head coach: Wayne Cashman

roster: C - Eric Lindros, Rod Brind'Amour, Chris Gratton, Joel Otto, Vaclav Prospal, Daniel Lacroix. LW - John LeClair, Dan Kordic, Shjon Podein, Colin Forbes, John Druce. RW - Dainius Zubrus, Pat Falloon, Trent Klatt, Scott Daniels. D - Eric Desjardins, Janne Niinimaa, Luke Richardson, Paul Coffey, Petr Svoboda, Chris Therien, Kjell Samuelsson, Chris Joseph. G - Ron Hextall, Garth Snow.
*-Unsigned free agent.

injuries: None.

transactions: 07/07 - Named Wayne Cashman head coach. 07/10 - Signed free-agent defenseman Jamie Heward (Toronto) to a one-year contract; signed center Martin Cerven. 07/14 - Signed free-agent defenseman Luke Richardson (Edmonton). 07/17 - Re-signed right wing Brett Bruininks to a one-year contract. 08/06 - Named Paul Holmgren director of player personnel. 08/20 - Signed center Chris Gratton to a five-year, $16.5 million contract. Acquired first-round picks in the next four NHL Drafts, given in compensation to Tampa Bay, for right wing Mikael Renberg and defenseman Karl Dykhuis. 08/25 - Announced the retirement of center Dale Hawerchuk. 09/12 - Re-signed free-agent defenseman Chris Therien to a multi-year contract.

standings:

1996-97 FINAL RESULTS
RECORD:     
 OVERALL      45-24-13
 HOME         23-12-6
 ROAD         22-12-7       
POINTS:            103  (4th)
GOALS SCORED:      274  (3rd)   
GOALS AGAINST:     217  (8th)
POWER PLAY:      14.6% (18th)
PENALTY KILLING: 85.7%  (6th)

game results:

PRE-SEASON RESULTS
9/13 at Pittsburgh      W 3-1 

team news:

by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief

LINDROS AND CREW ON A MISSION

Eric Lindros came close to his dream last season only to get swept by the Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Finals. Now that he has that taste of the Finals, it's going to be tough to keep him from returning this year. And as if the strength of Lindros' sheer will wasn't enough, GM Bobby Clarke went out and bolstered both the offense and the defense through the free agent market. The Flyers still need help in goal, and Wayne Cashman will be making his NHL coaching debut, but the club is still the best in the East. It seems like only a matter of time before Lindros and the boys hoist the Cup.

OFFENSE: Gratton Creates Possibilities

The big news out of Philadelphia this summer was the acquisition of restricted free agent center Chris Gratton from the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Flyers forked over some major scratch, including a $9-million signing bonus, and eventually had to give up Mikael Renberg and Karl Dykhuis to seal the deal, but GM Bobby Clarke is quite happy to call Gratton a Flyer. Last season the 6'4", 220- pounder led the Tampa Bay Lightning in scoring, establishing career highs in goals (30), assists (32), points (62), power-play goals (9), and game-winners (4). He also spent his share of time in the box, leading the Lightning with a career-high 201 minutes in penalties, including five fighting majors. Gratton is the complete power forward. And at just 22 years of age, he's only going to get better. His size and strength will just add to the already intimidating Flyer roster.

Gratton's arrival also gives new Flyer head coach Wayne Cashman plenty of options up front. Gratton could be used at right wing on the top line with Lindros and John LeClair to create an even bigger version of the Legion of Doom. Or he could be used to center the second line, with Rod Brind'Amour sliding over to the right side. Or a third option, and one that has been rumored heavily, is Brind'Amour getting traded to Carolina for Sean Burke in order to sure up the Flyers' obvious weakness in goal. But if the Flyers trade Brind'Amour, they're nuts. The guy is just too good to trade. He's the perfect second-line center. Losing Brind'Amour, even to get a legitimate number-one netminder, would be disastrous to this club.

The Flyers have another burgeoning young talent at center in the form of Vaclav Prospal. The 22-year-old Czech joined the club late last season and posted 15 points in 18 games of action. He followed that up with four more points in the first round of the playoffs before he broke his wrist in practice and missed the rest of the postseason. The kid definitely has what it takes to make an impact. He's got good size (6'2", 185), has incredible hands, and sees the whole ice surface. Prospal could develop into a big-time playmaker. His space on the roster is cemented, now he just has to find a position to play. Whether he's at center or left wing, Prospal will likely end up on the second line with Brind'Amour and perhaps 19-year-old Dainius Zubrus, who is clearly ready for regular playing time. Or if Zubrus plays with Lindros and LeClair, like he did for parts of the playoffs, that would mean Gratton would drop to the second line with Brind'Amour and Prospal, giving the Flyers three centers on one line.

It might seem like a problem having so many centers, but it really isn't that big a deal. Moving from wing to center is tough, but moving from the middle to the wing is a piece of cake. Or, if you prefer pie, a piece of pie. Once you've played center you can pretty much play anywhere. And wing is just plain simple. In most systems, the wing's primary responsibility on defense is to eliminate the point man. It doesn't get any easier than that. Gratton definitely has the size to play wing and Brind'Amour actually spent a lot of time on wing last season when Dale Hawerchuk was healthy, so they should both be able to make the transition with ease. After considering all the options, don't be surprised to see Zubrus with Lindros and LeClair, and Prospal centering Brind'Amour and Gratton on the second line.

