Flyers Prospects

Flyers Draft Review

2011-07-04T13:26:00.000-07:00

1st Round- 8th Overall
C- Sean Couturier-Drummondville, QMJHL
Getting Sean Couturier with the 8th overall pick is a steal. Couturier, who was named the number one draft eligible prospect by International Scouting Services in December, is a player who is often compared to Jordan Staal. While he had the most points per game of any player in this draft, 1.66, he might not be an elite scorer at the NHL level but he will chip in a good amount on the offensive end. He plays both ends of the ice, which is something the Flyers will desperately need in the future the departure of Jeff Carter and Mike Richards, two players who were very good in the defensive zone. Couturier needs to work on his skating and get stronger before making the jump to the NHL. He should be playing in the Q again this year unless he can impress at camp.

3rd Round- 68th Overall
C- Nick Cousins- Sault Ste. Marie, OHL
With the Penguins pick in the third round, acquired when Hamhuis wouldn't sign, the Flyers selected Nick Cousins from the Soo Greyhounds. Cousins scored 29 goals and added 39 assists in 68 games for the Greyhounds. One thing that improved his draft stock was the fact that he can play in multiple roles. He can set up plays and score goals but he also adds some grit to the lineup. Cousins showed a lot of scouts what he can do playing for Canada in the U18 tournament where he scored 8 points in 7 games.

4th Round- 116th Overall
D- Colin Suellentrop-Oshawa Generals, OHL
With the 116th pick the Flyers finally addressed their need of defensive prospects. Suellentop recorded 20 points in two season with the Oshawa Generals and also respresented the United States in the 2010 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. The Florida native is a shut down D-man who will drop the mits for the occasional scrap. The future for Suellentop looks promising as he finished the 2010-2011 season at + 21. He is a hard working d-man who throws the body around, something that the Flyers pipeline lacks right now.

4th Round- 118th Overall
LW- Marcel Noebels- Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL
The Flyers selected the German, Marcel Noebels, with the 118th pick. Noebels had 28 goals and 26 assists for a bad Seattle team in the WHL last season. He also played extremely well for Germany in the World Juniors. Playing this well for teams that weren't very good leads a lot of people to believe that the Flyers got a steal in Noebels. Scouts say that he needs to work on his defensive play and his speed.

6th Round - 176th Overall
RW- Petr Placek- Hotchkiss, CTHS
Another pick by the Flyers that some say could end up as a steal, Petr Placek came over from the Czech Republic to play for Hotchkiss, a Prep School in Connecticut. Placek was ranked 54th out of North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting in their midterm rankings. But by the end of the season he dropped out of the rankings all together. This was probably because of injuries and the fact that its hard to evaluate a player playing in high school. Placek scored 8 goals and added 9 assists in 16 games last season for Hotchkiss. He will be attending Harvard in the fall, this will allow the Flyers to hold onto his rights for 4 years and see if develops into an NHLer.

7th Round 206th Overall
RW- Derek Mathers- Peterborough Petes, OHL
With their last pick the draft the Flyers took a fighter in Derek Mathers. Mathers recorded 1 goal and 4 assists in 55 games played for the Petes last season. But the Flyers didn't draft him to score goals. They were probably more concerned with his 171 penalty minutes. At 6 foot 3 and 230 pounds Mathers is an intimidating force out there and the Flyers hope he can be an NHL enforcer one day.

Brayden Schenn & Sean Couturier. That is all.

2011-06-29T13:34:00.000-07:00

Flyers Prospect Camp Preview

2010-07-03T17:03:00.001-07:00

The Flyers Prospect Camp roster and schedule have been announced. With a few of the Flyers forwards on the trading block look for a young guy to step in as a regular for the big club.

