Bold Predictions for the Philadelphia Flyers as the 2014-15 NHL Season Begins

We are finally upon the eve of the 2014-15 NHL season, and the Philadelphia Flyers will kick things off against the Boston Bruins Wednesday night.

It should be an interesting and exciting year for the Flyers, with serious potential for a boom-or-bust type of season.

Let's focus on the "boom" part of that equation.

After a couple of last year's predictions turned out well, here are five more bold predictions for Philadelphia's 2014-15 season. 

This is a step above last year's prediction, in which I said that Claude Giroux would be a finalist (which he was).

Let's up the ante and see how he responds.

Unsubstantiated challenges aside, I really do feel like this could be a special year for Giroux.

He has proven himself as a captain, and he has that proverbial monkey off his back now. He also got through a terrible start to last season and still finished as a Hart finalist.

Giroux is in the prime of his career, and if he starts off even just a little bit better than last year, he will be a frontrunner at the very least.

If he puts up 80 or more points and the Flyers are successful in the standings, pencil in Giroux as my pick for MVP. 

Scott Laughton was sent down to the AHL again in this camp, and it's hard to see that as anything except disappointing at this stage.

There is still plenty of time and potential space for the 20-year-old to make his way up to the NHL and stick.

After all, there are a number of question marks at the NHL level for the Flyers.

Vincent Lecavalier is dangling as potential trade bait, first-year players could easily falter, and there will undoubtedly be injuries throughout the season.

Laughton is a heck of a talent, and he has the ability to make an impact in the NHL right now.

GM Ron Hextall might not believe that now. However, once Laughton gets his chance, the boss will quickly realize it. 

We got to see what Jason Akeson is capable of in the playoffs last year, when he was arguably the Flyers' best player throughout the series against the New York Rangers.

He's on the fourth line instead of the second to start the season, but it's a somewhat skilled line with Pierre-Edouard Bellemare in between Akeson and Zac Rinaldo, who is actually a capable forward when he keeps his head on straight.

Akeson was a dominating player in the OHL, and the 24-year-old has speed and skill in droves. He'll be the first guy pulled up the lineup when an injury hits the top couple lines, and he will take advantage.

Michael Raffl had a solid first season last year, scoring 22 points in 68 games. Sean Couturier scored 27 points in 77 games as a rookie. Matt Read had 47 in 79, leading all rookies in goals.

That should put scoring 40 points as a rookie in perspective. 

I'll concede that of all these predictions, this is the least likely by far.

He's been decent in his time as a Flyer, but Steve Mason has been a really poor NHL goaltender over the course of his career.

Regression to the mean is a real thing, and there is certainly plenty of evidence that suggests Mason will take a step back from last season, in which he was a very middle-of-the-pack goalie.

However, for some reason, I'm still optimistic.

When you see Mason's athleticism on some of his saves, it's hard not to be. 

The 26-year-old is in his prime, and hopefully he'll feel more settled in Philadelphia. That should help his play, although the defense is still rough.

Nevertheless, I'm going out on a limb and saying he'll be a top-10 starter at the end of the year in save percentage and goals-against average.

I said this would be bold, right? 

Part of me wanted to repeat my bold prediction from last year of Wayne Simmonds scoring 40 goals again.

Although I still think that's possible, I realized that his game is about so much more than that.

He tallied a career-high 62 points last season, proving that he is more than just an around-the-net goal scorer. He also showed his toughness and strength along the boards and through the middle of the ice on a consistent basis.

Simmonds was rewarded for his impressive 2013-14 campaign by being named an assistant captain for this season, per the team's Twitter (h/t Broad Street Hockey)—a recognition that is well-deserved.

This is the year that Simmonds becomes recognized as one of the premier power forwards and leaders in the sport, making the All-Star Game as a result.