Flyers, Devils can't finish with a whimper again

Sporting News, The, Sept 13, 1999 by Larry Wigge

Eric Lindros and John LeClair have been skating together near an Ontario lake four days a week in preparation for the season, and that's reason for optimism for the Flyers.

Now, the bad news! They both showed up at training camp with back problems.

But that's it. That's the most hard news to come from the standpat Flyers in another summer of discontent after they and the Devils--arguably the strongest in the Eastern Conference from year to year in the 1990s--were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs the second straight season.

In the 120 days since the end of the first round of the playoffs, the letters have come into our office every week wanting to know when Flyers G.M. Bobby Clarke is going to admit he needs help on defense and when his Devils counterpart, Lou Lamoriello, will acquire a goal scorer.

After sifting through the rubble, Clarke came to the conclusion that a healthy Lindros would have made the difference between getting bounced in the first round of the playoffs and going to the finals. Lamoriello, who believes in building from within, is not ready to make wholesale changes after posting the best record in the East again.

"I didn't have any second thoughts as far as believing in this team," Lamoriello says. "And I still don't."

The bottom line: No two teams in the NHL are under the gun to win this season more than the Flyers and Devils.

"It's about winning, especially in this town," says Flyers forward Rod Brind'Amour. "In Philadelphia, you get the double whammy against you if you don't win."

Especially bemuse the nucleus of Lindros, LeClair, Brind'Amour and Eric Desjardins has reached its prime and is beginning its sixth season together in Philadelphia. The Flyers also face contract negotiations with Lindros, LeClair and goal-tender John Vanbiesbrouck. Unless the Flyers win it all, it's a good bet two of them will not return.

"I was traded here to win," Lindros says, "I'd hate to think I was traded here just so they could build a new arena. I want to succeed here."

Lamoriello's big move this offseason was to bring back former Kings coach Larry Robinson to work with the defense, which went-from strong and steady to downright shaky.

"When it comes to the playoffs, the Flyers don't get depth in scoring and make too many defensive mistakes," Penguins winger Jaromir Jagr says. "The Devils don't seem to have anybody step up and provide offense." No Devils player, in fact, has scored 30 goals in a season since 1993-94.

The key-word for the many under-30 New Jersey forwards is "potential." Jason Arnott, Petr Sykora and Patrik Elias combined for 41 goals in leading the Devils to a 17-7-5 record down the stretch--but once again went out with a whimper.

What is needed for each team to succeed?

Flyers: Mark Recchi has to rebound after getting a big contract in the offseason. His play with Brind'Amour is essential to provide a second scoring line. Rookie Simon Gagne could inject a power forward mentality into all of the players up front. In the end, Desjardins must have help on defense--in stopping the opponents and triggering the transition game.

Devils: Contract hassles with Arnott and Elias could hurt this team early. On the other hand, it might help if an upstart like Brendan Morrison finds his niche, after getting 46 points last season playing mostly on a mix-and-match fourth line. Robinson has to make the defense stalwart instead of creaky. And Martin Brodeur has to be a force in goal.

Under the gun? You bet. The Flyers and Devils are looking right down the barrel.

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