While the top two units are open to interpretation, the bottom two are all but set in stone. Joel Otto will anchor the third line with Trent Klatt and Shjon Podein on his wings. This trio is without a doubt the best third line in hockey. They're excellent defensively, hit everything that moves, and can chip in some big goals. Klatt did play on the second line a bit last season, but he's more at home with Otto and Podein.

The fourth unit will once again be the Dan Line of center Dan Lacroix and wingers Dan Kordic and Scott Daniels. This group won't score many goals, but they'll cause plenty of trouble and will dish out punishment. Last season they combined for 610 minutes in penalties and 60 fighting majors. Aw, that's nice work.

Pat Falloon will probably still be around to tease with his tantalizing talent, but he'll have trouble finding ice time now that Zubrus and Prospal have emerged. John Druce will be back to fill in on the fourth or third lines when needed, but one guy who won't return is Dale Hawerchuk. The legendary scorer decided to hang up his skates this summer due to an arthritic hip that just wasn't getting any better. Hawerchuk goes into the record books with 518 goals and 1,409 points in 1,188 career games. Mr. Hawerchuk, the Hall of Fame awaits.

The Flyer offense doesn't have any weaknesses. They're young, strong, deep, and talented. The top two units will produce plenty of goals and the third and fourth lines know their roles and excel at them.

The only concern the club has is that LeClair is currently holding out of camp looking to renegotiate a contract that will pay him about $1.5 million in each of the next two seasons. Considering all the money getting tossed around these days, including the enormous amounts of cash the Flyers heaped on Gratton, LeClair is painfully underpaid. But Clarke has said that the club won't even begin talking with LeClair until he reports to camp. And LeClair doesn't appear ready to report anytime soon. Now it's a matter of who blinks first. As great as the Flyers are, they can't afford to have LeClair's holdout drag on into the season.

DEFENSE: Richardson Secures Blue Line

The Flyer defense was solid last season, but not spectacular. Sensing the group could use a boost, Bobby Clarke went out and signed Luke Richardson, the prized defensemen of this year's free-agent crop. Richardson, 28, is the definition of a defensive defenseman. He's big (6'4", 210), strong, and loves to hit. He'll do all the little things that won't show up on the scoresheet but will make the team successful. Richardson will be a tremendous addition.

While Richardson is great, he'll probably still be only the number three man in town. Eric Desjardins will return as the club's number one defenseman, and is just one of the most complete defenders in the game. The club's second best defenseman is Finnish import Janne Niinimaa. The 22-year-old had an impressive rookie campaign last season, claiming the LCS Rookie of the Year Award, and is without doubt the most complete young defenseman in hockey... sorry, Bryan Berard.

Desjardins' normal partner is the bruising Chris Therein, who enjoyed a marvelous postseason. Therien's physical presence goes well with Desjardins' all-around greatness. Niinimaa began last season playing with Paul Coffey, but was paired with Petr Svoboda throughout the playoffs. Svoboda's mobility and veteran experience makes him a valuable member of the squad.

Coffey spent the latter part of last season playing with Karl Dykhuis as the team's third defensive pairing. Now that Dykhuis is gone, Coffey could get paired with Richardson or the ageless Kjell Samuelsson. It's hard to believe, but Samuelsson is still playing. He's listed as 39, but that's a Jack Benny 39. This guy is old. When he walks past a graveyard, people chase him with shovels. He's also slow. Yes, old and slow... quite the combination. But the Flyers still think he can contribute, mostly on the penalty kill. The club also signed Chris Joseph to add depth. Joseph isn't much in the way of playing smart defense. He is, however, a good skater with a canon slap shot. It's just too bad he never hits the net with it.

The Flyer defense will be stacked. Not only will they be great at even-strength, but Coffey and Niinimaa give them two excellent point men on the power play and Desjardins, Richardson, Therien, and Samuelsson are all exceptional penalty-killers.

GOALTENDING: Goaltending? What? Where?

The Flyers goaltending, um, how should we put this... blows. Ron Hextall is terrible and Garth Snow is an absolute joke. This is the only area of the team that needs improvement. There is no chance in hell that the Flyers will win a Stanley Cup with a tandem of Hextall and Snow. Something definitely has to be done. Sean Burke and Felix Potvin are the names heard most often, but it'll be hard acquiring a big-name goaltender without giving up Brind'Amour.

At least there's no real rush. Hextall and Snow are good enough to start the schedule and win some regular season games, but someone else has to be stopping pucks by the time the playoffs roll around if the Flyers want to drink from the Cup.

GEE, THAT'S SWELL

* Gratton makes the lineup even more fearsome.

* Eric Lindros is the best center in the NHL and John LeClair is the best left winger.

* Richardson brings grit and depth to the blue line.

TROUBLE

* Goaltending.

* Goaltending.

* Goaltending.

1997-98 Outlook: The Flyers have a new coach, a new power forward, and a new banger on the blue line. Now they just need a new goaltender. Even without a switch in net, this club is still deep enough and talented enough to run away with the East. But there won't be a Cup in their future until the goaltending gets upgraded.

PREDICTION: First place in the Atlantic Division and first in the East.

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