Flyers have many questions to answer

[Jlg-28]

Source - Fox Sports - NHL

Robert Picarello / Special to FOXSports.com
Posted: 1 hour ago

Questions. Questions. Questions. That's all there are surrounding the 2006-07 Philadelphia Flyers.

But, without a doubt, the biggest question is whether or not Peter Forsberg will stay healthy all year. When healthy, Forsberg is one of the most dangerous players in the NHL. Even though the formidable forward only played in 69 games last season after inking a free-agent deal, Forsberg was still able to finish second on the team in scoring. The Super Swede also led the team in assists (56) and picked up at least a point in 44 of the regular season games he appeared in last year.

The next biggest question the team has is between the pipes. Robert Esche and Antero Niittymaki both had similar numbers last season, so head coach Ken Hitchcock can't base his decision on stats alone. This battle might sort itself out in training camp.

Then again, it might not. In 40 games last season, Esche finished with a 22-11-5 record to go along with a .897 save percentage and 2.97 GAA. In 46 games, Niittymaki won 23 games and had a .895 save percentage and finished with a 2.97 GAA. The Flyers cannot go into the 2006-07 season rotating their goalies. History has shown that the system never works out. Hitchcock needs to choose between one of his talented netminders in order for the Flyers to stand a chance in the east.

Another situation in Philly that is up in the air is the defensive corps. With the way the NHL game is played nowadays big, clunky defensemen like Derian Hatcher and Mike Rathje don't really have a place, but after inking them to long-term free-agent deals last season, the Flyers are stuck with them until their contracts expire.

More skilled blueliners like Joni Pitkanen and Frederick Meyer are the type of players Philly needs to compete in the ultra competitive Eastern Conference. Pitkanen was the Flyers' top-scoring defender last season, recording 46 points in 58 games last year. The 22-year old also had the third-best plus/minus on the team last season. Meyer was the Flyers' second highest scoring backliner, netting six goals and 21 assists in 57 games, while finishing with a plus-10 rating.

One to Watch

While Antero Niittymaki had comparable numbers to Robert Esche last season, all the signs are there that the 26-year old is ready to become the team's No. 1 puck-stopper. Niittymaki went 23-15-6 in 46 appearances last season. His 23 victories tied him for third-most among all rookie NHL goaltenders, and his win total was also the most by a Flyers' rookie goaltender since Ron Hextall won 37 games during the 1986-87 season.

But the Finnish native didn't only have success in the NHL last season. All the world saw how good Niittymaki can be when he backstopped Finland to a silver medal win at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Italy. In six games, Niittymaki recorded a 5-1 record, 1.34 GAA, .951 save percentage and three shutouts for his country, garnering Best Goalie and Olympic Tournament MVP honors, as well as being named to the Media All-Star Team. In the offseason, Niittymaki was also a member of bronze medal-winning Finnish team at the 2006 IIHF World Championships in Riga, Latvia.

"Antero Niittymaki has proven that he is a terrific, young goaltender," Flyers general manager Bob Clarke said after resigning the goaltender over the summer. "Last year at the Olympics, he confirmed to everybody the high level of goaltending that he can play and we believe that he is going to play like that this upcoming season."

Niittymaki showed flashes of brilliance last season between the pipes for Philly, especially during a stretch where he played in 21 of 22 games, including 17 straight, after Esche went down with an injury. During that stretch, Niittymaki posted a 12-4-5 record, a 2.51 GAA and a .911 save percentage. He also was named NHL Defensive Player of the Week for the period ending Jan. 8 (shared with Colorado's David Aebischer) after posting a 3-0-0 record, 1.33 GAA and .953 save percentage.

In two seasons with the Flyers, Niittymaki has compiled a 26-15-6 record and 2.84 GAA in 49 regular season games. Niittymaki also had success for the Flyers in the minors, helping the AHL's Philadelphia Phantoms win the Calder Cup in 2005 over the Chicago Wolves. Niittymaki was named MVP of playoffs that year, recording 15 wins, three shutouts and a 1.75 GAA for the Phantoms.

