble as my leading line having Jeff Carter developing in the second for a couple of years and then aquire good prospects in future drafts when the regens are starting to respawn.

I got Red Wings 1st pick 2010, Ducks 2nd pick 2010, Canucks 2nd pick 2011 and Red Wings 2nd pick 2007. I basically traded away lower draft picks and players like Baumgartner, Lars Jonsson and such.


The lines I used during the regular season 2006/2007

GK
Antero Niitymäki
Fred Brathwaite

Defence
Joni Pitkänen - Derian Hatcher
Brad Stuart - Lubomi Visnovsky
Denis Gauthier - Mike Rathje

Lines
Simon Gagne - Peter Forsberg - Mike Knuble
Geoff Sanderson - Jeff Carter - Kyle Calder
R.J Umberger - Petr Nedved - Sami Kapanen
Ben Eager - Ryan Potuiny - Randy Robitaille

PP1 (Diamond)
C - Forsberg
LW - Gagne
RW - Knuble
LD - Pitkänen (pointman)
RD - Visnovsky

PP2 (Diamond)
C - Carter
LW - Nedved
RW - Calder
LD - Stuart (pointman)
RD - Sandersson

PK1
Carter - Calder
Stuart - Hatcher

PK2
Gagne - Forsberg
Pitkänen - Rathje

[Terva]

The regular season went well, really well. The leading line played on fire all season long breaking records. All three players did their personal best in scoring.

Simon Gagne finished third overall with 127 points (59+68) and finished second overall in goals behind Ovechkin who scored 61.
Mike Knuble finished second overall in scoring with 129 points (47+82).
Peter Forsberg finished first in scoring with a stunning 149 points (58+91) points breaking his old record as the highest scoring swede in NHL with more than 30 points. He also beat Håkan Loobs 25 year old record becoming the highest goal scoring swede in NHL in a single season.

Lubomir Visnovsky was a real killer at the blueline smashing in 24 goals, adding 34 assist ans was the best scoring defender with 58 points. Pitkänen finished 7th overall with 49 points (7+42)

Right before the trade deadline I traded away rights to Claude Giroux, 5th round 2009, 4th round 2008, 3rd round 2007 and 1st pick 2007 for Anaheims Bobby Ryan. Maybe I gave too much in return but Ryan is a future goal scoring machine and the plan is to have Ryan and Carter as my franchise duo in a couple of yeras when Forsberg retires.

And speaking of Forsberg, I managed to extend his contact with three more years making sure that he sees his career out at the Flyers. I made a little cap move with the contract
07/08 - 7,5M $
08/09 - 7,5M $
09/10 - 3M $

Now I´m heading for the playoffs facing Senators in the first round.

[Terva]

Almost forgot, I made som changes in the staff from the beginning.

Flyers Staff 06/07
Rickard Olsson - Assistant GM
Andy Murray - Head Coach
Rejean Lemelin - Assistant Coach
Terry Murray - Assistant Coach
John Stevens - Assistant Coach
Ross Yates - Assistant Coach
Ken Hitchcock - Head Scout
Dave Brown - Scout
Al Hill - Scout
Chris Pryor - Scout
Richard Rose - Scout
Vaclav Slansky - Scout
Evgeny Zimin - Scout
Stephan Lipinski - Physio
Jim McCrossin - Physio

As for scouting it´s kinda intensive. I do intensive scoutings in the draft, the major european leagues and north american leagues such as the AHL, OHL, WHL and QMHJL. Then I re-scout al the players that have a recommendation rating of four stars or higher.

[Terva]

And yes, I tweaked the Salary Cap to 50M $

[Terva]

Our playoff was terrible. We lost in seven games against 8th seeded Ottawa Senators.

Game 1
Senators - Flyers 3-5 (2-0, 0-2, 1-3)
A nightmare start were Senators took the lead 2-0 but two goals by Gagne tied the game. Then we showed some class in the third period and won the game 5-3. Visnovsky went 2+2, Gagne went 2+2 and Forsberg had three assist.

Game 2
Senators - Flyers 2-1 (2-0, 0-1, 0-0)
We were totally rob in this one. We outhsot them 40-22 but lost the game when Emery shut us down.

Game 3
Flyers - Senators 2-3 (1-1, 0-1, 1-1)
Close game, shots were 30-33. Spezza with the game winenr half way through the third period.

