Flyers makeover revolves around goalie Ilya Bryzgalov

You have probably noticed that this Flyers training camp has prompted more questions than usual.

Questions about the makeup of all the lines. Questions about how all the new players will fit in. Questions about how the team will make up the goals scored by the captain and his sidekick, each of whom were dealt for younger and, theoretically, hungrier players.

But, for the first time in recent memory, there are no questions about the guy in goal.

That's the best thing about Camp Lavy.

Ilya Bryzgalov gives the Flyers their first shutdown goalie since Ron Hextall, and he is the main reason the team, for all its uncertainty, has an optimistic outlook.

General manager Paul Holmgren ripped the team apart in the summer because Ed Snider, the 78-year-old club chairman, said he never wanted to go through another playoff fiasco like 2010.

In last year's playoffs, you'll recall, the Flyers equaled a dubious NHL record by making seven in-game goalie changes.

Hence, the Great Summer Makeover.

Will Bryzgalov, whose signing had a domino effect, justify all the moves?

We have eight or nine months to find out.

On paper, it's hard to fathom the Flyers' matching last year's record (47-23-12) and points total (106, second in the East).

Unless 39-year-old Jaromir Jagr turns the clock waaaaay back to his 50-goal days with the Penguins and Rangers, the offense has taken a step back. A year ago, the Flyers were third in the NHL, averaging 3.12 goals per game.

The Flyers might have fewer regular-season wins than last year and actually be a more formidable playoff team.

Bryzgalov, of course, is the reason.

Yes, his playoff resumé isn't overwhelming, but most of it was accomplished with mediocre defenses in front of him.

Now he is surrounded by one of the league's best defensive corps, provided new captain Chris Pronger returns to form after a forgettable four-surgery season. Pronger, who hopes to be ready for the Oct. 6 opener in Boston; Matt Carle; Andrej Meszaros; Kimmo Timonen; and Braydon Coburn help form arguably the premier defensive unit in Flyers history.

And when they do make a mistake, they have Bryzgalov to bail them out.

"Just going against him in practice, he's incredible," winger Scott Hartnell said the other day.

With Bryzgalov, the Flyers will win a lot of low-scoring games. Sort of like the Phillies with their great pitching.