Philadelphia Flyers 2009 Season Preview, Picks & Odds

With the NHL Hockey season just around the corner, we are providing season previews for all 30 teams to give you the betting edge. Follow the best NHL Hockey Handicappers as they analyze their teams in this 2009 season preview. Use our comprehensive and insider info to bet successfully on the NHL in our recommend sportsbooks. View the rest of our 2009 NHL Season Previews here.

Philadelphia Flyers 2008-’09 record:
44-27-11, 99 points (5th in Atlantic, 15th in East)

Philadelphia Flyers 2008-’09 playoffs:
Lost to Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3

Philly had a strong year, finishing with a 44-27-11 record and earning the East’s 5 th seed. The Flyers boasted four 30 goal scorers and were one of the five highest scoring teams in the NHL! Unfortunately, they faced off against archrival Pittsburgh in the first round and were eliminated by the eventual Stanley Cup Champions after a brutal 6 game series.

Philadelphia Flyers 2009 Preview

Philadelphia Flyers General manager: Paul Holmgren (108-103-33, 4th NHL year, 1st team)

Philadelphia Flyers Coach: John Stevens (108-103-33, 4th NHL year, first team)

Philadelphia Flyers Captain: Mike Richards

Philadelphia Flyers Top Returning Scorer: C Jeff Carter (46 goals, 38 assists, 84 points)

Philadelphia Flyers Top Returning Goalie: Ray Emery (22-8-0, 2.12, .926 in KHL)

Philadelphia Flyers Key Additions: G Brian Boucher; RW Ian Laperriere; G Ray Emery; D Chris Pronger; LW Lukas Kasper; RW Jason Ward; C Krys Kolanos; D Ole-Kristian Tollefsen.

Philadelphia Flyers Key Subtractions: RW Mike Knuble; D Luca Sbisa; RW Joffrey Lupul; D Derian Hatcher; D Nate Guenin; G Antero Niittymaki; D Andrew Alberts; G Martin Biron; LW Josh Gratton; RW Boyd Kane.

Philadelphia Flyers Top Line: LW Simon Gagne, C Mike Richards, RW James van Riemsdyk.

Philadelphia Flyers Top Defensive Pairing: Braydon Coburn, Chris Pronger.

Philadelphia has some serious scoring on hand. Captain Mike Richards is one of the league’s best all-around players and he scored 80 points last year. Along with Richards is breakout star Jeff Carter, whose career-high 46 goals and 84 points paced the team. Both are All-Star caliber players and are among the NHL’s most dangerous. But it gets better: Simon Gagne and Scott Hartnell also scored 30 times last year, giving Philly a very deep set of elite talent! Then consider that the Flyers can expect full seasons from Claude Giroux and Daniel Briere and this unit of forwards appears to be one of the best in the NHL. Expect another very high scoring season for the Flyers.

The defense, already quite strong, will be downright dangerous this year with the addition of Pronger, who contributes very well offensively on top of his lethal defending. Acquiring Pronger to join with Braydon Coburn, Kimmo Timmonen and Matt Carle now gives Philadelphia two exceptional pairings that have the potential to eat up a ton of ice time. Pronger has the ability to play 30 minutes per game and the Flyers will likely take advantage. This is a great group of defensemen.

The real question comes in goal, where neither Emery nor Boucher started in the NHL last season. Emery couldn’t find employment in the league and ended up in Russia thanks to the fact that his talent on the ice is matched by his inability to keep his head on straight. While he’s undoubtedly the more talented of the two keepers, he’s a ticking time bomb and Philly might need help in goal at some point during the year. Boucher is a solid keeper but you’d find few people that aren’t related to him that believe he’s a starting goalie on a Stanley Cup winner. There’s no question that this is the biggest concern on the team.

2009 Philadelphia Flyers Goaltending:

The latest inhabitant to take a ride on the Flyers’ puckstopping merry-go-round, Emery, who backstopped the Senators to the 2007 Stanley Cup finals, was chased out of the NHL following a multitude of meltdowns both on and off the ice in Ottawa. After a strong season with Mytischi of the Russian Kontinental Hockey League, he’s back to try and solve Philly’s never-ending netminding crisis.

2009 Philadelphia Flyers Player To Watch:

RW James van Riemsdyk. Philly’s 2008 top draft pick led New Hampshire (Hockey East) in scoring last season. Also led USA with six goals in world juniors. Big (6-foot-3, 210 pounds) winger will be given every chance to play on top two lines this season. Shoots the puck hard, gets to the net, distributes puck well, but intensity needs to be elevated to a more consistent level.

2009 Philadelphia Flyers Offense:

Pronger will give Emery solid help in front on defense as he returns to the Eastern Conference for the first time since 1995 with the Hartford Whalers. The easier travel should help Pronger and his mid-30s legs. Pronger has been in the playoffs 11 times in 16 NHL seasons. With Anaheim last season, he was second in the NHL in total ice time (2,183 minutes, 20 seconds) and average per game (26:57). Carter will try to match last season, when he posted career highs in goals and assists.

Philadelphia Flyers 2009 Season Predictions

The Flyers will be one of the NHL’s toughest teams this season, but will they be able to skate that fine line between aggressiveness and foolishness? And will Emery be able to make it back in the show after a year away from the NHL?

We predict that the Philadelphia Flyers will finish 2nd in the NHL Atlantic, 4th in East: 100 points.

Philadelphia Flyers Betting

Philadelphia Flyers Stanley Cup Odds: +800
Philadelphia Flyers Eastern Conference Odds: +300
Philadelphia Flyers Atlantic Odds: +300

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