Commentary

Extreme makeover: Philadelphia Flyers

With all the new faces, is there enough scoring power left on the team?

Originally Published: August 9, 2011
By Neil Greenberg | Special to ESPN Insider

Starting with the Philadelphia Flyers' bold trades just prior to the NHL draft, the league's landscape has undergone some significant changes this offseason. For the next five weeks, Insider contributor Neil Greenberg will examine, in detail, five of the biggest summer renovators -- the San Jose Sharks, the Minnesota Wild, the Los Angeles Kings, the Washington Capitals and the Flyers -- to see what we can expect from their remodeled rosters. The series concludes with a look at the Flyers.

In a span of nine days, the Philadelphia Flyers' offense became unrecognizable.

Jeff Carter was shipped to the Columbus Blue Jackets for winger Jakub Voracek plus two draft picks, and Mike Richards was traded to the Los Angeles Kings for Wayne Simmonds and star prospect Brayden Schenn.

Ville Leino signed a six-year, $27-million deal with the Buffalo Sabres, and forwards Kris Versteeg, Daniel Carcillo and Darroll Powe, along with veteran defenseman Sean O'Donnell, moved on.

Forwards Jaromir Jagr and Maxime Talbot -- yes, the same two that played for the hated cross-state rival Pittsburgh Penguins -- inked deals to play with the Atlantic Division champions.

"What we've done today is kinda change the direction of our organization," Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren explained to the media. "I've always said over the last few years that I like our team. Today I like our team -- we're just a different team."

The question is, did those changes leave an offense just two years removed from Game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals enough scoring power to contend?


To read more about whether the Philadelphia Flyers have enough scoring to compete in the East, you must be an ESPN Insider.

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