Prediction Time: Atlantic Division, pt. 2

The Times They Are A Changin’… (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)

3.) Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers are probably the biggest mystery in the Eastern Conference this year.  They’ve completely changed the key parts of their roster and the results could fall anywhere from very impressive to absolute disaster.  At the very least though, it’s probably fair to expect an adjustment period for the team.  The pairs of Briere/Hartnell and Giroux/VanRiemsdyk will remain in tact, but the rest of their top nine forward group is entirely different.  In place of Mike Richards, Kris Versteeg, Jeff Carter, Nik Zherdev and Ville Leino are Brayden Schenn, Max Talbot, Wayne Simmonds, Jaromir Jagr and Jakub Voracek.  The only upgrade in this group would be the substitution of Jagr for Zherdev, which is a theoretical upgrade at best considering Jagr will turn 40 during the season and has been away from the league for over three years.