Game 4
Flyers - Senators 5-0 (1-0, 2-0, 2-0)
Finally everyone made their A game and tied the series. Forsberg led the way by scoring the first and the last goal.

Game 5
Senators - Flyers 1-3 (1-1, 0-0, 0-2)
Yet another good game outshooting Senators 39-21 and winning the game. Knuble 1+1 and Visnovsky 0+2.

Game 6
Flyers - Senators 2-4 (0-0, 1-3, 1-1)
Here the trouble started as we couldn´t close the series. We outshot them 43-28 but they had switched goalies after the last blowout and Gerber saved 42 shots.

Game 7
Senators - Flyers 4-2 (2-1, 1-1, 1-0)
Emery back in the net and saved 30/32 shots. A tight game with shots 31-32 but sadly we lost the game. Overall a fiasco as we won the Presidents Trophy.

Forsberg, Knuble, Gagne, Carter and Visnovsky showed class in the playoffs but players like Hatcher and Calder were disappointing. I think some changes are about to come...

[Terva]

Eastern Quarter Finals
Sabres (2) - Hurricanes (7) 4-0
Capitals (3) - Devils (6) 3-4
Rangers (4) - Panthers (5) 4-3

Western Quarter Finals
Sharks (1) - Blue Jacktets (8) 4-0
Red Wings (2) - Wild (7) 4-0
Canucks (3) - Flames (6) 1-4
Stars (4) - Coyotes (5) 4-1

Eastern Semi Finals
Sabres - Senators 4-2
Panthers - Devils 2-4

Western Semi Finals
Sharks - Flames 4-2
Red Wings - Stars 1-4

Eastern Final
Sabres - Devils 4-3

Western Final
Sharks - Stars 4-1

Stanley Cup Final
Sharks - Sabres 3-4

[Terva]

Art Ross Trophy
Peter Forsberg - Flyers
(Knuble 2nd, Gagne 3rd)

Bill Masterton Trophy
Peter Forsberg - Flyers

Calder Trophy
Anze Kopitar - Kings

Conn Smythe Trophy
Chris Drury - Sabres

Selke Trophy
Jere Lehtinen - Stars

Jack Adams Award
Lindy Ruff - Sabres
(Andy Murray 3rd)

Norris Trophy
Lubomir Visnovsky - Flyers

Hart Trophy
Peter Forsberg - Flyers
(Gagne 3rd)

King Clancy
Joe Sakic - Avalanche

Lady Byng
Teemu Selänne - Ducks
(Gagne 3rd)

Lester B Pearson
Peter Forsberg - Flyers

Maurice Richard
Alexander Ovechkin - Capitals
(Forsberg 2nd, Gagne 3rd)

Vezina Trophy
Martin Brodeur - Devils

William M Jennings
Evgeni Nabokov - Sharks

Plus-minus
Peter Forsberg - Flyers
(Gagne 2nd, Knuble 3rd)

Roger Crozier
Martin Brodeur - Devils

First All-Star Team
M Brodeur - Devils
M Öhlund - Canucks
W Redden - Senators
S Gagne - Flyers
P Marleau - Sharks
P Forsberg - Flyers

Second All-Star Team
R Luongo - Canucks
J Pitkänen - Flyers
J Bouwmeester - Panthers
A Ovechkin - Capitals
M Sundin - Maple Leafs
T Bertuzzi - Panthers

Rookie All-Star Team
H Toivonen - Bruins
S O'Brien - Ducks
M Carle - Hurricanes
W Wolski - Avalanche
A Kopitar - Kings
A Stewart - Thrashers

Note that Norris winner Visnovsky did not make the All-Star Team.

[Terva]

Having few picks in the 2007 draft I acquired Sabred 3rd pick for Fred Brathwaite as i signed Czech goalie Martin Toma who won the best goaltender award in the Czech league.

Drafted players 2007
Round 2 - #56 - Alex Grant (RD)
Round 3 - #90 - Ryan Wilson RD/LD
Round 4 - #119 - Benn Ewards (LD)
Round 5 - #149 - Matt Dias (RW)
Round 6 - #179 Garret Klotz (LW)

This Ryan Wilson can sometimes be a steal in the 2007 drafts. He is, as you probably already know, unranked but still pretty darn good but he´s potential is shifting quite alot from game to game. I checked older saved games and he had a potential as high as 150. But in my current game he´s only 110 but my scouts are still hyping him. The plan is to maybe trade him off for usually there´s quite an interest for him in the game once you have drafted him.

