John LeClair. (Associated Press)

1998-99 record: 37-26-19, 93 points, 2nd Atlantic Division
Coach: Roger Neilson (47-35-21, two years as Flyers coach)
New faces: D Mark Eaton, C Simon Gagne, RW Brian Wesenberg, G Brian Boucher, G Jean-Marc Pelletier, RW Mike Maneluk
Losses: G Ron Hextall, RW Jody Hull, D Dimitri Tertyshny, D Steve Duchesne
Strengths: If healthy, C Eric Lindros and LW John LeClair still provide the Flyers with the best 1-2 combination of power forwards in the NHL. Toss in C-LW Rod Brind'Amour and it's hard to match that trio for offensive production. D Eric Desjardins was enjoying a career year before a knee injury forced him out of the lineup. He tied for eighth in scoring among defensemen while posting a plus-18 rating. Neilson emerged as a calming influence behind the bench while serving as a buffer during occasionally acrimonious contract talks between Lindros and GM Bob Clarke. C Daymond Langkow was a pleasant surprise after arriving from Tampa Bay. He flashed versatility and, more importantly, speed -- a commodity so lacking on the Flyers that draft pick Gagne is getting a long look in camp.
Weaknesses: Goaltending, again. John Vanbiesbrouck was Clarke's low-budget solution but looked lost in the first-round playoff loss to Toronto. Ron Hextall retired, leaving youngsters Boucher and Pelletier for the backup role. Lindros has been cleared to play after his mysterious lung injury in the final month of the 1998-99 season. But his health is an almost annual question mark. LeClair was expected to miss all of training camp with a back ailment. Philadelphia needs more from RW Mark Recchi, who struggled before and after he was re-acquired from Montreal. Signing Vanbiesbrouck was not Clarke's only questionable move. He all but admitted a previous mistake by trading C Chris Gratton back to Tampa Bay, a move that landed Langkow. But as long as Ed Snider is running things at the First Union Center, Clarke will stay with the organization. The Flyers also have a hole on defense following the untimely death of Tertyshny and the free-agent departure of Duchesne.
Neilson says: "It's always goaltending. When you get in the playoffs, you've got to have top goaltending to win. We made a lot of changes last year, and I think they were good ones. So I think our team is in place to get the job done."