Vincent Lecavalier scored 20 goals and added 17 assists in a disappointing 2013-14 season. (Photo by Amy Irvin/38Photography)
The start of the NHL season marks a time of new beginnings. For the Flyers, there are several new beginnings.
The team underwent a minor overhaul of sorts as they stayed quite in free agency. There is a lot of potential coming to this team in the minor leagues, but several players with the big club now that can make an impact with some serious play.
Here are five players to watch during the season.
Mark Streit – With Kimmo Timonen out with injury and his hockey career uncertain, Mark Streit becomes the quarterback of the Flyers power play. That equated to eight points in the preseason. There are even more up for grabs with a power play that features Claude Giroux, Jake Voracek, Vincent Lecavalier and Brayden Schenn. Streit will definitely rake in the points on that unit.
Vincent Lecavalier – Lecavalier had his moments in 2013-14, but needs to be an impact player this season. Lecavalier was the headliner of the second power play unit last season. He’s going to get time on the first unit and Giroux will find him. Lecavalier has to be ready to deliver for the amount of looks he will get.
Brayden Schenn – Much like Lecavalier, Schenn will get plenty of Giroux time, both as part of the first line and the top power play unit. Schenn will be set up time and time again. For Schenn, a lot of his memorable moments have been about right place, right time. Many more of those times will come again. He has to keep his head up though.
Michael Del Zotto – The new defenseman isn’t expected to replace Timonen but be a solidifying part of the blue line. If you don’t notice Del Zotto defensively, he’s doing his job. That’s a compliment, I think. Don’t expect much scoring from him, but if he can do his job defensively, he will be successful here.
Sean Couturier – After three seasons of being a force on the penalty kill – where he will still get regular work – Couturier’s offensive workload is expected to increase this season. As a member of the second line, it will be interesting to see what kind of scoring opportunities open up for him. As a rookie, he scored in five straight games and had a playoff hat trick. The ability is already there. Maybe now, the ice time will follow.
Kevin Durso is the lead beat writer for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.
