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APP ONLY: Seravalli's Mailbag 01/28/2011

Each week, Frank Seravalli will answer burning questions from Flyers fans. To submit your question, e-mail seravaf@phillynews.com.

Frank,
The Flyers have proved that last season's playoffs were not a fluke.  It was last year's
regular season that was the fluke. John Stevens had the team unmotivated to start the season.
And because of the Olympics, the schedule was ridiculous .Laviolette couldn't turn the team
around fast enough. Plus losing 3 goalies to injuries almost never happens.
-Mike Gardner

Mike,
I think you're right. I'm not sure why John's teams were so unmotivated, I wonder if what everyone was saying – that he is too relaxed and laid back as a person to be a coach – were true? His firing sure lit a fire under all of the players.  But I honestly think a lot of it has to do with Laviolette – and not just the system he has put in place but also the way he runs the team. He seems to always have their attention. Eventually, that will run out, but I think he's a big reason for their success and consistency. Read more about it in today's Daily News. We have a big feature on him.
-Frank

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Frank,
You mention the Flyers have no second round pick in this years draft? Who did they acquire with that pick? I know they have (2) third rounder picks, the extra one from the Hamhuis trade to the Penguins.
-Robert Klinewski

Robert,
The Flyers sent that pick to Phoenix on March 4, 2009 along with Scottie Upshall for Dan Carcillo. If you remember, that was a trade deadline deal. The Flyers, amazingly, still have a first round pick – which they haven't used since 2008 (Luca Sbisa), since they trade first rounders like candy. The Flyers also have (2) fourth round picks (extra one from Simon Gagne trade) and no fifth round picks (from Ville Leino trade). This year's draft is in St. Paul, Minn., at the Xcel Energy Center.
-Frank

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Frank,
Both Flyers goalies are in the top 30 of goaltenders, eh? Is that really worth a headline considering there are only 30 teams in the NHL?
-Johosophat Boylan

Johosophat,
Thanks for reading. Actually, I think you answered your own question. Do the math. Each team has two goalies, with a third or fourth seeing action on rosters this year with injuries. That's more than 60 goalies. For the Flyers, a team that had none on the list last year, to have both in the Top 25 league-wide, yes, I think that says something. It's especially noteworthy because Boucher hasn't been on that list since 2003, and I'm not sure that goalies ever make it back to the list after a 7-year layoff. And wouldn't you want to know that Bobrovsky is getting the credit he deserves league-wide? If not, sorry for wasting your time.
-Frank