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1999-2000 Stat Leaders Stat  Leader  No.  Goals  John LeClair  40  Assists  Mark Recchi  63  Points  Mark Recchi  91  +/-  Mark Recchi  20     Eric Dejardins  20  Shots  John LeClair  249  Ice Time (F)  Eric Lindros  22:01  Ice Time (D)  Eric Dejardins  27:00  Faceoff Pct.  Rod Brind’Amour  60.48%  Hits  Daniel McGillis  264  PP Pts  Mark Recchi  39  SH Pts  Mark Recchi  2     Jody Hull  2

Talk about your roller coasters. The Flyers began last season 0-5-1, but entered Y2K 22-11-6 and went on to earn the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference with a win on the final day of the season. Along the way they endured the loss of a young defenseman in a boating accident; good-guy coach Roger Neilson's cancer diagnosis, his subsequent treatment and eventual replacement; Eric Lindros concussions, not to mention the accompanying soap opera, us-vs.-them melodrama and genuine threats to his career those concussions spawned; and a bloodless coup in the goaltending department. Persevering through it all, the Flyers still entered the playoffs as an underdog on the street until dispatching Buffalo and Pittsburgh.

Philadelphia's Eastern Conference final was an emotional up-and-down affair, too. The Flyers lost Game 1, rallied for an improbable Game 2 win and pulled out to a 3-1 series lead over New Jersey, before the Devils worked an even more improbable rally of their own.

For more on the Flyers, bookmark this page and check back Wednesday, Oct. 11 for a Sports Illustrated Scouting Report.

BRIGHT SPOTS		GRAY AREAS
Brian Boucher didn't crack during the playoffs. John LeClair is signed -- at $7 million -- through the end of the season. Players seemed energized when the bench duties fell to Craig Ramsay, who begins his first season as NHL head coach. Beyond what he's worth as trade bait or as compensation if he signs an offer sheet, no one will be wondering about Eric Lindros. He's out. Period. A good push from the youngsters. Simon Gagne had a banner rookie season and Daymond Langkow is coming off his first 50-point season. Andy Delmore proved in the playoffs that he could add a spark from the blue line.		No steadying presence of John Vanbiesbrouck (25-15-9, 2.20 GAA) if Boucher does crack. He'll be backed up by a rookie. John LeClair is signed only through the end of this season and will probably hear trade rumors all season. Gagne has been troubled by a groin injury since the third day of training camp. Second-year man Boucher will be backed up by 19-year-old rookie Maxime Ouellet. More rookies to test in the lineup: winger Justin Williams (also 19) and center Petr Hubacek start with the big club, too. The team must decide after 10 games whether to send Ouellet and Williams back to their junior teams, but Hubacek, at 21, can play in the AHL.

Comings
Player	Pos.	From	Via
Brian Boucher	G	Philadelphia	Re-signed
Jesse Boulerice	RW	Philadelphia	Re-signed
Andy Delmore	D	Phildelphia	Re-signed
Jody Hull	RW	Philadelphia	Re-signed
John LeClair	LW	Philadelphia	Re-signed
Steve McLaren	D	Philadelphia	Re-signed
Rob Murray	C	Edmonton	Free agent
Michel Picard	LW	Edmonton	Free agent
Derek Plante	C	Chicago	Free agent
Kevin Stevens	LW	N.Y. Rangers	Free agent
Michal Sykora	D	Tampa Bay	Free agent
Brad Tiley	D	Phoenix	Free agent
Rick Tocchet	RW	Philadelphia	Re-signed

Goings
Player	Pos.	To	Via
Artem Anisimov	D	Minnesota	Expansion
Craig Berube	LW	Washington	Free agent
Adam Burt	D	Atlanta	Free agent
Mark Janssens	C	Chicago	Free agent
Mike Maneluk	LW	Columbus	Free agent
Jim Montgomery	C	San Jose	Free agent
Martin Streit	LW	Columbus	Expansion
Jeff Tory	D	Dallas	Free agent
Todd White	C	Ottawa	Free agent
Valeri Zelepukin	F	Chicago	Free agent

Prospect Watch
Tomas Divisek, C, 6' 2", 204
Born: July 17, 1979 in Most, Czech Republic
Acquired: 1998 entry draft (No. 195 overall)
There aren't a lot of openings as camp opens at a new faciltiy in Voorhees, N.J., but Divisek, who scored 18 goals and 49 points in his first AHL season with the Phantoms, is an option. Divisek is listed as a center but can also play on the wing. Goaltender Maxime Ouellet (the best goaltender in the QMJHL this past season) and right winger Justin Willaims (37 goals in Plymouth of the OHL in 1999-2000) are considered potential building blocks for the future, and each will get a least short looks at the start of the regular season after pleasantly surprising in camp.

Get the Highlighter
Thursday, Oct. 5 vs. Vancouver. Perhaps the Sedin twins will play in this, the Flyers season-opener.
Wednesday, Nov. 1 at New Jersey. Philadelphia waits until November to gain a measure of revenge on the Eastern Conference champs.
Thursday, Feb. 15 vs. Toronto. If Lindros is cleared to play in December and ends up in Toronto, this would be the first time Eric comes to town.

Quoteworthy
"With Eric, every little injury became bigger than what it was, bigger than the team. But now we just want to play hockey. We don't need any of that stuff anymore."
—Bob Clarke

Team-by-team previews compiled by CNNSI.com's Ken Klavon, Jamie MacDonald and Jimmy Traina.

 

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