Later this week, I plan to write a blog looking at why I don't think the Flyers offense will necessarily drop off next season by nearly as much as some folks have predicted. I do expect a decrease in the number of goals scored at even strength but I think the power play will be better than it was last season even if it doesn't get back to the 20 percent or better marks it enjoyed in the three consecutive seasons prior to 2010-11.
Today, with the Flyers' rookie summer camp getting underway in Voorhees, I thought it would be a good time to discuss the expectations for Brayden Schenn heading into his rookie season in the NHL.
Although it is not a certainty that he starts the season in the NHL, he would need to struggle considerably to break camp with the Phantoms instead of the big club. In fact, the only way I could see him not starting the season in the NHL is if he gets injured or if the Flyers were to make a major roster move that necessitates placing Schenn in the AHL for salary cap reasons. With bonuses, the highly touted rookie will carry a $3.11 million cap hit.
What would be a realistic expectation from Schenn in his first NHL season? I think he has a good chance to equal or better the numbers that Mike Richards posted as a 20-year-old rookie in 2005-06. That year, primarily playing on the third line, Richards contributed 11 goals and 34 points in 79 games.
Schenn, who can also play wing as well as center, is likely to perform similar first-year duties to Richards in his rookie year and receive about as much ice time. Schenn may have a little bit of an advantage offensively over the rookie Richards in that Peter Laviolette employs more of an aggressive forecheck than Ken Hitchcock's teams did. There should be more scoring opportunities.
It would be supremely unfair to Schenn to expect him to put up huge numbers this season or to step right into any sort of a leadership role. It is fair to expect him to adapt defensively as the season progresses, but also to hit the wall for a period of time around midseason. Anything beyond that is a bonus.
I will not be in attendance at today's opening sessions in Voorhees because I am finishing up another writing assignment. I will be there tomorrow and blog late in the morning.
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This week's
Across the Pond at NHL.com looks at the ties Jaromir Jagr and Jakub Voracek have to their hometown team, HC Kladno.
Both players are Kladno natives and got their start in its hockey program. With the team in very poor financial health, Jagr rescued it earlier this year, striking an agreement to purchase the club as its majority owner.
Former Flyers forward Sami Kapanen did the same thing a few years ago, becoming the majority owner of then-sinking KalPa Kuopio in Finland. Kimmo Timonen became a minority owner, and later convinced Scott Hartnell to buy a small share of the team as well. The club has since experienced a turn-around to the point where it is at least now financially solvent again, and has gone from cellar dwellers to contenders in the SM-Liiga. Jagr hopes to achieve similar results.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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