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head coach: Roger Neilson

roster: C - Eric Lindros, Chris Gratton, Joel Otto, Dan Lacroix, Marc Bureau. LW - John LeClair, Rod Brind'Amour, Mike Sillinger, Shjon Podein, Colin Forbes, Dan Kordic. RW - Alexandre Daigle, Trent Klatt, Dainius Zubrus, Jody Hull. D - Eric Desjardins, Dan McGillis, Luke Richardson, Petr Svoboda, Chris Therien, Dave Babych, Chris Joseph. G - John Vanbiesbrouck, Ron Hextall.

transactions: Gonesville: Kjell Samuelsson (misplaced), Sean Burke (Florida). Charlie New Guys: Marc Bureau, Jody Hull, John Vanbiesbrouck.

1997-98 results:

Record...........42-29-11, 95 PTS, 3rd Eastern Conference 
Goals Scored.....242
Goals Against....193
Power Play.......17.8% (4th)
Penalty Killing..86.6% (5th)

IS THIS THE YEAR?

Flyers GM Bobby Clarke had a busy off-season. First, he acquired free agent John Vanbiesbrouck to solve Philly's goaltending problems. Then, after much negotiating, he finally agreed to terms on a one-year contract extension with Eric Lindros. And last but not least, Clarke discovered a snack sensation when his chocolate bar fell into an open jar of peanut butter. By Clarke's own admission, it was yummy.

OFFENSE: Not Much Right on Right Wing

Philly remains overloaded at center. Eric Lindros, Rod Brind'Amour, Chris Gratton, Mike Sillinger, Joel Otto, and Dan Lacroix all like to call the middle home. Brind'Amour was forced to play left wing last season, but is more comfortable at center and hopes to be back anchoring the second line this year. This means Chris Gratton, who will be switching back to number 77, will be tested out once again at left wing. Coach Roger Neilson would like to use Gratton on the wing in order to take advantage of his size along the boards. If Gratton can't make the transition, Brind'Amour will have no choice but to play the left side again or otherwise he wouldn't receive enough playing time as a third line center.

Assuming Brind'Amour and Gratton can co-exist on the second line, Philly's main problem will be trying to find right wingers to play on either of the top two units. Another season of Trent Klatt playing the right side for Lindros and LeClair just won't cut it. Alexandre Daigle and Dainius "Joey" Zubrus are the two leading candidates, but neither one has impressed at camp. Zubrus continues to rely too heavily on finesse, while the Flyer brass would like to see him develop into a power forward. Meanwhile, Daigle's questionable attitude and inconsistent nature makes his future role with the team uncertain. After spending the entire off-season in Hollywood, Daigle seems more concerned with his personal life than becoming an NHL star. But Pamela Lee... c'mon, can you blame him? I mean, did you see that video?

If Daigle and Zubrus can't get the job done, it might open up a spot for AHL scoring ace Mike Maneluk. The 25-year-old winger has impressed at camp with his speed and natural goal-scoring touch. He has also learned to whittle and swim...

Once the top two lines get situated, the Flyers should have their best checking line reunited with Otto centering Klatt and Shjon Podein. At least that would be the perfect scenario. But if Gratton and Brind'Amour get split among the second and third lines, or if Klatt is forced into duty on the right side for one of the top two units, then the Otto line won't assemble.

But even if the top three lines go as planned, the Flyers would still have to make a decision on how to use Mike Sillinger. Last season, Sillinger came over from Vancouver and scored 22 points in 27 games playing the left side for Gratton and Daigle. If he returns to his left wing spot alongside Gratton this season, it would likely mean that Brind'Amour would be stuck centering the third line with Podein and Klatt. Thus, Otto would be rendered expendable, since Lacroix is still around to center the fourth line.

How the Flyers handle all these varying line combinations will go a long way to determining the amount of success they have this coming season.

DEFENSE: Mobility Needed

The Flyers used to have a well-balanced defensive corps, mixing speed and skill with size and toughness. The key words there are "used to." Take away Paul Coffey and Janne Niinimaa, and the Flyer blue line is a rather plodding, one-dimensional group.

The depth chart reads as follows: Eric Desjardins, Chris Therien, Petr Svoboda, Luke Richardson, Dan McGillis, Dave Babych, and Chris Joseph. The average age of this bunch is 30, even though Therien and McGillis are each only 26.

The best man here is Desjardins. A true craftsman, Desjardins is one of the game's elite defensive defensemen. He can also account for his share of points, although last year's sliding total of 33 could be a sign of things to come.

McGillis has the most offensive skills, but he's a mid-level guy at best among the game's notable offensive defensemen. Even though he has better size, he'll struggle trying to fill the skates of Niinimaa.

Svoboda's the best skater, but he's hardly a dependable resource, having missed 41 games over the past two seasons.

Therien and Richardson bring toughness to the mix. Both are physical, abrasive defenders that clear the front of the net and punish the opposition in the corners. However, both are strictly defensive guys that contribute next to nothing offensively.

And Dave Babych is like really, really old. A lot of people don't realize this, but he used to appear in movies back in the 40's. He was good buddies with Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. In fact, he was the talking camel in "Road to Morocco." Sadly, Babych just doesn't have much left. But his mustache should be good for another three or four years.

The Flyers could use a serious boost of skill along the blue line. This group won't help the transition game much and there isn't a power-play quarterback among the lot. It's tough to win a championship without a legitimate point-producing defenseman.

GOALTENDING; Is Vanbiesbrouck the Answer?

Bobby Clarke finally made a move to address Philadelphia's weakness in goal by signing free agent John Vanbiesbrouck away from Florida. Unfortunately, not only was the gesture itself about two years late, the chosen solution may be past its prime, as well. At 35, Vanbiesbrouck is not the goaltender he once was. He looked extremely sluggish last season, doing little to slow Florida's downward spiral. He's still better than anything Philly's had for the past, oh, forever.

Hextall will still be around as the backup, with Sean Burke departing for Florida.

GEE, THAT'S SWELL

* Lindros and LeClair are two of the best forwards in the NHL.

* Vanbiesbrouck is a definite improvement in net.

* Have bitchin' Cheese Steaks.

GRIEF

* Too many centers.

* No proven right wingers.

* No scoring on defense.

1998-99 OUTLOOK: With Lindros and LeClair up front and Vanbiesbrouck in net, the Flyers should be able to win the Atlantic. But unless they find a proven right winger and a quarterback for the power play, it might be another year without a Stanley Cup.

PREDICTION: First in Atlantic.

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