In the 2nd installment of my glimpse into the 2010-2011 careers of former Philadelphia Flyers, I am jumping into the Pacific Division, where the Flyers will be headed after they take on the Vancouver Canucks next week.
San Jose Sharks (18-11-5, 5th in the Western Conference and 10th in the NHL)
Give it up to goaltender Antero Niittymaki (03-09) for finally taking the reins of an NHL club, after failing to dominate in Philly and Tampa Bay. Niitty’s 12-3-3 record and 2.30 goals-against-average have kept the Sharks in the playoff hunt while Antti Niemi fails to perform. Niitty currently ranks 10th in the League in GAA (as a comparison, Brian Boucher ranks 5th and Sergei Bobrovsky ranks 16th).
Anaheim Ducks (18-16-4, 7th in the Western Conference and 13th in the NHL)
The Ducks are fighting for playoff positioning, having earned a decent amount of points at nearly the halfway point of the season. Former Flyers Joffrey Lupul (07-09) and Luca Sbisa (08-09) were traded to Anaheim in 2009 for Chris Pronger, which has turned out phenomenally for Philadelphia and somewhat craptacular for the Ducks.
Fans were concerned about losing Lupul in the Pronger trade due to his high scoring ability, but the top six winger only played 23 games last season before succumbing to a recurring back injury that has kept him out of the line-up for some time. He has just begun skating again on a line with Jason Blake and Saku Koivu, where he has notched 3 goals and an assist in nine games played.
Sbisa, considered a highly touted defensive prospect, has shared time this season between the Ducks and their AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, and has been fairly ineffective at the NHL level. At age 20, there’s no reason yet to consider him a dud, but he has a long way to go before he earns his ice time.
Los Angeles Kings (19-12-1, 8th in the Western Conference and 15th in the NHL)
Right behind the Ducks are the Kings, who have gone from re-build mode to a team that is quickly becoming a perennial playoff contender. Former Flyer Justin Williams (00-04) has been successful this season when centered by Jarret Stoll and joined by Ryan Smyth, tallying 12 goals and 29 points in 32 games played. Williams is on his way to matching his offensive output when he won a Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006.
While Williams has yet to slow down, Michael Handzus’ (02-06) age may be catching up with him, as his production this season has accumulated at a much slower rate than in years past.
Phoenix Coyotes (15-10-7, 10th in the Western Conference and 18th in the NHL)
Ignoring all of the ownership issues plaguing the club, the Phoenix Coyotes have been business-as-usual in terms of their record. While not the breakout team they were last year, the Coyotes are also in the playoff hunt, in no small part thanks to Scottie Upshall (06-09). Upshall was traded from the Flyers along with a 2nd round draft pick for Dan Carcillo as part of a salary dump. Upshall’s 8 goals and 12 points are on pace for his usual production, but he has been a healthy scratch at times during the season (not unlike Carcillo).
There are no former Flyers on the Dallas Stars, who are first in the Western Conference and 3rd in the NHL.
