KEY ADDITIONS				KEY LOSSES
Name Mike Maneluk	Pos. F	From Rangers		Name Jody Hull Ron Hextall	Pos. F G	To Thrashers Retired

Outlook
There is an air of concern surrounding the Philadelphia Flyers because their window of opportunity to win the Cup is starting to close. Jobs are on the line this season, ranging from captain Eric Lindros, to coach Roger Neilson to general manager Bobby Clarke.

		Can John LeClair and Eric Lindros stay healthy, and can John Vanbiesbrouck find the consistency of three seasons ago? Beezer was supposed to be the cure last season. With better goaltending, the Flyers would have advanced to the second round of the playoffs. They should have beaten Toronto in the first round. A realistic goal for the Flyers is winning the Cup. They have to set their sights there. Compared to the rest of the conference, they are in great shape -- as long as they stay healthy. GM Bob Clarke will make some deals to shore up the defense.

It doesn't help that all three members of the top forward line enter the season with varying degrees of injury woes. Lindros hasn't played a game since April 1 when he suffered a collapsed lung against Nashville. To make matters worse, both he and John LeClair are have been having back trouble. Throw Keith Jones into the mix with a bum knee, and there could be a problem.

The Flyers definitely do not have the depth to withstand long absences by Lindros and/or LeClair. Consider this: The two combined to score 83 goals last season. That accounted for over one-third of Philadelphia's offense. Only one other team (Anaheim) relied on two players more heavily for scoring last season. If the injury bug doesn't subside, the Flyers will incorporate 1998 first-round pick (22nd overall) Simon Gagne into the lineup.

Despite issues of depth, the Flyers do have a good second line with veterans Mark Recchi and Rod Brind'Amour returning. The latter enters the new season with the longest active consecutive games-played streak in the NHL, at 484 and counting. Brind'Amour hasn't missed a contest since February 22, 1993 (versus Detroit).

The tragic July death of defenseman Dmitri Tertyshny will affect the team both on and off the ice. In terms of the roster, Philadelphia has only three mobile defensemen in Eric Desjardins, Daniel McGillis and Chris Therien. After the oft-inconsistent Karl Dykhuis, the Flyers are left with several plodding, aging defensemen. If rookie Mark Eaton makes the club, Clarke may trade Luke Richardson, who thought he was going to be dealt last season.

John Vanbiesbrouck will play at least 55-60 games, so the starting goalie slot is set. With Ron Hextall retiring, the role of backup is a bit up in the air. The Beezer will be backed up at the start by rookie Brian Boucher. But if Boucher falters, the Flyers will not hesitate to call up rookie Jean-Marc Pelletier.

Are the Flyers going to make the playoffs? Sure. Are they going to get very far in the postseason? Probably not.

'98-99 ATLANTIC STANDINGS
TEAM	W	L	T	Pts.
New Jersey	47	24	11	105
Philadelphia	37	26	19	93
Pittsburgh	38	30	14	90
N.Y. Rangers	33	38	11	77
N.Y. Islanders	24	48	10	58

The bottom line
Better or not: Same
Most improved: Mark Recchi
Most valuable: Eric Lindros/John LeClair
Biggest disappointment: Keith Jones

Charles Avellino is a lead NHL researcher for ESPN.