Preseason Preview: Philadelphia Flyers

We're heading down the stretch as it's time for another Preseason Preview. This is where we check out the teams going into the season.

Now, the Philadelphia Flyers.

Team M.O.: The Broad Street Bullies are back and in full-force, as the Flyers are going to put the angriest and toughest team in the NHL on the ice this season. Everyone on this team is either skilled, tough, or many instances both and their off-season acquisitions have literally made them the toughest team in recent history, and that even includes the 2006-07 Anaheim Ducks. I mean, even the Flyers' new goaltender is one of the better fighters in the league. I guess I'd be angry too though if the guys on the other side of the state are partying with the Stanley Cup though, so it's hard to blame them.

In short, these guys are pissed off.

Last Season: The Battle of Philidelphia came early this season and much like last time, the Flyers lost out to the Pittsburgh Penguins. While it was a tight series, maybe Danny Carcillo shouldn't have fought Maxime Talbot when he did; that seemed to piss off the Penguins worse than the Flyers. They're going to hope that their off-season acquisitions are "the piece" to their puzzle while relying on a few of the other players to step up their game a bit. They sure got enough guys with a pissed-off attitude though.

Offense: These guys are lead by Mike Richards, who's pissed off and so skilled at all aspects at all ends of the game (including fighting) that he may as well have been born in a Flyers jersey. Jeff Carter, however, was pissed off by the attention Richards was getting and decided to take the largest step forward of anyone on the team and surprised everyone in the league by getting 84 points. Scott Hartnell's another pissed off first liner that's emerging as one of the leagues best power forwards. Simon Gagne isn't as pissed off as those guys, but his 74 points last season sure pissed off the competition. Daniel Briere's pissed that he's injured all the time, because he can still hit a point per game or close to it. Claude Giroux isn't pissed anymore now that Joffrey Lupul's gone, but he's going to act like he is so he can get into the top-six forward role.

But the best has yet to come. Do you think that their group of top-six forwards look good? Their bottom six will beat the $#!+ outta you. Ian Laperriere brings a pissed off veteran presense and should gel well with the other French dudes on the team. If you look up the picture of pissed off in the dictionary, there's Daniel Carcillo who's led the league in PIM for two consecutive seasons. Arron Asham doesn't have to be pissed off, but he's good at it so hey, why not? Riley Cote stays pissed off and that's what keeps him in the game, on the team, and in the league so mega-kudos to you sir. They should be able to fill out the rest of the spots through either promoting some of their younger players (like Jonathon Kalinski or Andreas Nodl) if they don't chose to fill it out with established players (like Darroll Powe). Either way, they should be set.

Defense: Maintaining the pissed-off theme, the Flyers traded for Chris Pronger and have them as not only their top defender, but also an experienced leader who should be nothing but beneficial for a Flyers defense on the verge of putting it all together. Braydon Coburn can be pissed off in games but it may not hurt to embrace that a bit more. Kimmo Timonen isn't as pissed but really doesn't have to be when he works the power play the way he does. Ryan Parent, Matt Carle, and Randy Jones leave the pissed-off antics to everyone else because they're just glad they found a good home in Philadelphia. Ole-Kristian Tollefsen is not only pissed off that Columbus gave up on him, but that he was injured most of last season and wants to use his Norwegian toughness to pound on those pussy Finns and Swedes. The Flyers made a great signing when he became available and have now completed rounded out their wheel of a defensive unit. Good for the Flyers.

Goaltending: Ray Emery was pissed-off in Ottawa because they were a bunch of tight-ass traditionalists who didn't appreciate Ray's cosmopolitan flavors in life. He was pissed-off when he left the NHL and was pissed that trainers try to make players wear their silly little hats. Philidelphia saw this and were like " :-) " and decided to bring him in. Brian Boucher comes back to the Flyers organization for a third time and maybe needs to embrace his inner pissed-offness if he's going to start goaltending the way he has the potential to.

Expectations: I think they've got the best chance to win the Cup this season. Things can always happen but looking at the other teams in the league so far, I really like how these guys are built.