With all that success behind him, look for Niittymaki to be this season's Henrik Lundqvist.

Additions

Nolan Baumgartner (FA, D, Vancouver)
Mark Cullen (FA, C, Chicago)
Martin Grenier (FA, D, Rangers)
Randy Robitaille (FA, C, Minnesota)
Boyd Lane (FA, LW, Washington)
Geoff Sanderson (FA, LW, Phoenix)
Kyle Calder (T, F, Chicago)
Daniel Corso (FA, C)
Nate Guenin (FA, D, Rangers)
Lars Jonsson (FA, D)
Eric Meloche (T, RW, Chicago)
Brad Tapper (FA, RW)
Marty Murray (FA, C)

Subtractions

Kim Johnsson (FA, D, Minnesota)
Donald Brashear (FA, LW, Washington)
Branko Radivojevic (FA, RW, Minnesota)
Eric Desjardins (D, retired)
Michal Handzus (T, F, Chicago)
Jamie Storr (FA, G, Germany)
Vaclav Pletka (T, RW, Chicago)
Wade Skolney (FA, D, Pittsburgh)

2006 draft picks

Claude Giroux (RW, RD 1, 22nd pick)
Andreas Nodl (RW, RD 2, 39th pick)
Michael Ratchuk (D, RD 2, 42nd pick)
Denis Bodrov, (D, RD 2, 55th pick)
Jonathan Matsumoto (C, RD 3, 79th pick)
Joonas Lehtivuori, (D, RD 4, 101st pick)
Jakub Kovar (G, RD 4, 109th pick)
Jonathan Rheault (RW, RD 5, 145th pick)
Michael Dupont (G, RD 6, 175th pick)
Andrei Popov (RW, RD 7, 205th pick)

Outlook

While the Flyers have many questions that have to be answered in training camp and during the season, not all is cloudy in the City of Brotherly Love. Philly had the seventh-best offense in the league last season, averaging 3.21 tallies per contest and that average should only go up with a healthy Forsberg and the signing of veteran free-agent Geoff Sanderson.

Originally, it was thought that Forsberg had to have surgery on both of his ankles in the offseason, which would have kept him out of the lineup until after the New Year. But after evaluating him further, the Flyers doctors determined that Forsberg only had to have surgery on one of his ankles, which should put him on target to return to the lineup for the season's opening faceoff. Forsberg was a sight for sore eyes when he skated with some of his teammates in Voorhees, N.J. in early September.

Sanderson, who has netted 25-or more goals seven times in his career, had 25 goals in 75 games last year for Phoenix.

Two other Flyers who will also contribute to the offense nightly are Simon Gagne and Mike Knuble. The two forwards had career years last season and with a healthy Forsberg in the lineup, their numbers should only get better. Gagne led the team in goals (47), points (79), plus/minus (+31), game-winning goals (7) and shots (334) last season, with his 79 points being a career high. He was second on the team to Knuble in power-play goals with 12 and was third on the team in assists with 32. Knuble finished third on the Flyers in scoring last season with 65 points. His goal and point totals were both career highs.

But in order for Philadelphia to challenge the Rangers and Devils in the Atlantic, youngsters like Jeff Carter, R.J. Umberger and Mike Richards must again contribute on a nightly basis. The three rookies had some success last year when the team thrust them into action. The Flyers cannot afford the sophomore jinx to hit any one of them. Veteran Petr Nedved must also chip in order for the Flyers to be contenders.

Don't expect to see hulking forward Keith Primeau in a Flyers sweater any time soon. The team captain was still suffering from post-concussion syndrome over the summer.

"There's really nothing new to report. I'm trying to put myself in a position to be in the best possible shape I can be for camp," Primeau said on Aug. 29th at the team's training facility in Voorhees, New Jersey. "I'm trying to become or maintain being symptom free as best I can, and then evaluate it when we get to camp. That means evaluating it with one, my family, two, the team and three, the doctors. They are giving me the room and freedom to do that. I know that (training camp) is fast approaching and there are a lot of difficult decisions to be made in the next couple of weeks."

