While retooling the Philadelphia Flyers this summer, general manager Paul Holmgren didn't trust anyone under 30.
He made three big offseason additions, and Mark Streit, Vinny Lecavalier and Ray Emery all have a long history of success. They have a combined 31 years of NHL experience and got the incumbent players fired up.
"Just seeing Lecavalier in the dressing room before training camp he had a presence about him," said Flyers winger Scott Hartnell. "It's that instant respect. Some players have it and some don't."
Lecavalier, 33, will strengthen the team's offense, and Emery, 30, will challenge Steve Mason to be the No. 1 goalie. But Streit, 35, who played last season for the New York Islanders, might be the key because he fills a major need for a puck-moving, power-play defenseman.
"I talked to (Islanders forward) Matt Moulson about him and one of the things he said was that he can do some amazing things on the power play," Hartnell said.
Islanders players hated to see him leave through free agency.
"It's his work ethic and he just can't take losing," Islanders captain John Tavares said. "The amount of sleep he would lose when we would lose is beyond me. I knew how much he cared about our group."
This is Emery's second tour with the Flyers. He spent an injury-plagued 2009-10 season with the team.
"He is happy to be back in Philadelphia," Flyers captain Claude Giroux said. "I think people have forgotten that he took Ottawa to the Stanley Cup Finals. And his 17-1 record last season (with the Chicago Blackhawks) is amazing."
After missing the playoffs last season, Hartnell said he's optimistic about this season.
"I think we will be there at the end," he said. "The only problem is there are 29 other teams thinking the same thing."
Other veterans who could life their new clubs immediately:
-Center Mike Ribeiro (Phoenix Coyotes): Ribeiro is a booster shot for the Coyotes' offense. His 49 points last season with the Washington Capitals were 21 points more than any Phoenix forward registered.
"We had been trying to add a center with Mike's skill set for many seasons," said GM Don Maloney. "His puck sense and vision will improve our power play and his creativity should improve the offensive production of whomever he plays with."
He's likely to center Shane Doan and Mikkel Boedker.
-Defenseman Andrew Ference (Edmonton Oilers): The veteran should become part of the young team's leadership group and be a stabilizing force on the team's defensive coverage.
On the ice, Ference is a scrappy, competitive one-on-one defender who was the third-highest playoffs minutes guy on a Boston Bruins team that reached the Stanley Cup Final.
-Center Stephen Weiss (Detroit Red Wings): The Red Wings received much attention for signing future Hall of Famer Daniel Alfredsson, but Weiss is the key signing because he will give them a 50 to 60 points at center for the next five seasons. He will help revitalize the team's offense.
-Center Tyler Seguin (Dallas Stars): The Stars had a gaping hole at center and they filled it with a player who has the potential to be a difference-maker.
Even though he played wing in Boston, Seguin considers himself a natural center, his position in junior hockey. He expects to need time to refine his faceoff work and defensive play, but he is thrilled to be back at center.
In camp, Seguin has played on a line with Jamie Benn and Erik Cole
-Goalie Jonathan Bernier (Toronto Maple Leafs): Regardless of who wins the Bernier-James Reimer goalie duel, the Maple Leafs will be stronger in net.
Bernier, 25, is a quality goalie, and the competition could push Reimer to a higher level. Even if Reimer wins the job, Bernier would give Toronto one of the better backups in the league. What's that worth? Six points? Eight points? Certainly it has significant value.
-Right wing Viktor Stalberg (Nashville Predators): Although he's less proven than other veterans on this list, his speed and skill set were a welcome addition to the offensively challenged Predators.
The big Swedish forward has had a 22-goal season and has scored 52 NHL goals without having a power-play goal.
Stalberg will get power-play time in Nashville and could end up on the top line with Matt Cullen and Colin Wilson.
-Defenseman Rob Scuderi (Pittsburgh Penguins): Scuderi was a key member of the Penguins' 2009 Stanley Cup championship.
The Penguins needed to be tighter defensively, particularly in the postseason. And that's what Scuderi is all about. He's a shot-blocker, a defense-first performer who knows how to tie up players and prevent forest fires in front of his goalie.
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