When and If the season starts...

Assuming there will be a season (Although its not looking likely), there are 5 players that need to either step up or maintain their game for the Flyers this year.

5) We can start with number 5 himself, Brayden Coburn.  With the addition of a true defensive defenseman in Luke Schenn, Coburn can finally stop trying to be that Chris Pronger replacement and just be himself and play his style.  With Pronger and Andrea Meszaros out for most likely the whole season, and with Kimmo Timonen being in what looks like his last season, Coburn really has to excel as the number one D man for the Flyers.  If he can play like he did in the 2009 playoffs where he was clearly the best player in the back end, the Flyers would be good enough to make a playoff run.

4) Jakub Voracek is next.  With the departure of Jaromir Jagr, the Flyers had a vacant spot at the 1st line for a right wing.  Paul Holmgren decided to give the empty spot to the returning Flyer.  In my opinion, Voracek is an extremely good 2nd line player at best.  With his pass-first mentality and great control of the puck, he will develop into a great player.  I truly hope that he can prove me wrong and that he actually can excel as a 1st line winger this season.  This season will show what Voracek is truly made of and will prove if he can excel as a first liner or if I was right in believing that he is a second line player at best.

3) With a very sub par season last year, Danny Briere really needs to step up and deliver this season.  In the playoffs last season Briere was there, but he was not a factor at all during the season.  If the Flyers want to be successful in the Atlantic Division, they NEED Danny Briere to be the Danny Briere of the playoffs all season long.  Briere is supposed to be a leader and a mentor for the young core we have, and putting up only 49 points in 70 games isn’t going to cut it, especially for the salary he gets.

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Tags: Brayden Coburn, Claude Giroux, Danny Briere, Ilya Bryzgalov, Jakub Voracek, NHL, Nick Bramante, TSP