I also shipped away Derian Hatcher, rights to Andrei Popov and 7th pick 2010 for Stars 1st pick 2011. Still preparing for some future regens and Hatcher, heavily declining, had 3,5M salary and three years left on the contract.

Finally my assistant GM Rickard Olsson retired so I have to fill that spot too.

My team at the moment, right after the draft.

GK
A Niitymäki
M Toma

Defence
J Pitkänen - RD
B Stuart - L Visnovsky
D Gauthier - M Rathje

Lines
S gagne - P Forsberg - M Knuble
G Sanderson - J Carter - B Ryan
S Kapanen - P Nedved - K Calder
RJ Umberger - R Potuiny - R Robitalle

Scratches
Defence
R Jones, A Picard

Forwards
B Eager, B kane

Top priority is to find a really good defensive defender and I´m about to replace Calder with a more defined checking forward. He´s just not worth 2,95M $ a year.

[Terva]

Wow, this went smooth. It´s July 9 and the roster is already set.

Right after the draft I acquired Marc Staal in return for the rights to Evan Grant, Ryan Wilson and 2nd pick 2008.

I traded Kyle Calder for Shawn Bates and signed free agents Eric Brewer and Ian Laperriere.

This is the current team that will start off the upcoming season.

A Niitymäki
M Toma

J Pitkänen - E Brewer
B Stuart - L Visnovsky
M Staal - M Rathje
D Gauthier

S Gagne - P Forsberg - M Knuble
G Sanderson - J Carter - B Ryan
S Kapanen - S Bates - I Laperriere
RJ Umberger - P Nedved - N Dimitrakos
B Eager
R Potuiny

With a cap space of 4,470 M I should have a team that could reach the finals within two years.

[Terva]

[Terva]

Btw, I signed Dave Thomas as an assistant GM right after the 2007 draft.

[Terva]

West - East 4-3 PS (2-1, 0-1, 1-1, 0-0, 1-0)

MVP
Alex Ovechkin (2+0) - Capitals

Forsberg, Gagne, Pitkänen and Visnovsky were selected from Flyers but Foppa was injured during the All-Star game and couldn´t participate.

[Terva]

Another good season and Flyers won the Presidents Trophy for the second year in a row.

The team was again led by Forsberg, Knuble and Gagne who ended 1st, 2nd and 3rd in total scoring just as 06/07. Forsberg missed out six games but still won the scoring title but Mike Knuble was the premiere passer with 91 assist. I have som doubts though in Knubles physical shape as his stamina is declining at the age of 35. I don´t really know what to do with him next season. He has one more year left on his contract.

Simon Gagne came second total in scoring goals with 59 - Thrashers Kovalchuck scored 67.

Prospect Jeff Carter took another step forward and scored totally 95 (37+58) points and the second line with Carter, rookie Bobby Ryan and Geoff Carter had an overall great season backing up the first line. Sanderson scored 62 (26+36) points and Ryan led the league rookies scoring 74 (28+46) points.

Lubomir Visnovsky couldn´t follow up his fenomenal 06/07 Norris winning season scoring "only" 41 (14+27) points with an AvR of 7.69 and +9. Joni Pitkänen though was the leagues best scoring defenceman with 56 (11+45) and he also had the best AvR with 8.54.

Eric Brewer played a solid game alongside with Pitkänen the whole season and ended up with +46 - best among the defencemen in the league.

Antero Niitymäki made a worse season compared to the previous one with GAA 2.68 and SVS% 0.901 and he´w my greatest concern for the upcoming playoffs. He will have to prove that he is a good enough goalie to win the cup.

[Terva]

Eastern Conference
Flyers (1) - Lightning (8) 4-2
Thrashers (2) - Panthers (7) 4-0
Sabres (3) - Senators (6) 2-4
Rangers (4) - Devils (5) 1-4

Western Conference
Canucks (1) - Ducks (8) 4-0
Sharks (2) - Coyotes (7) 4-1
Red Wings (3) - Wild (6) 4-1
Flames (4) - Kings (5) 4-1

Game 1
Lightning - Flyers 0-2 (0-0, 0-1, 0-1)
Shots: 22-34
Visnovsky got injured at the end of the regular season and missed out the first games so Denis Gauthier got som ice time.
Solid victory and a shutout. Forsberg 0+2 and Gagne scored GWG.

