General Manager Paul Holmgren knew anything but a Stanley Cup in 2011 would be a disappointment. After coming so close in 2010 against the Blackhawks, the Flyers rode the "Cup or bust" mentality through the entire season, and into the playoffs.
That was, until they ran into the Boston Bruins in the semi-finals. Boston dominated every facet of the game, and ran Philadelphia right out of the playoffs.
The Flyers were swept 4-0, and fans and team members alike were left to question where the team would go from here.
In a matter of a few short months, Holmgren would would change the course of the team for years to come.
As much as he wanted to avoid it, "Homer" realized that the tandem of Jeff Carter and Mike Richards were incapable of bringing a championship to Philadelphia. Their wild party antics were well noted in the media, and Richards inability as captain to be a leader hurt them on and off the ice.
After years of coming so close yet being so far, Holmgren knew exactly what he needed to do: blow it all up. And that is exactly what he did.
On June 23, 2011, Richards and Carter were both traded out of Philly within thirty minutes. Carter was sent to Columbus in return for RW Jakub Voracek, and a 1st round pick in the 2011, which was used to draft Sean Couturier.
Richards was traded out west to the LA Kings, in return for top prospect Brayden Schenn, and another right winger, Wayne Simmonds.
The entire NHL community was in complete shock. The Flyers had traded half of their offense, and received four offensive question marks in return.
As free agency rolled around on July 1st, the Flyers were still busy getting rid of pieces of the 2010 team that failed so miserably.
Kris Versteeg was traded to Florida, and Ville Leino, a free agent, signed a contract with the Buffalo Sabres.
However, the Flyers were able to sign Max Talbot, and corral NHL legend Jaromir Jagr from the KHL.
The prospects of Jagr and rising star Claude Giroux brought hope, but the Flyers offense was still in shambles.
Out of 256 goals scored by the 20 Flyers players last year, 219 goals (10 players) were gone by the start of the 2012 season.
However, Flyers coach Peter Laviolette planned extremely well for the overhaul.
He arranged his line combinations that would benefit everyone. Claude Giroux was placed on line one with Hartnell and Jagr, and young gritty players like rookie Matt Read, Brayden Schenn, and Wayne Simmonds were put together.
Sean Couturier was placed with penalty killer Max Talbot, and Danny Briere and Jakub Voracek were the offensive threats for their line.
In the absence of James Van Riemsdyk for most of the season, all have picked up the slack. Jagr's ability to manage defenders while also working with the puck, have allowed Giroux and Hartnell to set themselves up in front of the net and score off one-timers.
After scoring 24 goals in 2011, Scott Hartnell has 35 this season, a career high for him. Giroux has added an extra 10 points to his total this season, up from 76 points last year. The "Giroux Tang Clan" has become a force to be reckoned with, and will continue to wreck serious havoc in the playoffs
For two players who were not expected to contribute much, Matt Read and Brayden Schenn have held their own. The two rookies bring pure athleticism, and blow right by defenders. Schenn and Read have accounted for 30 goals and 55 points.
If anyone of the newcomers have impressed the most it is Wayne Simmonds. Primarily a 3rd and 4th liner while with the Kings, Simmonds was given a chance to shine offensively. He found his spot right in front of the net, and has cashed in on many rebounds this year. Simmonds has scored 22 goals and has 20 points, both single-season career highs.
Just like Simmonds, Maxime Talbot was given a chance to show what he can do offensively. After five years in Pittsburgh as a penalty killer, Talbot has worked his way onto the score sheet numerous times this year. After scoring 8 goals in 2011, Talbot now has 18 this year. Paired up with rookie Sean Couturier, both have excelled on both ends of the ice.
Although Voracek and Briere have gone through cold spells this year, both have contributed when it counted, and have also added 30 goals.
Meanwhile, Richards and Carter (now teammates in Los Angeles) have had miserable years. Richards has only 16 goals and 23 assists, while Carter has a measly 21 goals and 13 assists. Do the math, the Richards and Carter duo have only two more goals combined than Scott Hartnell alone.
In Philadelphia, the Flyers are sitting comfortably with the 5th seed heading into the playoffs, while the Kings, the 7th seed, are only three points ahead of the 11th seeded Calgary Flames.
After all the uncertainty that surrounded the Flyers this summer, everyone can breathe easy. The offense of 2012 is a much more dangerous force than the one of years past.
If anything, the "Makeover: NHL Edition" proved one thing: never doubt Paul Holmgren. Holmgren put himself on the chopping block this summer, and now has the Flyers poised for another Stanley Cup run. This time, just with a few new faces.
If anyone of the newcomers have impressed the most it is Wayne Simmonds. Primarily a 3rd and 4th liner while with the Kings, Simmonds was given a chance to shine offensively. He found his spot right in front of the net, and has cashed in on many rebounds this year. Simmonds has scored 22 goals and has 20 points, both single-season career highs.
Just like Simmonds, Maxime Talbot was given a chance to show what he can do offensively. After five years in Pittsburgh as a penalty killer, Talbot has worked his way onto the score sheet numerous times this year. After scoring 8 goals in 2011, Talbot now has 18 this year. Paired up with rookie Sean Couturier, both have excelled on both ends of the ice.
Although Voracek and Briere have gone through cold spells this year, both have contributed when it counted, and have also added 30 goals.
Meanwhile, Richards and Carter (now teammates in Los Angeles) have had miserable years. Richards has only 16 goals and 23 assists, while Carter has a measly 21 goals and 13 assists. Do the math, the Richards and Carter duo have only two more goals combined than Scott Hartnell alone.
In Philadelphia, the Flyers are sitting comfortably with the 5th seed heading into the playoffs, while the Kings, the 7th seed, are only three points ahead of the 11th seeded Calgary Flames.
After all the uncertainty that surrounded the Flyers this summer, everyone can breathe easy. The offense of 2012 is a much more dangerous force than the one of years past.
If anything, the "Makeover: NHL Edition" proved one thing: never doubt Paul Holmgren. Holmgren put himself on the chopping block this summer, and now has the Flyers poised for another Stanley Cup run. This time, just with a few new faces.
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