To be blunt, about it, the Philadelphia Flyers are pretty much exactly where everyone thought they would be at the halfway mark.

They're a Stanley Cup contender. Nothing more, nothing less.

They are not a Cup favorite. That title is earned. Right now it belongs to New Jersey, Dallas and Detroit.

Everyone expected the Flyers to be vastly improved under Ken Hitchcock and they have been. They have 21 wins in 40 games played. That's pretty damn good.

They still have questions on defense and in goal despite how good they look on paper and their overall positioning in the standings. The Flyers have never shown they could win in the playoffs on defense and goaltending.

At least, not since 1975, anyway.

TEAM - B-.

MVP - Jeremy Roenick. Not because he leads the club with 27 points or 13 goals but because he's been the most consistent skater on the team from Day One. For the second year in a row, too.

PLAYER GRADES:

Mark Recchi - (B-): His energy level is good every night which is why he gets this grade even though his hands are a concern. Still one of the game's best passers but he's not scoring enough.

Justin Williams - (B+): One of the hardest working players on the ice even if he does too much shucking and jiving with the puck. A keeper who many NHL clubs would love to get their hands upon.

Simon Gagne - (C+): Far too much talent to have just six goals at this point, after leading the team with 33 last season. Tends to overact to his injuries and worry. Needs to start thinking of himself as a "star" player and accepting the responsibility they goes with such.

Keith Primeau - (B-): Disappointing offensive season thus far but he has picked up his pace. Remains one of the best faceoff men in hockey and is a consummate "team" guy to sell Hitch's systems. Always shares in the blame but needs to produce.

John LeClair - (Incomplete): Was on par for a 40-goal season until dislocating his right shoulder and has played just 21 games.

Kim Johnsson - (B-): He earns this grade simply because of how cool he is with the puck and plays 25 minutes a night, more than any other skater. Should have more goals at this point.

Michal Handzus - (A-): Has been the surprise of the team and a runner-up to Roenick for MVP. Excellent checking center who has had to make an adjustment to a variety of wingers because of team injuries.

Marty Murray - (C-): Has too much talent packed into that 5-foot-8 frame not to scoring more and doing something with all the shorthanded chances he generates.

Eric Desjardins - (B): Has had his ups and downs, but has been a fairly steady player over the past month or so despite different partners.

Dennis Seidenberg - (A-): The rookie is plus-11 and has given the Flyers a legitimate shot at the point. Makes mistakes and gets right back into the game as if nothing happened.

Donald Brashear - (C): Has not been as consistent in his game as he should be but has found a niche with Handzus and Radovan Somik.

Radovan Somik - (B-): Excellent defensive player but needs to convert some of the many chances he generates off his defensive play. Looks like a European version of Ranheim: no finish.

Pavel Brendl - (D): He gets his rest - 12 hours of sleep a day, according to a Hitchcock. But with just three goals, he is never going to be an NHL player of consequence.

Marcus Ragnarsson - (D): Hasn't shown anything that warrants having traded Dan McGillis. Can move the puck but he hasn't added to the offense, especially the power play.

Tomi Kallio - (Incomplete): Hasn't been a Flyer long enough (4 games).

Andre Savage - (C): He's an AHL player filling a role.

Todd Fedoruk - (C+): Has gotten better at sensing when to fight and take on the toughest guys around. But he needs to do more with puck. He has the talent to score some goals.

Chris Therien - (B): Has played well the entire season with different partners. Very consistent player.

Eric Weinrich - (B+): He is a plus-15 and just plays a steady, consistently good game every night. You don't notice him which is good.

Chris McAllister - (D): He's not mobile enough to be anything more than a seventh 'D' on this club and is occupying space for players like Bruno St. Ja cques despite the fact he's a solid "team" guy.

Robert Esche - (A): Has had just one, bad outing in 16 games. He plays every game as if he was an everyday starter. Very consistent on the puck and deserves a chance to unseat Roman Cechmanek.

Roman Cechmanek - (B+): He is still too inconsistent game to game despite being the sixth, top-ranked goalie in the league. He has to prove he can steal games and the players seem nervous in front of him if the game is on the line.

COACH - Ken Hitchcock (A-): He's installed a new system and confidence into a varying group of players of different ages. Still tends to treat games as the end of the world but he is comprehensive in his approach. Won't bite the bullet on Chris McAllister or Roman Cechmanek which is why he gets an A-.

FRONT OFFICE - General manager Bob Clarke (C+): He's made superficial moves losing Ranheim and Dan McGillis and gaining Ragnarsson. He, too, won't bite the bullet and promote some of his younger defenseman, such as St. Jacques, who should be on the NHL roster.

Mr. CLUTCH - Roenick has been this guy in the past and figures to be the same guy in the future.

TRADE WINDS - The Flyers would still like to get a sniper on the wings - Miroslav Satan perhaps - but wouldn't turn down a chance for a top defenseman like Alexei Zhitnik. Brendl is a body they would like to deal somewhere.

OUTLOOK - Much like the Devils, the Flyers can't score goals. It's become their Achilles heel. Unlike the Devils, they don't have a Martin Brodeur or a defense so good that they can win games 1-0, 2-1 come April.

"We have so many young forwards," Hitchcock said. "So many guys who are on the learning curve. Our hope is we're a very competitive team right now but we feel we have a ton of room for improvement. Our younger guys are not going to get worse. They are going to get better."

It's his veterans he's concerned about. Primeau and Recchi have had sporadic first-halfs and have underachieved. LeClair is still sidelined after shoulder surgery. Only Roenick has been fairly on target the entire way. These four players will have a huge impact on how well the Flyers fare in the second half.

And so will the goalie. A betting man would take the odds that Esche eventually gets the No. 1 job over Cechmanek. As good as both have been, Esche is consistently the same in goal despite playing every 7-8 days. That's his edge over "Checko" who is either right on his game, or very average.

PREDICTION - The Flyers will finish 2nd in the Atlantic Division. Which means they won't have to worry about facing Ottawa or Buffalo in the first round.

-courtesy faceoff.com