Official Link
Roster

Forwards
Michael Chaput
Shane Harper
Ben Holmstrom
Dave Labrecque
Tye McGinn
Luke Pither
Brendan Ranford
Zac Rinaldo
Andrew Rowe
Mike Testwuide
Eric Wellwood

Defense
Ricard Blidstrand
Marc-Andre Bourdon
Erik Gustaffson
Tyler Hostetter
Oliver Lauridsen
Nick Luukko
Kevin Marshall

Goalies
Sergei Bobrovsky
Adam Morrison
Brad Phillips
Nicola Riopel
Brian Stewart

Tryouts
F- Justin Dowling (Swift Current, WHL)
F- Brian Flynn (Maine, Hockey East)
F- Blake Gal (Spokane, WHL)
F- Phil Ginand (Mercyhurst, Atlantic Hockey)
F- Greg Hanson (No. Michigan, CCHA)
F- Kyle Mountain (New Hampshire, EJHL)
F- Everett Sheen (Holy Cross, Atlantic Hockey)

D- Michael Banwell (Maine, Hockey East)
D- Jason Beattie (Niagra, CHA)
D- Jesse Dudas (Corpus Christi, CHL)
D- Jordan Hill (Manitoba, AHL)

G- Chris Rawlings (Northeastern, Hockey East)

Players to watch

Mike Testwuide- After being signed in March, Flyers fans have had high hopes for Testwuide. Flyers GM Paul Holmgren has said that Testwuide is an NHL ready player and with the rumored departure of Simon Gagne, he may be able to play for the Flyers

Kevin Marshall- Lauded as the best defensive prospect by many, Marshall had a disappointing season in the AHL last year. He hopes to regroup this year and remain in the Flyers plans for the future.

Erik Gustaffson- Scoring 7 points in only 5 games with the Phantoms last year, Gustaffson has a lot of pressure on him to perform this season. With Marshall, Bourdon, and Lehitvuori, Gustaffson could be apart of a solid D corps in Adirondack next season.

Sergei Bobrovsky- Signed in May, Bobrovsky is one of the Flyers top goaltending prospects. He and Swedish goalie Joacim Eriksson are the future between the pipes in Philly. But with Eriksson remaining in Sweden, Bobrovsky looks to get a head start by locking up the starting job for the Phantoms this year.

Camp Schedule
The camp is held at the Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, NJ.
On-Ice Practice / Scrimmage

July 5 - Players Arrive/Off-Ice Fitness Testing

July 6 - Off-Ice Fitness Testing

July 7 - 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. / 10:45 a.m. to noon

July 8 - Trial on The Isle (Stone Harbor, NJ)

July 9 - 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. /10:45 a.m. to noon

July 10 - 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. /10:45 a.m. to noon

July 11 - 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. /10:45 a.m. to noon

July 12 - NO Practice / 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Around the Web

2010-07-03T16:07:00.000-07:00

Flyers Prospects links from around the web

Interview with Michael Chaput

http://pinetreepucks.blogspot.com/2010/07/flyers-draftee-and-lewiston-maineiacs.html

Thrashers sign Jared Ross
http://poststar.com/sports/article_0c75c9e8-865a-11df-a780-001cc4c03286.html

"Andrei Popov re-signs with Traktor Chelyabinsk. New contract is for two years."
http://twitter.com/euroflyers

Paddock talks goalies, more
http://poststar.com/app/blogs/?p=48839&cat=784

Hockey's Future Flyers Draft Review
http://www.hockeysfuture.com/teams/philadelphia_flyers

Flyers Cap Situation
http://www.capgeek.com/charts.php?Team=24
The Flyers did not qualify
F- Rob Bellamy
F-Josh Beaulieu
G- Jeremy Duchesne
G- Michael Teslak
Matt Clackson and David Laliberte were qualified.

Flyers 2010 Draft Review

2010-06-29T19:31:00.000-07:00

Pick #89: Michael Chaput, C, Lewiston (QMJHL)
The Flyers started off their draft by selecting Michael Chaput of the MAINEiacs.Chaput was ranked 81st in The Hockey News Draft Preview. Chaput had a solid season for Lewiston in the Q, with 28 goals and 27 assists in 68 games. He finished 2nd in point and 1st in goals for the MAINEiacs. Chaput put up a good amount of points but these came in the QMJHL, which is known for offense. Some scouts have questioned Chaput's toughness. That is definitely necessary if he wants to play for the Philadelphia Flyers. Chaput still has a lot of work to do but he and the Flyers hope he will develop into a solid two way player at the NHL level.

