Brayden Schenn

No Philadelphia Flyer has had a tougher draw this season than Brayden Schenn. He failed to make the team out of training camp, largely due to salary concerns beyond his control. After tearing the AHL apart for four games, he got his first call-up and struggled before a broken foot sidelined him.

While the Philadelphia Flyers season is only six games old, we have already learned a few lessons about the 2011-12 team. 

The jury may still be out on players like Jaromir Jagr and Scott Hartnell, but for the players and lessons listed here, the verdict is in. Who is the real deal? Read on to find out. 

Here are five such lessons that we have learned during the Flyers' 4-1-1 start to the season.

As always, comments are welcome and appreciated. Enjoy!

Heading into last night's home matchup against the red-hot, undefeated and always troublesome Washington Capitals, Philadelphia Flyers coach Peter Laviolette made an error I didn't think coaches with over 300 wins in the NHL typically make.

The Philadelphia Flyers had an incredibly active offseason, trading away Mike Richards and Jeff Carter while signing numerous quality players. GM Paul Holmgren used the word "different" to describe this upcoming season's team, which is an understatement.

The 2011 offseason has been a tumultuous one for Flyers fans. The team traded away a pair of home-grown stars in Jeff Carter and Mike Richards along with about half of the team's 2010-2011 roster. Chris Pronger's health is still in question. Pundits everywhere are saying the team took a massive step back.

But all is not lost. There are plenty of reasons for Flyers fans everywhere to be excited for the 2011-2012 season. And without further ado, they are...

Being anointed a team's "top prospect" can be both a blessing and a jinx. Many past prospects have used this added pressure as fuel to become bona fide NHLers.

On the flip side, some have crumbled under the intense scrutiny and have never really panned out for their respective NHL teams.

Pavel Brendl, anyone?

There is no doubt that some of the players on this list will emerge as legitimate superstars in the NHL, for others, this may be the last time you hear of them.

The Los Angeles Kings have never won a Stanley Cup.

They’ve only won one Conference Championship and one Division Championship in their 43-year history; and yet, they are on the verge of a virtual stranglehold of the very tumultuous Pacific Division.

They have a young team with strong veteran leadership. Their offense combines the strong, scoring power forwards of Dustin Brown and Jarret Stoll with the finesse, accuracy, and experience of Marco Sturm and Michal Handzus. 

After reading all the pre-season fodder and a fast start to the 2010-11 season, the Los Angeles Kings look to be struggling to find their way. Like most struggling teams, many fans have started to suggest that the Kings need to make a trade, and we are not talking about adding a depth player.

Brayden Schenn dominated the World Junior Championship.

He scored 18 points in only seven games, and he did it with a separated shoulder. Schenn was the clear MVP of the tournament and looks like he is ready to take the next step and play in the NHL.

The question is: Will the Kings have room for Schenn next season?

With the World Junior Hockey Championships officially in the books, the focus once again turns to the NHL where more than a few teams could use a facelift.  

One of the teams that has consistently been in the trade rumors this season has been the Los Angeles Kings, and more times than not, Brayden Schenn’s name seems to come up amongst the players going the other way.