It has not taken very long for the intrigue and excitement to kick in for this years Flyers. In just the last week, several areas of interest have evolved that bear watching as the calendar turns to November and early season begins to turn to midseason.
Is it time for a nickname yet?
Hockey tradition requires a dominant line to have a nickname. Think back to the mid-90s. It did not take long to come up with a moniker for the trio of John LeClair, Eric Lindros, and Mikael Renberg. Teammate Jim Montgomery used it and that line was the Legion of Doom forever.
The unit of Claude Giroux, Jaromir Jagr, and Scott Hartnell has been together just over a week, so it might be a bit presumptuous to start calling for a nickname just yet, but if early indications count, this group has the makings of the kind of production that could merit such treatment soon. The earlier leader is the "G Line." (See blog post.)
In their last four games together, the Giroux line has totaled 23 points. The combination of the skill and creativity of Giroux and Jagr along with the energy and grit of Hartnell has made for instant chemistry. Hartnell has taken advantage of an opportunity and gone from a veteran rumored to be on the way out, to a member of the teams top line. Things can certainly turn around quickly.
Now, its possible the Flyers struggle to score in the next couple of games and the lines are juggled again. That is the way he NHL works these days. However, if this trio stays as hot as they have been, soon enough it will be time get creative with a nickname.
Ilya's adventures
Philadelphia isnt the only NHL city where the goaltender always seems to be the focus. It only seems that way to those of us in the City of Brotherly Love.
It hasnt taken Ilya Bryzgalov long to find himself in the middle of the fray. His candid assessment of his play after the wild 9-8 loss to the Winnipeg Jets brought the entire focus of Flyers fandom on his play when in reality the problems in recent games had to do with overall team performance as much as his.
NHL
Still, by falling on his sword, he probably won respect from some fans, media members, and even some teammates. His on-ice response, 24 saves on 25 shots against Carolina, earned more.
Bryzgalov will have to learn to deal with the attention and focus generated toward the goaltender in this town. Hes not in Phoenix anymore. Physically, hes proven he can be an elite goalie in the NHL. But more is called upon from a mental strength standpoint in a market like this. His ability to handle that? We will have to keep an eye on that.
Surviving Pronger's absence
The Flyers allowed a total of 14 goals in their first two games after Chris Pronger went down with an eye injury. Many observers quickly jumped to the conclusion that the Flyers would be unable to hang in there without their captain. That theory was a bit of an oversimplification.
You have to look at the numbers. Since his arrival in Philadelphia, Pronger has missed 35 regular season games. The Flyers are 17-11-7 in those games, good enough for a .585 points percentage. In games in which Pronger has played, the team has gone 77-51-12, a .593 point percentage. In other words, there has not been a great deal of difference in the winning percentages with or without Pronger.
This is not to say he is not missed. Pronger remains a tremendous force at both ends of the ice. However, over the last three seasons the Flyers have shown that their other defensemen can excel with extra ice time and responsibility. Winning without the captain might be more difficult, but it is hardly impossible.
Couts stays
Lost in all the attention given some of the other storylines was the fact that 18-year old Sean Couturier appeared in his 10th game last week. That means the clock has started ticking on his entry-level deal. It also means it is more likely he will remain with the Flyers for the entire season.
No one was surprised by this after watching Couturier play through training camp and into the regular season. He has shown uncanny rink savvy for a player of his age and experience. He is capable of filling different roles on the team, including as a checker, something few recent draft picks can accomplish.
Still, there is always some risk involved when you count on an 18-year-old in a mans league. Many young guys can look good for a short stretch. Then, they hit the proverbial wall and ice time drops and the positive feel of the early season vanishes.
Keep in mind, the Flyers can still send Couturier back to junior. However, this will be considered his first year as a pro from here on out. Lets see if he spends it all in Philadelphia.
E returns
I didnt think there was a way in which the excitement could build any more for the events surrounding the Bridgestone Winter Classic at Citizens Bank Park. But then came word that Eric Lindros will be returning to play in the Alumni Game on Jan. 31.
Say what you want about the Lindros Era in Philadelphia, but you cannot deny there was excitement. It ended well before many thought it would and without the expected Stanley Cup. However, there was a whole lot of buzz.
Expect plenty of that in the Alumni Game when he puts on a uniform and represents the Flyers in some way for the first time since his exit over a decade ago. Once again, the reaction for Philadelphia sports fans will be monitored closely.
E-mail Jim Jackson at jjackson@comcastsportsnet.com.