The Flyers got tremendous contributions last season from a host of rookies and young veterans as well as a career season from Scott Hartnell. One of the keys to success in 2012-13 will be for most of these players to match or exceed what they did last season.

There is a core of six forwards, not counting top line center Claude Giroux, whom the club needs to reach or surpass what they did last season. This has become especially important with the trade of James van Riemsdyk and the free agent departure of Jaromir Jagr. While those two produced a modest combined 30 goals last season, Jagr also took 35 assists with him to Dallas.

In some cases, there is every reason to believe that certain players will continue to develop and increase their production. Brayden Schenn (12 goals, 18 points in 54 rookie games) and Sean Couturier (13 goals, 27 points in 77 rookie games) both fit into this category. The Flyers plan to place more offensive responsibilities on the shoulders of both second-year players as next season progresses.

Of all the Flyers' standout rookies, Matt Read's 24 goal, 47 point season was the most surprising despite the fact that he was the oldest rookie on the team. The amount of progress that Read has made in recent years -- going from an obscure, undersized and undrafted player from Bemidji State University to a player whom some felt was deserving of being a Calder Trophy finalist -- has been remarkable. The big question for next season isn't whether Read belongs in the NHL but whether he can top 20-plus goals and flirt with 50 points again.

Meanwhile, last season Jakub Voracek set a new NHL career goal high (18) was only one point off his career high of 50 (2009-10). The club believes that is capable of significantly passing both marks, especially if the team does not sign or trade for a potential RW replacement for Jaromir Jagr on Claude Giroux's line. In Paul Holmgren post-playoff media address, the GM indicated that the main areas he wants to see Voracek work leading into next season on are his shot and his willingness to shoot.

Wayne Simmonds (28 goals, 49 points) also set career offensive highs last season. He had two scorching hot streaks and also spent a lot of time on the top power unit (in place of Jagr) in the second half of the season. Top unit power play time will be the key to matching last season's numbers but he is a player whom I would not be surprised to see a modest drop in scoring production from next season when all is said and done.

As long as Scott Hartnell (37 goals, 67 points) remains on Claude Giroux's line at even strength and the first power play unit, he is going to get his goals and points. He is also entering the final season before he reaches unrestricted free agent status, and he's in position to set himself up for either a big contract extension or an even larger raise on the open market.

However, it may be tough for Hartnell to match last year's numbers. The Flyers are banking on him to come close, though. They will need and expect another 30-35 goal season from Hartnell. The 30-year-old's career norms are closer to 25 goals per season, but he gained a whole new level of opportunity and confidence last season.

As for Giroux, the Flyers would like to see their franchise player reach 30 goals for the first time in his NHL career while posting at least another 60 to 65 assists. Tough task? Of course. But there is no reason to doubt that Giroux is capable of doing it -- or even doing a little better than that and seriously contending for the Hart Trophy for the entire season (he was a major Hart candidate in the first half of last season) if he stays healthy all year.

As another means of matching last season's goal totals, the Flyers will need Danny Briere to produce closer to his career norms after a disappointing 16 goals and 49 points in an injury-marred 70 games last season. Of course, given the choice of one or the other, the Flyers would rather Briere continue to show the playoff scoring magic (8 goals, 13 points in 11 postseason games) that has made him the NHL's leading playoff goal-scorer since the 2004-05 lockout.







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