Pick #119: Tye McGinn, LW, Gatineau (QMJHL)
In the fourth round the Flyers selected Tye McGinn of the Gatineau Olympiques. McGinn is a pretty big guy at 6 foot 2 and 195 pounds but he was a major producer for Gatineau this season. He led his team in goals with 27, assists with 35, and points with 62. McGinn also doesn't shy away from the rough stuff which may have already won over some Flyers fans. McGinn may not be ready yet but with time he could develop into a solid forward in the NHL.

Pick #149: Michael Parks, RW, Cedar Rapids (USHL) ‎
At pick #149 the Flyers selected Michael Parks of the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. Parks scored 11 goals and 11 assists in 51 games in the USHL. Parks is a Missouri native, he is from around the same area as fellow prospect Patrick Maroon. Parks also won the gold medal with team USA at the Junior A Challenge in 2009. Parks is a speedy forward with good hands but he needs to get stronger to compete at higher levels. Parks will be attending the University of North Dakota, hopefully their he will improve his strength on the puck and find his scoring touch.

Pick #179: Nick Luukko, D, The Gunnery (CT USHS)
Son of Comcast-Spectactor president, Peter Luukko, Nick has a lot of pressure on him to perform in the Flyers organization. Peter expressed in an interview after the draft that he did not want Nick to be drafted by the Flyers because he would never get the credit he deserves as a player. But Nick is a solid defenseman, at 6 foot 2 and 180 pounds, the Flyers believe they can build him to NHL caliber. He's a big defenseman with good hockey sense. Nick will be playing in the USHL and then attending the University of Vermont.

Pick #206: Ricard Blidstrand, D, AIK J-20 (Swedish Juniors)
After trading Jonathan Matsumoto to the Carolina Hurricanes for pick #206 in the draft, the Flyers selected Ricard Blidstrand. At 6-2, 201 pounds, Blidstrand is a big, strong defenseman. Some scouts have said that they would like to see Blidstand use his strength and size more to his advantage. Blidstrand has a nice shot from the point and can play on the power play. Scouts have questioned his hockey sense and they would like him to work on his passing. Blidstand will play for the Regina Pats of the WHL next season.

Pick #209: Brendan Ranford, LW, Kamloops (WHL)
With the second to last pick in this years draft the Flyers selected Brendan Ranford from the Kamloops Blazers. This may have been a steal for the Flyers as Ranford was ranked 111th by Central Scouting. Ranford put up 29 goals and 36 in 72 games for Kamloops this season. Ranford might not be the biggest guy at 5-8, 182 pounds, but he isn't afraid to battle in the corners. Ranford isn't going to blow by anyone with his speed but he is a solid skater. Ranford is a gritty grinder type player who can score. The Flyers hope that Ranford will develop into a 3rd liner at the NHL level.

So Long, Mats.

2010-06-26T22:08:00.000-07:00

Jonathan Matsumoto, the leading scorer for the Phantoms last season, has been traded to the Carolina Hurricanes for pick #206 (Ricard Blidstrand.) Some people may say the Flyers gave up too quickly on Mats. I am one of those people. Matsumoto was never given a chance to prove himself in the NHL. Even with all of the Flyers injuries over the last couple of years, Matsumoto has yet to play an NHL game. This is definitely a head scratcher as some players, coughLalibertecough, have been given numerous chances with the big club. Putting up big numbers in the AHL should have some reward but obviously this wasn't the case for Matsumoto. But one positive you can take away from this is that the Flyers are getting something for Mats. He was going to be a RFA and it was unlikely the Flyers would have kept him. I always wanted to see Mats play for the Flyers but obviously the organization didn't like what they saw. Good luck to him in the future.

End of season: Top 10 Prospects

2010-06-13T12:28:00.001-07:00

1. Joacim Eriksson
2. Kevin Marshall
3. Sergei Bobrovsky
4. Marc Andre Bourdon
5. Stefan Legein
6. Patrick Maroon
7. Eric Wellwood
8. Mike Testwuide
9. Joonas Lehtivuori
10. Luke Pither

Thank you, Philadelphia Flyers

2010-06-10T15:26:00.000-07:00

Tough loss in the Stanley Cup, one that will hurt for a while. But the Flyers have given us fans a lot to be proud of these playoffs. This team was dead according to anyone that wasn't a Flyers fan. This team got in on the last game of the season in a shootout. This team made history by coming back from 3-0 against the Bruins. This team won the Eastern Conference and brought the Stanley Cup Finals to Philly for the first time since 1997. So all Flyers fan should keep their heads up, because this team will be back next year and hopefully they will bring the cup to Philadelphia.

