Before I get into my argument, I would like to start by saying I hope Sidney Crosby a speedy recovery from his concussion...because the Flyers beating the Penguins without him in the lineup just isn't the same.

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The Flyers need a skilled winger to play with Richards and Gagne on the first line and Giroux and JVR on the third line. Here are a couple of UFA wingers that I wouldn't mind seeing wear the orange and black

Ray Whitney

Last Season : 21-37-58, -6, 80 GP

He's a top line player who played with one of the best centers in the game in Eric Staal last season.  He's also won the cup with Peter Laviolette in 06-07 with the Hurricanes, so he already knows his system.

Maxim Afinogenov

Last Season : 24-37-61, -17, 82 GP

I wanted the Flyers to pick him up after he left Buffalo, but he was kind of a risk because he has a history with injuries.  Since he played 82 games with the thrashers last season, I'd say that his injuries are behind him.  He's a great puck handler and can pull off a skilled deke every once in a while.

Colby Armstrong

Last Season : 15-14-29, +6, 79 GP

He's a tough guy who would probably be better on the third line rather then the first.  He's a better version of Asham who can also kill penelties. 

Ruslan Fedotenko

Last Season : 11-19-30, -17, 80 GP

He had a pretty good stint with the flyers between 2000-2002, and I always thought he was a lucky charm in the playoffs, winning cups with Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh.

Andrew Ladd

Last Season : 17-21-38, +2, 82 GP

I've been a fan of this guy for a while, specifically because of his feud with Ryan Kesler, and Kesler's a tool.  He's a solid third line winger and an emerging power forward, who could benefit from playing with Giroux.

These players won't come cheap, so hopefully the fact that the Flyers are now the defending Eastern Conference Champions will help lure some of these players to Broad St.

.

*puts on obvious helmet

The Islanders aren't a very good hockey team.  They finished last in the league last year and haven't made the playoffs since 2006.

*takes off helmet

They were so bad that they were rewarded the first pick of the draft and they picked John Tavares, who is supposed to be the next big thing.  A couple of years ago, Sidney Crosby was the next big thing and now he's the captain of the defending stanley cup champs and public enemy #1 in philly.  Will Tavares' career be similar to Crosby?

I say yes.  Even though the Islanders haven't shown up on the Flyers fan's radar recently, they are still our divisional rivals and I think its only a matter of time before we hate Tavares as much as we hate Crosby.

Therefore I suggest we start the "Tavares sucks" campaign now so we can get a hard start, because I think it's gonna happen eventually.  To anyone who is going to a Flyers-Islanders game this year, I ask that you boo whenever Tavares touches the puck and get the ball rolling.

What say you?

Last year the Flyers had one of the best PKs in the game, thanks to their ability to score a man down.  The shorthanded goal became a type of trademark for the Flyers, as they led the league with 16 shorthanders, 7 of which came from Mike Richards.  This year, the Flyers have some new players that can kill penalties, taking the pressure off guys like Richards.  I think the only guys on the Flyers that don't kill penalties, are Danny Briere and Dan Carcillo.

Now that Richards won't be killing as many penalties this year, can we expect him or Jeff Carter or Simon Gagne  to score as many shorthanded goals as they did last year? Is that necessarily a bad thing?

In the NHL, there are certain enforcers who are called "heavyweights".  These category of fighter includes Georges Laraque, Donald Brashear, Eric Goddard, Colton Orr, Mitch Fritz, Shawn Thornton,  Micheal Rupp,  David Koci, Andrew Peters, and thats just the Eastern Conference.

Cote might not win a lot of fights, but sometimes thats not the point.  Cote has proven that he can hold his own and he can stand up to all of these heavyweights.  If Cote does not make the final cut of the roster and goes on waivers or down to the Phantoms, who on the Flyers stands up to these guys?

I saw this thread over at Bleeding Green Nation, so I thought we do the same thing for the Flyers and the upcoming 09-10 season

Basically, make any bold predictions about the Flyers or any team in the NHL.  They can be about whatever you want.  Here are some of mine.

1.  John Stevens will lead the Flyers to the Atlantic Division title and be nominated for coach of the year.

2.  Mike Richards will be in the top ten in the league in points, and win the Selke trophy.

3.  Dan Carcillo will have less then 150 PIM this year, and will finally get on the good side of the refs by baking them cookies before games.

4.  JVR will be nominated for the Calder trophy.

5.  The Flyers will make the playoffs and beat the Maple Leafs, Rangers and Capitals and win the Eastern Conference.  They go on to win the Stanley Cup by beating the Canucks in 6 games. 

List some of your bold predictions.