NHL

Philadelphia Daily News columnist Sam Donnellon wrote a piece exploring just that. "And at some point you have to ask: Has Ed Snider become our version of Al Davis, his heart in the right place, his head not so much?" Donnellon writes. "Is there something structurally wrong with how the Flyers do things? A philosophy? A lack of one? And if so, does it all trace to its founder and the guy who still calls all the shots?" Philadelphia missed the playoffs with a 23-22-3 record this season.

Voracek will play for the Czech Republic while, Erik Gustafsson (Sweden), prospect Marcel Noebels (Germany), Claude Giroux, Wayne Simmonds, Matt Read and Luke Schenn (Canada), Oliver Lauridsen (Denmark), Ilya Bryzgalov (Russia) and Cal Heeter (U.S.) are the others who will participate.

There has been plenty of speculation about the future of Bryzgalov in Philadelphia, but some healthy competition and extra rest may benefit him next year and Mason can provide that. In seven appearances with the Flyers, Mason posted a 1.90 goals-against average and a .944 save percentage while earning four wins. He benefited from the change from Columbus to Philadelphia, but the jury is still out on him. Having him and Bryzgalov work off each other might be the best course of action for the Flyers heading into the 2013-14 campaign.

"It's been a little inconsistency, but at the same time, I think I've made strides," he said. "I'm still a young player in this league and still learning. The more experience you get, the more you learn from the older players on the team, and it's only going to help you." Schenn had 12 goals and 18 points in 54 games last season and he tallied eight markers and 26 points in 47 contests this past campaign. He did manage to finish third among the team in hits with 109, so he has the potential to develop into a solid rough and tumble forward.

He registered four goals, 15 points and a had a minus-8 rating in 46 games after he recorded 13 markers, 27 points and a plus-18 rating in 77 matches during his rookie campaign. Couturier averaged almost two minutes of extra ice time in 2013, while playing mostly on the third line, but his numbers took a step backward. He still has the potential to be a solid two-way forward though.

"I think he did a terrific job as the captain of the team," Laviolette said. "It was a tough year. He did a really good job. He has terrific leadership qualities. He's driven. He's an excellent teammate. I think sometimes, when you're not as successful as you'd like to be, you really - whether you want to or not - you get to use and try that leadership. It becomes more in the forefront [than] when sometimes things are cruising along in the right direction and you just go day to day winning hockey games.You get to see what kind of a leader he is and what kind of person he is." He said he enjoyed the increased responsibility and will no doubt take what he's learned to make him a better hockey player. Giroux concluded the 2013 campaign with 13 goals and 48 points in 48 contests and he should be better than a point-per-game player next season.

He is scheduled to revisit a neurologist in Pittsburgh on May 6, along with fellow Flyers defenseman Marc-Andre Bourdon, for follow-up exams. They are suffering from vestibular imbalance, which affects motion and balance. It is the same affliction that has hindered Chris Pronger from returning to normalcy.