According to general manager Paul Holmgren, there is even concern that the young defenseman who seemed ready to step into a prominent role this season may need surgery and could miss significant time.

The decision will hinge on an evaluation today. Holmgren said previous examinations were not 100 percent conclusive, but there is a chance that Parent suffered a labrum tear in his left shoulder during a preseason game Sept. 25 against the New York Islanders in London, Ontario.

"There is a chance of that. We won't know until [today]," Holmgren said. "We're just trying to let his shoulder die down a little bit and rehab and see how it responds and then check him again.

"There are some issues going on in there and we're just trying to see what the best treatment would be. After he gets evaluated [today] we'll have a better idea which way to proceed with this."

Holmgren said the Flyers have been happy with Parent's offseason training and his progress in camp, adding that losing him for the start of the season would throw a wrench into the team's early defensive plans.

"I feel bad for Ryan if that's going to be the case, just because he made tremendous strides last year in the time he played with us and in the playoffs, in the games that he played in, and then watching him during the summer, not only in our development camp but the rookie camp prior to training camp," Holmgren said.

"He looked like he was in great shape and his confidence level with the puck was sky high, which is one of the things we talked about needing to improve for him during the offseason.

"If we do lose him for a little bit of time the setback to him will be tough. As far as how we're going to deal with it, we'll do what we have to."

While the news on Parent was not good, things are looking better for Steve Downie, who suffered a MCL strain in his knee during a fight in the game against Washington last week.

Downie didn't skate at practice yesterday in West Point, where players are taking part in a team-building session, but Holmgren is hopeful Downie will be back on the ice soon. Downie could play in the opener Saturday against the Rangers.

"He didn't skate [yesterday], but he's doing better," Holmgren said. "We're hoping he skates [today], but we're waiting on a brace for him. He's coming along and I would say he's an outside shot for the weekend."

Meanwhile, the Flyers wrapped up their activities at West Point with an unscheduled field-goal kicking contest.

They will be back in their Voorhees, N.J., practice rink this morning and will play a final tribute game tonight at the Spectrum against the Phantoms.

The team building was similar to their past sessions, always a favorite of the players.

"It allows us a chance to get away from the rink back home and get to know each other a little bit better," captain Mike Richards said yesterday. "At the beginning of the season people don't get to spend a whole lot of time, or don't know very much about each other.

"With people having families and kids it doesn't really give you a chance to get to know them at home, so this gives you a chance to get to know them away from the rink a little bit better for more chemistry on the ice," Richards added. *