Game 2
Lightning - Flyers 3-4 OT (1-0, 2-2, 0-1, 0-1)
Shots: 20-33
Solid play again but Niittymäki didn´t play his best game and Flyers went to the third period down one goal. Ben Eager scored the EQ and Simon Gagne scored his second GWG in the OT. Gagne 2+0 and Mike Knuble 0+2. On the downside Brad Stuart got injured.

Game 3
Flyers - Lightning 4-5 OT (0-2, 2-1, 2-1, 0-1)
Shots: 32-36
With both Visnovsky and Stuart sidelined the defence was of course weakened (Randy Jones stepped in) and with Niittymäki not playing his A game Flyers let in five goals. They compensated though with good offence and was close of taking a 3-0 lead in the series.
Ryan Craig with the game winner for Bolts.

Game 4
Flyers - Lightning 3-4 OT (1-0, 1-1, 1-2, 0-1)
Shots: 34-31
Yet another OT loss an this time we hade big trouble with Bolts first line; Richards - Lecavallier - St. Louis and they scored all four goals.

Game 5
Lightning - Flyers 2-3 (1-3, 0-0, 1-0)
Shots: 22-41
Visnovsky back in the lineup!
I went out for a more offensive minded play (usually i tune down the mentality to 'normal' in the playoffs) and got a 3-1 lead in the first period. In the 2nd and 3rd period I matched my third line against their 1st line allowing only one goal and winning the game.

Game 6
Flyers - Lightning 3-1 (0-0, 0-1, 3-0)
Shots: 35-22
Stuart back in the lineup!
Away game so I set a little more defensive minded game and matched the lines and it was a big success as my 3rd line scored all three goals with Kapanen going 2+1 and Laperriere 1+1.

Flyers through to the next round and there we´ll face Senators who eliminated us the previous year.

[Terva]

Eastern Conference
Flyers - Senators 4-0
Thrashers - Devils 2-4

Western Conference
Canucks - Flames 4-1
Sharks - Red Wings 4-0

Game 1
Senators - Flyers 2-3 (1-0, 0-1, 1-2)
Shots: 24-37
I continued my tactic with an offensive style at home.
Ray Emery kept the score down and Sens in the game. GMW by Ryan (3-1) halfway through the third period.

Game 2
Senators - Flyers 1-3 (0-0, 0-2, 1-1)
Shots: 19-45
Sens changed to Martin Gerber in goal and he made 43 saves but the Sens didn´t really stand a chanse. 2 goals by Gagne.

Game 3
Flyers - Senators 7-2 (4-1, 1-1, 2-0)
Shots: 44-27
Matched lines where my 3rd line shut down Sens first line; Heatley - Spezza - Alfredsson. This time I kept the mentality on my 1st line, matching their 3rd, on 'offensive' and that was a success. Peter Forsberg had a huge game and scored 3+3 while Mike Knuble scored 0+5. Gerber was yanked after 4 goals.

Game 4
Flyers - Senators 2-1 OT (0-0, 0-1, 1-0, 1-0)
Shots: 42-31
Sens best game in the series but Niittymäki played really well and allowed only one goal. Peter Forsberg 1+1 and scored the GWG in OT.

Off to the Conference Finlas against Devils.

[Terva]

Eastern Conference
Flyers - Devils 4-0

Western Conference
Canucks - Sharks 2-4

Game 1
Devils - Flyers 3-5 (3-2, 0-3, 0-0)
Shots: 23-46
Devils got three PP goals in the first period but Flyers dominated the game overall. Five different goal scorers for the Flyers.

Game 2
Devils - Flyers 0-5 (0-1, 0-1, 0-3)
Shots: 27-36
Huge game by Forsberg who scored a hattrick. Knuble got injured in the second period but Bobby Ryan took the step up to the 1st line and scored 1+1.

Game 3
Flyers - Devils 3-2 OT (1-1, 0-0, 1-1, 1-0)
Shots: 36-30
Devils and Brodeurs best game in the series but they didn´t reach all the way. Ryan scored two goals playing alongside Forsberg who scored 1+1 getting the OT winner. Maybe a line for the future?

Game 4
Flyers - Devils 5-2 (2-0, 2-2, 1-0)
Shots: 34-29
The 1st line led the way with Ryan scoring 1+1, Forsberg 2+0 and Gagne 0+4.

We have really stepped up and lived up to the expectations sweeping both Senators and Devils. Last obstacle left to deal with facing the Sharks in the final.

