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Counting on Voracek, Others

October 4, 2011, 9:22 AM ET [ Comments]
Tim Panaccio
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
While Bill Meltzer is giving us his projections on Wayne Simmonds elsewhere on the site, I did a piece on Jakub Voracek for CSNPhilly.com.

The Flyers have a long track record as being a safe-haven for guys starting over. They love handing out second chances.

Some of them work out, but many of them don't. Just look at last season with Nikolai Zherdev for proof.

Well, another ex-Blue Jacket is in the fold here this year in Jakub Voracek, a guy who Flyers' GM Paul Holmgren has stated several times has "more to him."

The team thinks it can double the production of Voracek and turn him into a consistent forward who goes to the net and thinks shot, not pass.

Voracek did a lot of shooting in pre-season and didn't score a single goal. That's troubling in one sense given how "hot" other players seemed to be in exhibitions.

With the possibility of Brayden Schenn not being on the opening night roster because of injury and/or salary cap, it would be a double blow if Voracek has a very slow start to the season.

Both these guys were part of two major deals the Flyers made this summer. Schenn as part of the Mike Richards deal and Voracek as part of the Jeff Carter deal.

The bright side is Wayne Simmonds looks and plays a bigger game than perhaps we thought and he was part of the Richards deal.

Rookie Sean Couturier, sources told me, is on the roster and he became the first round draft pick the Flyers got in the Carter deal.

So the way I see it, there are positives here on both fronts.

Still, the FLyers are expecting offensive production from Voracek and let's not forget, they have 78 goals to make up for this season with departures to the offense.

One more thing. By my count, there will be 8 or 9 new faces on the roster. What team last won the Stanley Cup after a one-third roster makeover the previous summer?

Here's the Voracek story:

click here
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