While no one knows when or if Primeau will ever return to the Flyers lineup, expect highly-touted defenseman Alexandre Picard to be in a black and orange jersey sometime this coming season, possibly opening night. Philadelphia's third-round draft choice (85th overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, compiled 33 points in 75 games with the AHL's Philadelphia Phantoms last season. While Picard doesn't use his size to his advantage, that's okay, that's just what the Flyers are looking for nowadays in a backliner. Picard has a rocket of a shot and is a defender that thinks offense first. A telltale sign that he may be ready to give the NHL a try is that he finished out last season with the Phantoms with a plus-6 rating, proving that he can also take care of business in his own end.

Where they'll finish

Division: Third
Conference: Sixth

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my decision: Niittymäki before Esche and Primeau retired in order to sign Gagne. ;-) and the Flyers will rock!

[swflyers25]

This writer doesn't appear to have done the correct research here.

Even though the formidable forward only played in 69 games last season

60 games and had 75pts.

The next biggest question the team has is between the pipes. Robert Esche and Antero Niittymaki both had similar numbers last season, so head coach Ken Hitchcock can't base his decision on stats alone. This battle might sort itself out in training camp.

So how is this a problem? You have two capable goalies, Niitty being the better of the two. So how is this an issue?

The Flyers cannot go into the 2006-07 season rotating their goalies. History has shown that the system never works out.

Hmm. The Wild did just that in 02-03. A lot of teams last year had 2 goalies playing in the playoffs. There are quite a few teams out there with two good goalies on their roster. BOS has Thomas & Hannu, BUF has Miller & Biron, MON has Abby & Huet, Lundqvist & Weekes for the NYR, OTT has Emery and Gerber. So I don't see how rotating goalies doesn't work.

With the way the NHL game is played nowadays big, clunky defensemen like Derian Hatcher and Mike Rathje don't really have a place, but after inking them to long-term free-agent deals last season, the Flyers are stuck with them until their contracts expire.

Well, let's just say that this author will be very surprised when he sees Hatcher out on the ice this season. Rathje may not even play but Hatcher is back and ready to play in the new NHL.

More skilled blueliners like Joni Pitkanen and Frederick Meyer are the type of players Philly needs to compete in the ultra competitive Eastern Conference.

That's why we signed Baumgartner, Jonsson and we have Picard and another rookie ready to move into the lineup.

In two seasons with the Flyers, Niittymaki has compiled a 26-15-6 record and 2.84 GAA in 49 regular season games. Niittymaki also had success for the Flyers in the minors, helping the AHL's Philadelphia Phantoms win the Calder Cup in 2005 over the Chicago Wolves. Niittymaki was named MVP of playoffs that year, recording 15 wins, three shutouts and a 1.75 GAA for the Phantoms.

With all that success behind him, look for Niittymaki to be this season's Henrik Lundqvist.

Niitty had 7 less wins that Henrik last year.

2005-2006 - Regular Season - Rookie - Goalie - Summary - TOTAL WINS

RK Player Team GP W L OT SA GA GAA Svs Sv % SO G A PIM TOI
1 HENRIK LUNDQVIST NYR 53 30 12 2.24 .922
2 RYAN MILLER BUF 48 30 14 3 2.60 .914
3 RAY EMERY OTT 39 23 11 4 2.82 .902
4 ANTERO NIITTYMAKI PHI 46 23 15 6 2.97 .895

Don't expect to see hulking forward Keith Primeau in a Flyers sweater any time soon. The team captain was still suffering from post-concussion syndrome over the summer.

Try reading the Inquirer.

But in order for Philadelphia to challenge the Rangers and Devils in the Atlantic

The Devils don't even one of their best players on their roster at the moment. Salary cap issues ring a bell.

This guy is an idiot.

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Henrik Lundqvist also had 7 games more than niitty... so the 7 wins are not saying anything.