[Terva]

Stanley Cup Final
Flyers - Sharks 4-1

Game 1
Sharks - Flyers 3-2 OT (1-0, 1-1, 0-1, 1-0)
Shots: 22-34
Sharks is about four players - Thornton, Bell, Cheechoo and Marleu and three of them always play in the 1st line. My big mistake in this game was not to match the lines as their 1st line scored all three goals. At the same time we suffered from some injuries where Eric Brewer went out two weeks with a chest injury right after the series against Senators and in this game both Staal and Laperriere were sidelend and not playing any more in the finals.

Game 2
Sharks - Flyers 3-4 OT (2-2, 1-0, 0-1, 0-1)
Shots: 37-32
The game opened with a new injury, this time on Gagne and we were missing, Brewer, Staal, Laperrier and Gagne but still managed to win the game. Joni Pitkänen scored 2+0 and Bobby Ryan who now played alongside Forsberg scored the GWG in OT.

Game 3
Flyers - Sharks 4-3 OT (1-1, 1-1, 1-1, 1-0)
Shots: 25-39
Huge game by the new first line where Forsberg scored 0+3 and Ryan 2+0. Petr Nedved got the OT winner assisted by Forsberg. This was also the third game in a row where Sharks shifted their starting goalie where Toskala played game 1 and 3 while Nabokov played game 2.

Game 4
Flyers - Sharks 3-2 (1-2, 2-0, 0-0)
Shots: 32-22
Again a big game by Forsberg/Ryan who went 0+2 and 2+0. Both goals scored in PP.

Game 5
Sharks - Flyers 3-4 OT (2-1, 1-1, 0-1, 0-1)
Shots: 27-40
Sharks 1st line scored all three goals when the took a 3-1 lead early in the second period. But a goal from Ryan in the 2nd and 3rd period tied and took the game to overtime. There Ryan added an assist when Pitkänen got the OT winner shooting the puck through the five hole on Toskala on a break away.

Flyers Stanley Cup Champions 2007/08 claiming their 3rd title overall and their first in 33 years.

Peter Forsberg led the playoffs in scoring with 33 (13+20) points in 19 games.

Bobby Ryan who partially played with Forsberg was the top goal scorer with 14 goals adding 10 assist in 19 games.

[Terva]

Art Ross
1. Peter Forsberg - Flyers
2. Mike Knuble - Flyers
3. Simon Gagne - Flyers

Bill Masterton
1. Simon Gagne - Flyers
2. Jason Spezza - Senators
3. Mike Knuble - Flyers

Calder Trophy
1. Bobby Ryan - Flyers
2. Peter Mackie - Islanders
3. Nick Parrish - Rangers

Conn Smythe
1. Peter Forsberg - Flyers
2. Simon Gagne - Flyers
3. Mike Knuble - Flyers

Selke Trophy
1. Ethan Moreau - Flames
2. Dave Scatchard - Coyotes
3. Matt Cooke - Canucks

Hart Trophy
1. Ilya Kocalchuck - Thrashers
2. Peter Forsberg - Flyers
3. Simon Gagne - Flyers

Jack Adams
1. Andy Murray - Flyers
2. Ron Wilson - Sharks
3. Alain Vigneault - Canucks

Norris Trophy
1. Joni Pitkänen - Flyers
2. Chris Pronger - Panhters
3. Bryan Berard - Rangers

King Clancy
1. Joe Sakic - Avalanche
2. Mike Modano - Stars
3. Mike Ricci - Capitals

Lady Byng
1. Michael Nylander - Rangers
2. Martin St. Louis - Lightning
3. Nils Ekman - Penguins

Lester Pearson
1. Mats Sundin - Maple Leafs
2. Patrick Marleau - Sharks
3. Peter Forsberg - Flyers

Maurice Richard
1. Ilya Kocalchuck - Thrashers
2. Simon Gagne - Flyers
3. Peter Forsberg - Flyers

Vezina Trophy
1. Roberto Luongo - Canucks
2. Martin Brodeur - Devils
3. Evgeni Nabokov - Sharks

Jennnings Trophy
1. Evgeni Nabokov - Sharks

Plus-minus
1. Mike Knuble - Flyers
2. Simon Gagne - Flyers
3. Eric Brewer - Flyers

Roger Crozier
1. Cam Ward - Hurricanes
2. Roberto Luongo - Canucks
3. Olaf Kölzig - Coyotes

