After the Philadelphia Flyers missed the playoffs for the second time in three seasons, they fired head coach Craig Berube and shocked the hockey world by hiring Dave Hakstol - who had been head coach at the University of North Dakota - to help turn the team around.

While he lacks pro experience, Hakstol isn’t joining a team bereft of talent. Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek form one of the league’s best duos, and there is a decent crop of supporting forwards including Wayne Simmonds, Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier. Depth is an issue, though, and the Flyers need some reclamation projects (Sam Gagner, R.J. Umberger, ideally Vincent Lecavalier) to perform better to raise the level of play on the bottom half of the forward depth chart.

On defence, the Flyers are still looking for answers and took a shot at 33-year-old Russian Evgeny Medvedev in an attempt to upgrade the unit. While Mark Streit and Michael Del Zotto are capable puck-movers, Philadelphia doesn’t have a blue-chipper to anchor the defence. They have some promising defence prospects, but it would be surprising if they were ready to make an impact this season.

What is encouraging about the Flyers is that, after years of up-and-down play in goal, they have a number one goaltender. All the more surprising is that it’s Steve Mason, who has performed at a different level since coming over from Columbus. Bringing in Michal Neuvirth also adds a measure of insurance at a position that has traditionally been a problem area for the Flyers.

As it is right now, the Flyers don’t appear to be a playoff team, needing to be better on D, but they’re skilled enough to be competitive.

OFF-SEASON HEADLINES

May 18: Flyers hire Dave Hakstol as new head coach

June 27: Flyers trade Chris Pronger’s contract to Coyotes

July 28: Flyers ink Couturier to six-year extension

July 30: Flyers sign Voracek to eight-year, $66 million deal

2015-16 PHILDELPHIA FLYERS

*Off-season Addition

Projected Lines LW C RW Sam Gagner* Claude Giroux Jakub Voracek Brayden Schenn Scott Laughton Wayne Simmonds Michael Raffl Sean Couturier Matt Read Vincent Lecavalier Pierre-Edouard Bellemare Chris VandeVelde R.J. Umberger Ryan White

Fighting For Jobs: C Nick Cousins, RW Aaron Palushaj, LW Chris Porter

Projected Pairs LD RD Evgeni Medvedev* Mark Streit Michael Del Zotto Nick Schultz Luke Schenn Andrew MacDonald Radko Gudas

Fighting For Jobs: LD Brandon Manning, LD Samuel Morin, LD Ivan Provorov*

Projected Goalies No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 Steve Mason Michal Neuvirth Jason LaBarbera

Off-season Departures: D Nicklas Grossmann, G Ray Emery, D Carlo Colaiacovo, LW Zac Rinaldo, RW Jason Akeson

Projected Lineup: Frank Seravalli, TSN

SERAVALLI'S THREE QUESTIONS

1. Who will start the season at left wing next to Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek?

2. Will 18-year-old wunderkind Ivan Provorov crack the roster?

3. Can new coach Dave Hakstol find a place for Vinny Lecavalier?

BUTTON'S TOP PROSPECTS

Top 2015-16 Prospect

D Shayne Gostisbehere (Lehigh Valley, AHL): Knee injury set him back last season but is a dynamic, jump in the attack defenceman.

Long-Term Prospect

D Ivan Provorov (Brandon, WHL): Complete player in all regards and only thing he lacks is experience. Close but another year benefits.

* Listed with 2014-15 teams

BY THE NUMBERS

Three-Year Breakdown (League Rank) 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 Points 84 (20th)* 94 (13th) 84 (24th) Goals For 2.8 (9th) 2.8 (8th) 2.6 (21st) Goals Against 2.9 (T-22nd) 2.8 (20th) 2.7 (T-21st) Power Play 22% (3rd) 20% (15th) 23% (3rd) Penalty Killing 86% (5th) 85% (7th) 77% (27th) SAT% Possession 47.6% (23rd) 50% (17th) 49.3% (21st)

* 2012-13 points: Pro-rated lockout-shortened total

ESTIMATED PAYROLL vs. CAP - $70.8M/$71.4M

As usual, the Flyers are near the salary cap, and they would probably like to get more return on their investment in Andrew MacDonald, Umberger and Lecavalier, but Philadelphia has historically found ways to manage the cap, even when it didn’t look much room existed.

PARTING SHOT