Memorial Cup Wrap Up

2010-05-26T21:59:00.000-07:00

The Memorial Cup was pretty disappointing for two of the three Flyers prospects involved. Goaltender for the Brandon Wheat Kings, Jacob De Serres, was inconsistent throughout this tournament. While he had his great moments, he let in a few weak goals and had some sub par performances that could keep the Flyers from signing him. Nicola Riopel also didn't have a great tournament. He and his team, the Moncton Wildcats, were the first eliminated from the Memorial Cup. Some sources say that Riopel was very sick during the tournament and his illness was a reason for his poor play in goal. Either way Riopel is expected to be between the pipes for the Phantoms next season.
The only Flyer prospect who was a winner in the Memorial Cup was winger Eric Wellwood. Wellwood and the Windsor Spitfires beat up on Brandon 9-1 in the Championship game. Wellwood had 2 goals in the tournament, including an overtime goal against Moncton that eliminated the Wildcats. This is Windsor's second consecutive Memorial Cup Championship. This was Wellwood's last junior game and was a fitting way to end his career with the Spits. He is expected to play with the Phantoms next season.

Wellwood's overtime goal comes at about 7:02.

Stats
Skaters	GP	G	A
Eric Wellwood	4	2	4
Goalies	GP	SV%	GAA
Nicola Riopel	2	.862	4.54
Jacob De Serres	5	.864	4.66

Flyers Prospects in Action at Memorial Cup

2010-05-16T14:37:00.000-07:00

Three Flyers prospects are playing in the Memorial Cup this week. On the Windsor Spitfires is left winger, Eric Wellwood. Jacob De Serres is playing goaltender for the Brandon Wheat Kings and Nicola Riopel is in net for the Moncton Wildcats.
Wellwood's Spitfires are off to a good start after beating Brandon 9-3. Wellwood recorded 2 assists in that victory. On the other end of the Windsor blowout was goalie, Jacob De Serres. De Serres came into the game with his team down by 5 goals. He didn't do much better than his fellow goaltender, allowing 4 goals on 20 shots. De Serres bounced back against Moncton and in a big way. He recorded a shutout as Brandon went on to win 4-0. De Serres upstaged fellow Flyers prospect Nicola Riopel who has been less than stellar thus far. Riopel and the Wildcats have struggled, starting off 0-2. Riopel's squad blew a three goal lead in a 5-4 loss to the Calgary Hitmen and were shutout by Brandon.

Stats
Skaters	GP	G	A
Eric Wellwood	1	0	2
Goalies	GP	SV%	GAA
Nicola Riopel	2	.862	4.54
Jacob De Serres	2	.922	2.40

For those with NHL Network, you can watch these prospects in action
Monday, May 17
8:00 PM 2010 Memorial Cup: Windsor Spitfires vs Calgary Hitmen

Tuesday, May 18
8:00 PM 2010 Memorial Cup: Windsor Spitfires vs Moncton Wildcats

Wednesday, May 19
8:00 PM 2010 Memorial Cup: Calgary Hitmen vs Brandon Wheat Kings

Thursday, May 20
8:00 PM 2010 Memorial Cup: Tiebreaker Game

Friday, May 21
8:00 PM 2010 Memorial Cup: Semi-Final Game

Sunday, May 23
3:00 PM 2010 Memorial Cup: Championship Game

Russian Revolution

2010-04-05T22:31:00.000-07:00

The Flyers NHL team may not acquire any Russian players anytime soon but the organization is certainly looking at Russian prospects to stock the farm with. The rumors include goalie Sergei Bobrovsky and center Evgeny Bodrov, younger brother of Denis. Sergei Bobrovsky appeared in 35 games for Metallurg Novokuznetsk of the KHL posting a 2.72 GAA and a .919 save percentage. Bobrovsky had a record of 9 wins, 22 loses, and 3 ties but this was while he was playing for the last place team in the KHL.
The other Russian prospects that the Flyers are looking at is Evgeny Bodrov. Evgeny is the younger brother of defenseman Denis Bodrov. Evgeny recorded 5 goals and 7 assists while appearing in 41 games with Kazan Ak-Bars of the KHL.
If these two players and Andrei Popov are signed they could join Denis Bodrov and make 4 Russians on the Phantoms.