1st All-Star Team
Roberto Luongo - Canucks
Bryan Berard - Rangers
Joni Pitkänen - Flyers
Ilya Kovalchuck - Thrashers
Simon Gagne - Flyers
Peter Forsberg - Flyers

2nd All-Star Team
Martin Brodeur - Devils
Mattias Öhlund - Canucks
Pavel Kubina - Maple Leafs
Mike Knuble - Flyers
Mats Sundin - Maple Leafs
Olli Jokinen - Panthers

Rookie All-Star Team
Carey Price - Canadiens
Derek Nelson - Canadiens
Mathieu Roy - Bruins
Nick Parrish - Rangers
Peter Mackie - Islanders
Bobby Ryan - Flyers

[Terva]

Still lacking some good draft picks so nothing special this year either. My aim is to get some good prospects when the first regens starts showing up around 2010 and 2011 and I´m setting my draft strategy with that in mind.

Drafted players 2008
Round 1 #30 - Tyler Cuma (LD) CAN
Round 3 #90 - Kris Lazaruk (GK) CAN
Round 5 #150 - Kelly Geoffrey (LW) CAN
Round 6 #180 - Matt Schmermund LW/C) CAN
Round 7 #210 - Carl Gunnarsson (LD) SWE

With this being the original database Carl Gunnarsson is just a marginal prospect and the only one with a slight chance of making it to the NHL is Tyler Cuma. The rest was auto-picked by my staff.

[Terva]

I almost forgot - here are the top 5 picks in the draft overall:

1. Yann Sauvé (LD) - Blue Jackets
2. Drew Doughty (RD) - Islanders
3. Zac Boychuck (C/LW) - Avalanche
4. Jimmy Hayes (RW/C) - Bruins
5. Kirill Petrov (LW) - Blues

[Terva]

Free agents out
Boyd Kane (LW)
Geoff Sanderson (LW)
Brad Tapper (RW)
Ryan Potuiny (C/LW)
Lubomir Visnovsky (RD/LD)
Ben Eager (LW/RW)

Free agents in
Mike Fisher (C/LW)
Jonathan Bernier (GK)
Oleg Saprykin (LW/RW)

Visnovsky didn´t want to negoiate any new contract and became a free agent. At the same time Jeff Carters new contract worth 4.5M kicked in so I don´t reaylly have the cap space to both get a top blue liner and fill in with some decent forards so i chose the second alternative.

Mike Knuble i getting older but still, he scored 137 points last year and has a 1.54M cap hit wich is not that bad. So I´ll let him se his contract out playing him this final year. I´ll off load him though and he will not recieve the same ice time the coming season. He´ll still be playing in the 1st line with Forsberg but I´ll move him to the 2nd PP-line and Ryan up to the first.

The D-side is not as strong offensively without Visnovsky but still good where a player like Marc Staal has progressed. Prospects Alexandre Picard and John Walsh will probably not get too much ice time this season but the potential is there.

Goalies
Antero Niittymäki
Martin Toma
Jonathan Bernier

Defence
Joni Pitkänen - Eric Brewer
Marc Staal - Brad Stuart
Denis Gauthier - Mike Rathje
Alexandre Picard
John Walsh

Offence
Simon Gagne - Peter Forsberg - Mike Knuble
Mike Fisher - Jeff Carter - Bobby Ryan
Sami Kapanen - Shawn Bates - Ian Laperriere
Oleg Saprykin - Petr Nedved - Niko Dimitrakos
R.J Umberger
Steve Downie

PP1 (Diamond)
LD - Pitkänen (point)
RD - Gagne
LW - Ryan
C - Carter
RW - Forsberg

PP2 (Diamond)
LD - Brewer
RD - Stuart
LW - Saprykin
C - Nedved
RW - Knuble

[Terva]

Following players from Philadelphia Flyers was called up to play in the World Cup

Martin Toma - CZE
Joni Pitkänen - FIN
Sami Kapanen - FIN
Antero Niittymäki - FIN
Peter Forsberg - SWE
Bobby Ryan - USA
Simon Gagne - CAN

[Terva]

USA didn´t won a game in round robin but ended up as champions.

[Terva]

[Terva]

Flyers broke a new NHL record by winning eleven straight games from the start of the season beating the previous record of 10 wins held by Tornto 93/94 and Buffalo 06/07.