Flyers No Longer Top Favorites

Alexis Nicgorski
Nov 1, 2001

So the Flyers were a strong favorite to win the Cup this year. On paper they were a formidable team to play. Ask the Florida Panthers, Washington Capitals and Montreal Canadians, they know of this. They have experienced first hand the goal scoring prowess of Mark Recchi, Keith Primeau, Simon Gagne, John LeClair, Jeremy Roenick. Roman Cechmanek and Brian Boucher have kept them in those games. If only they could be stopped!

Well for lessons in stopping the Flyers ask the Detroit Red Wings, and for a lesson in destroying them, talk to the Ottawa Senators.

If the Flyers were Cup contenders, I would hate to see what is considered poor team play. The Flyers have been proficient in showing how to play without defense, a power play and without any energy, all in just a short 60-minute game. You too can learn the skill and ability to have at least 7 NHL All Stars, 3 cup rings (from other teams - the coach even has a few of them, although with the Flyers years ago), and lose without care or emotion. See talent fall from grace right before your eyes 82 games this year! That is what the Flyers are bringing to the table this season.

Now I know this is only 10 games +/- into the season and the Flyers have gotten off to worse starts and survived, and I could be overreacting, but that's my job. To scream the sky is falling when it's only a drop. Yet I digress.

What is the problem with this team? Well what's the problem with most NHL teams this year? The Islanders are undefeated and they are the only team with any type of solid start in the East. The Red Wings representing the West has the only true solid start thus far as well. Then again their rookies probably have 3 years in the league already. So what's going on?

I cannot speak for all the teams but I know that the Flyers appear to think that just because their starters are all recognizable names, they deserve a point coming out of the tunnel. In fact they were quoted as joking that they could go 82-0 for the season with their team. Obviously they were wrong and have overestimated themselves and underestimated their opponents. A fact that is reflected in their individual and team stats. They realized that their goalie cannot save games for them night in and out, even though, minus the Senators game, their goaltending has given them a chance to win every night. Their defense is nonexistent, and Eric Weinrich is quickly finding out just how much work Eric Desjardins was doing, and understanding how miraculous his job was on the Flyers. Not many people can do it. They are both tired of carrying the defense and covering the offence's mistakes for them.

With too many big names and not enough room on the front line, spots have to be earned, but chemistry between line mates is far more important. Recchi, Roenick and LeClair aren't cutting it as a line. Neither is the LeClair - Priemeau experiment. They just don't compliment each other. Priemeau, Recchi and Gagne do. They were a guaranteed goal a night last season. Let them play the game they have mastered. Teams have proven time and again, just because they play well individually, does not mean they will play well as a line. Otherwise why hasn't Canada won a gold in the Olympics in the recent past?

Is this analysis limited to the Flyers? No. However, sometimes an example has to be made, and the Flyers have offered themselves up readily.

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