Flyers sign Luke Pither

2010-03-02T22:42:00.000-08:00

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/flyers/20100302

The Flyers agreed to a 3-year contract with undrafted free agent Luke Pither.
Pither, 20, is fifth in the Ontario Hockey League in scoring this season. He has 86 points in 60 games for the Barrie Colts, his fourth junior team in 4 years. The knock on Pither always has been that he is unwilling to play physical and skate into traffic. The crafty, 6-foot forward likely will report to AHL Adirondack after his season ends in Barrie, as he runs out of junior eligibility.

Prospects making strides

2010-03-02T22:00:00.000-08:00

Eric Wellwood, who was the Flyers sixth round pick at last years draft, is having great success with the Windsor Spitfires this season. His stock has risen greatly since being picked and he now is starting to look like a legit NHL prospects. Wellwood always had speed and grit but this season he has found his scoring touch with 31 goals and 34 assists in 61 games for Windsor. This may be a result of playing on a line with this years top prospect Taylor Hall but either way you have to like how Wellwood has progressed.

One of the few Flyers Russian prospects, Andrei Popov, is having a solid season with Chelyabinsk Traktor of the KHL. With 15 goals and 11 assists he is the third leading scorer on his team. With the Phantoms looking for scoring, Popov looks like the perfect fit for next season. Hopefully he makes the cross over to North America to help the Phantoms scoring woes.

Olympic Break Update

2010-02-19T22:52:00.000-08:00

AHL Update

The Adirondack Phantoms have been struggling this season. The main reason for these struggles has been scoring. Aside from Jonathan Matsumoto and Stefan Legein, the Phantoms lack scorers. But things are looking brighter for the near future as forward Mika Pyorala is starting to heat up. With 7 points in his first 9 games. Pyorala may have found his scoring touch in the AHL. A healthy Pat Maroon will also help the Phantoms' cause as they look to turn their season around.

JVR Struggles

2009-12-31T00:38:00.000-08:00

James van Riemsdyk might have hit a wall after his great start to this season. JVR has only 1 point in his last 15 games and looks lost when he is on the ice. This may be because JVR has never played more than 40 games in a season and has already played 35 for the Flyers. The upcoming Olympic break could be a good thing for van Riemsdyk because he will not be selected for Team USA. JVR's inclusion on the US Olympic team was once a strong possibility but his poor play as of late has made that a pipe dream. Maybe a trip down to the AHL Phantoms could help JVR but as of now he remains a Flyer. Hopefully van Riemsdyk can turn it around before the Olympic break but either way the rest will help him.

Around the Web

2009-12-12T08:36:00.000-08:00

Flyers 2009-10 junior prospects update

http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/11618/flyers200910_junior_prospects_update/

Rookie Bartulis Seals Starting Job

http://flyers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=509213

Depth Chart Updated

2009-12-11T12:48:00.000-08:00

Stock Up: Oskars Bartulis
Bartulis has played himself onto the Flyers as the 6th defenseman. He has been one of the most consistent players on the Flyers during their recent losing skid. His time as a prospect may be coming to an end shortly.

Stock Down: Denis Bodrov
With talk of declining play and leaving Russia after a fallout with the team, the hope that Bodrov could be a legit prospect is thin. Maybe a move to the AHL will give him a chance to turn his career around.

http://flyersprospects.blogspot.com/2009/08/depth-chart_11.html

Nodl, Kalinski with the big club and Bodrov? Plus Backlund recalled

2009-12-09T22:16:00.000-08:00

Andreas Nodl and Jon Kalinski have been playing for the big club for the past few games. With injuries and a few suspensions, the Flyers young guys are getting a chance in the NHL. Both Nodl and Kalinski have stood out in my eyes so far. Andreas Nodl is playing a lot better than his short stint with the club last season. He fights hard for the puck and has become a better two way player. Nodl still needs to find his scoring touch though and should be sent back down to the AHL when the team is healthy. Jon Kalinski is picking up from where he left off last season. He is a good energy player for the Flyers and is a welcome addition to the 4th line.

