The Flyers were the most penalized team in the NHL last season, averaging 17.5 PIM per game. In the six-game elimination at the hands of the eventual Stanley Cup-champion Penguins in the first round, the Flyers racked up 116 PIMs.

After Pittsburgh exposed the Flyers’ flaws, noted pacifists Chris Pronger, Ray Emery and Ian Laperriere were added to a team that already had Riley Cote, Daniel Carcillo and Arron Asham. So, yes, the 2009-10 edition will have more than the requisite amount of muscle.

However, there are very real questions on the blue line and in goal.

Goaltending
Goaltending has been a revolving door since Pelle Lindbergh’s tragic death in 1985. The latest to step through the doors are Ray Emery and former Flyer Brian Boucher.

All eyes will be on Emery. The 26-year old Hamilton, Ontario, native has a career record of 71-40-0-14 with a .907 save percentage and 2.71 goals-against average. In 2007-08, the season after Ottawa reached the Stanley Cup Final, Emery was involved in a contract dispute with management, and separate incidents with coaches and teammates. In what was his last season with the We-Are-Family Senators, Emery compiled a 12-13-0-4 record with a .890 save percentage and 3.13 GAA.

As Evgeni Nabokov’s backup in San Jose in 2008-09, Boucher was a solid No. 2. The Woonsocket, R.I. native went 12-6-0-3 with two shutouts in 22 games.

Defensemen
GM Paul Holmgren’s draft-day trade for Pronger was made with the Eastern Conference’s premier teams in mind. The 34-year old is a unique mix of size, skill and nastiness. He can play on the power play, penalty kill, even strength and should spend many nights getting acquainted with Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin. Pronger should be penciled in for close to 25 minutes a game.

With all of Pronger’s attributes, why has there been criticism of the splashy acquisition? The condemnation — and the NHL’s subsequent investigation — has to do with the seven-year, $35 million extension the defenseman signed.

In the persons of Matt Carle, Braydon Coburn and Ryan Parent, the organization has good young defensemen. But in the NHL’s New Cap World, will there be enough money for the trio?

Forwards
The Flyers’ primary strength. Their top five (Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Simon Gagne, Claude Giroux and Scott Hartnell) offer an enviable mix of speed, size, scoring and strength. Richards may be the 21st-century version of Mark Messier. In his fourth season, Carter exploded for 46 goals. It will be interesting to see if Carter can routinely be a 40-to-50 goal scorer or if last season was an aberration. Starting his 10th season, the 29-year-old Gagne is the team’s elder statesman and top point producer (242 goals, 242 assists). Giroux scored 27 points in 42 games, showing soft hands and slick moves. Hartnell totaled 143 PIM and 60 points (30 goals, 30 assists).

After these five, there are questions. Danny Briere missed most of 2008-09 with groin injuries and, with the cap situation, it has been speculated that the organization has been trying to shop the diminutive forward. When healthy and with his skill set, Briere could round out the Flyers’ top two forward lines. The agitating Laperriere should provide leadership on and off the ice, along with more muscle. Laperriere, Asham, Carcillo (between Phoenix and Philadelphia) and Cote combined for 746 PIM in 2008-09.

Outlook
As has been detailed here, the 2009-10 Flyers are going to one of the league’s most interesting teams. There is enough talent for a Cup run. However, there are enough explosive personalities that could cause this experiment to blow up. The Flyers should spend many nights getting to know each other in the penalty box. Can Richards, Carter and the rest of the high-scoring forwards thrive despite a possible plethora of penalty kills and shaky goaltending?

The belief here is that the Flyers should be a playoff team, but there are too many personnel and personality questions to believe that the Cup will be paraded down Broad Street in June.

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