No Richards. No Carter. No Problem.

After Flyers' general manager Paul Holmgren completely changed the makeup of his club this summer, many questioned whether or not the team would maintain its level of success. Those critics have since been silenced, at least for now.

I've mentioned this bold move and its results in previous posts, but haven't really delved into an analysis. Now that the Flyers currently sit atop the Eastern Conference, there couldn't be a better time. Let's take a look at the roster changes that made a significant impact (courtesy of Yahoo! Sports):

Out:

In: 

Obviously this isn't a fair comparison because a full season worth of statistics is up against just over a quarter, but extrapolation exists so no worries. If the new additions stay at the same pace, we are looking at the following point projections: Jagr -77, Read - 59, Voracek - 52, Simmonds - 37, Talbot - 37 and Couturier - 22.

Point total sacrificed last season: 272

Projected point total for additions this season: 284

Although only a projection, these figures still provide a good sense of the positive changes taking place in Philadelphia. Keep in mind that the progress of Claude Giroux and James van Riemsdyk haven't been taken into consideration. Last season, these young men combined for 116 points. This year, Giroux is on pace for 113 by himself. This may be a far-fetched projection, but then again, maybe not. In addition to Giroux's success, van Riemsdyk is on pace for 52 points. 

Upgraded offense? I'd say so!

Goaltending hasn't been taken into consideration either. Did they improve? The jury is still out.

Sergei Bobrovsky and Brian Boucher combined for 46 wins last season. Bobrovsky had 28 of those with a 2.59 GAA and a .915 SVP. That's pretty good for a rookie, right? Still, the organization has had unreliable goaltending for a few years, so it made a serious investment in Ilya Bryzgalov. Currently, Bryzgalov is on pace for 38 wins. While that's good news, his other statistics are not. He has a 2.83 GAA and a .897 SVP. Bobrovsky, on the other hand, sports a 2.75 GAA and a .906 SVP. Even if Bryzy falters later, they have a great second option.

Altogether, the Flyers have drastically enhanced their roster, now and in the future. Yes, it's early and anything can happen over the course of a season, but I believe the Flyers have shown indications of an improved franchise. Bryzgalov will definitely pick up his play. Giroux may not maintain this pace, but he's still going to be an elite player. The same can be said for van Riemsdyk. 

The future is bright in Philadelphia!