In other prospects news defenseman Denis Bodrov left his team in the KHL and may be coming over to play for the Phantoms. This may be just speculation but Bodrov was having some behavorial issues and his play has declined according to some people. A lot of people, including myself, were very high on Bodrov but from what I have heard from people close to him and his team he has regressed. It should be interesting to see if Bodrov can turn him self around in North America.

Goaltender Johan Backlund will become the Flyers back up goaltender for the next few weeks as Ray Emery is placed on the IR. Backlund should get a few starts while he's with the Flyers, we'll see how his game translates to the NHL.

Bartulis playing well and JVR continues his Calder pace

2009-11-22T10:54:00.000-08:00

One pleasant surprise for the Flyers has been the play of Oskars Bartulis. Bartulis is playing as the 6th defenseman and is paired with Ryan Parent. He started off a little shaky but seems to be settling in very nicely as he continues to be in the lineup.

Another rookie who is making a huge impact is James van Riemsdyk. JVR continues to be hot and is an early candidate for the rookie of the year award. While JVR still has a long way to go and a very good rookie class to beat, it's nice to see a rookie make such a big impact. With 6 goals and 12 assists JVR has been a solid PPG player. Hopefully the kid keeps it up.

For those who missed it , heres David Laliberte's first NHL goal.

Bartulis Recalled to the Flyers and JVR's First Goal!

2009-10-25T13:24:00.001-07:00

Defenseman Oskars Bartulis has been recalled from the Phantoms. He will be available for tonight's game against the Sharks.
http://www.csnphilly.com/pages/landing_09?Flyers-Call-up-Defenseman-Bartulis-From-=1&blockID=83361&feedID=704

James van Riemsdyk scored his first goal in last nights game against the Panthers.

Flyers Prospect Reports

2009-10-24T11:35:00.000-07:00

I haven't updated in a while so there is a lot to talk about. First of all the Flyers traded defensive prospect Mike Ratchuk to the Blue Jackets for forward Stefan Legein. I am a fan of this trade, but a lot of people think differently. I liked Ratchuk but I honestly couldn't see him making it to the NHL, especially in a Flyers uniform. This also helps the Phantoms overcrowded D corps. Legein has a lot of potential but a lot of people are down on him because he "retired" early in 2008. Legein returned to the game in December and still has a shot to make it to the NHL. Others may not agree but I like this trade.

The Flyers top prospect, James van Riemsdyk, has been pretty good in his first five NHL games. JVR has recorded five points, all assists, in five games. Though still looking for his first goal, he has looked good playing with the big club.

One early standout has been goalie Adam Morrison. Morrison has gone 6-3-2 in 11 games with the Saskatoon Blades with a 2.50 GAA and a .913 save percentage.

The Flyers also traded defensive prospect, Patrik Hersley to the Nashville Predators on Sept. 23 for future considerations.

Former prospect, Claude Giroux scored a beauty in the shootout against the Bruins on Thursday. For those who didn't see

Flyers Rookie Camp Preview

2009-09-06T11:30:00.000-07:00

Flyers rookie camp is set to open September 7th and a lot is at stake for some of these players. A few story lines in this years camp are James van Riemsdyk, Andreas Nodl, and Patrick Maroon attempting to crack the Flyers roster along with the future defensemen of the team Marshall and Bourdon and how the goalie situation will sort itself out. There will also be three players trying out during camp. Camp took off today at the Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, NJ.

Rookie Camp Roster
Forwards: Josh Beaulieu, Rob Bellamy, Matt Clackson, Ryan Dingle, Jon Kalinski,Garrett Klotz, David Labrecque, David Laliberte, Patrick Maroon, Jon Matsumoto,Andreas Nodl, Zac Rinaldo, Mike Thomas (try-out), Tomas Sinisalo (try-out), James van Riemsdyk, Eric Wellwood.

Defensemen: Oskars Bartulis, Marc-Andre Bourdon, Tyler Hostetter (try-out), Joonas Lehtivuori, Kevin Marshall, Mike Ratchuk, David Slaone, Brennan Yadlowsk (try-out).

Goaltenders: Jacob Deserres, Jeremy Duchesne, Adam Morrison, Nic Riopel,Michael Teslak.

http://flyers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=487071&navid=phi-home-dl

The camp will conclude with a game against the Capitals rookies on September 11th at 3 PM in Voorhees.

Flyers reach agreement with Quad City

2009-09-01T16:27:00.000-07:00

The Flyers have reached an agreement with the Quad City Mallards of the IHL. This may help keep goaltending prospects like Jeremy Duchesne, who may not have a spot on the ECHL due to the fact that the Flyers share the team with the Sharks.

Around the Web

2009-09-01T16:20:00.000-07:00

Flyers Prospects links around the Web.

Flyers Top 20 prospects, Fall 2009
http://www.hockeysfuture.com/article...ects_fall2009/

Flyers Rookie Camp
http://flyers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=487071&navid=phi-home-dl

Flyers reach agreement with IHL's Quad City Mallards
http://flyers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=497391

Flyers ECHL Affiliate

2009-08-13T07:35:00.000-07:00

The Flyers have reached an minor league affiliation agreement with the Kalamazoo Wings of the ECHL. They will share the Wings with the San Jose Sharks.
Official Link- Flyers Partner with K-Wings of the ECHL

Flyers sign Rinaldo, Syvret, and Sloane

2009-08-13T07:17:00.001-07:00

The Flyers have signed three of their prospects. The signings of Danny Syvret and Zac Rinaldo put the Flyers at 50 contracts. Syvret is an extremely gifted offensive defenseman and showed this on the Phantoms last season. Hopefully Syvret gets a chance to prove himself on the Flyers this season. Rinaldo is a tough guy who can really fight and really fits the stereotype of "Flyers Hockey." As for David Sloane, he played a game for the Flyers last season but don't expect that again this season. He will remain in the AHL for the entire year.

Flyers sign Riopel

2009-08-13T06:57:00.000-07:00

The Flyers have signed goaltender Nicola Riopel, who was selected in the fifth round of the 2009 NHL entry draft. Riopel will be fighting for a backup job on the Phantoms with Michael Teslak and Jeremy Duchesne.

My view
Flyers- Emery/Boucher
Phantoms- Backlund/Teslak
ECHL- Riopel/Duchesne

If Backlund is going to be the definite starter for the Phantoms than I think that Riopel should play in the ECHL. Playing as a backup is not going to benefit him unless him and Backlund are splitting time and I'd rather he get starting minutes in the ECHL and let Teslak have the backup job in the AHL. If Backlund isn't playing well or is injured than bring up Riopel to start for the Phantoms. As for Duchesne, he's pretty useless. He's not very good and should be a backup in the ECHL or released.

Depth Chart

2009-08-11T20:27:00.000-07:00

LW	C	RW
Patrick Maroon	Luke Pither	Andreas Nodl
Jonathan Kalinski	Dave Labrecque	Stefan Legein
Eric Wellwood	Michael Chaput	David Laliberte
Tye McGinn	Zac Rinaldo	Mike Testwuide
Brendan Ranford	Ben Holmstrom	Andrei Popov
Andrew Rowe		Shane Harper
Ryan Dingle		Michael Parks
Matt Clackson
Garrett Klotz

Kevin Marshall

Marc-Andre Bourdon

Joonas Lehtivuori

Simon Bertilsson

Erik Gustafsson

Denis Bodrov

Oliver Lauridsen

Tyler Hostetter

David Sloane
_______________________
Nick Luukko
_______________________

Ricard Blidstrand

Joacim Eriksson

Sergei Bobrovsky

Nicola Riopel

Adam Morrison

Jacob Deserres

Brian Stewart

Brad Phillips

Flyers Entry Draft Review

2009-08-11T16:34:00.000-07:00

The buzz around the Flyers on draft day was the trade for All Star defenseman Chris Pronger. But the Flyers also had six draft picks to work with.

Adam Morrison
Goaltender (Saskatoon – Western Hockey League)
Third Round – 81st overall

Morrison was taken by the Flyers in the 3rd round with the 81st pick. He played as a backup in Saskatoon last season and only started 14 games. In those 14 games he posted 2.49 goals against average with a .907 save percentage. His overall record as a started was 9-1-1. Comparisons have been made between Morrison and rookie of the year Steve Mason because both were drafted as backup goalies. He may not have the early success of Mason but the Flyers may have found a gem in Morrison.

Simon Bertilsson
Defense (Brynas – Swedish Elite League)
Third Round – 87th overall

Simon Bertillsson was taken with the 87th overall pick. Bertillsson is an extremely gifted puck moving defenseman who also likes to mix it up a bit. Bertillsson can do it all. He has offensive talent but is also solid on defense. He also likes to play a physical game so he should fit right in with the Flyers organization. Bertillsson still needs some time to develop but this kid could be on the Flyers some day.

Nicola Riopel
Goaltender (Moncton – Quebec Major Junior Hockey League)
Fifth Round – 142nd overall

Nicola Riopel was selected with the 142nd overall pick. Riopel is an older prospect for this draft as he was born in 1989 but that shouldn’t affect a goaltender. Riopel had a lot of success for the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL. He started 59 games going 43-11-4 with a .930 save percentage and a 2.05 goals against average. Riopel was selected as the Michel Briere Memorial Trophy winner which is the MVP of the QMJHL. Riopel was signed by the Flyers so expect him to be a backup on the Phantoms or starting in the ECHL.

Dave Labrecque
Center (Shawinigan – Quebec Major Junior Hockey League)
Sixth Round – 153rd overall

Labrecque was selected with the 153rd overall pick. Dave Labrecque is a pure playmaker and will always look for the pass before shooting it himself. In 59 games with Shawinigan, Labrecque put up 13 goals and 48 assists for a total of 61 points. Labrecque is an average skater and can take a bad penalty sometimes but those issues can be worked out and should not get in the way of his playmaking abilities.

Eric Wellwood
Left Wing (Windsor – Ontario Hockey League)
Sixth Round - 172nd overall

Eric Wellwood was selected with the 172nd overall pick. He is the brother of Kyle Wellwood of the Vancouver Canucks. Wellwood played for the Memorial Cup Champions Windsor Spitfires. He had an average season in 2008-2009 with 34 points in 61 games. But he had success in the playoffs with 21 points in 20 games. Wellwood is an exceptionally fast skater who is a make or break type pick. Wellwood could develop and become a gem or could be destined for a career in the AHL.

Oliver Lauridsen
Defense (St. Cloud State - WCHA)
Seventh Round – 196th overall

Oliver Lauridsen was drafted with the 196th overall pick. Oliver Lauridsen is a big guy at around 6-6, 200 pounds and is your typical stay-at-home defenseman. Lauridsen played in 28 games for St. Cloud State in 2008-2009 but only put up 1 point. Lauridsen may not have much offensive potential but he could develop into a solid shut down defenseman. Oliver Lauridsen still has to work on his skating but he could make a splash in the Flyers organization. Lauridsen will be returning to St. Cloud State next season.

Flyers Top 5 Prospects

2009-07-09T00:21:00.000-07:00

1. James van Riemsdyk
James van Riemsdyk was selected 2nd overall in 2007. After being drafted he attended the University of New Hampshire and had a successful college career. After finishing college he represented Team USA in the World Junior Championships. JVR had a poor showing at the WJC and he and team USA finished in 5th place. The only bright spot in the tournament was his OT winner against the Czech Republic. After the WJC, JVR played a few games for the Philadelphia Phantoms. He appeared in seven games with the Phantoms and recorded two points. JVR is a complete player who can do it all. But if he doesn't come close to the success of Pat Kane, the 1st overall pick in 2007, he will be considered a bust to most Flyer fans. He hopes to find a spot on the Flyers roster this season. I expect him to play most of the season with the Phantoms and hopefully get some time with the big club.
2.Kevin Marshall
Marshall was drafted in the second round of the 2007 draft. After being drafted he has played 4 seasons in the QMJHL for both the Lewiston MAINEiacs and the Quebec Remparts . Marshall is a stay at home defenseman who also has some offensive potential. He has showed this by scoring 30+ points in three of his QMJHL seasons. He adds grit and toughness to whatever roster he is on. Marshall will probably play most of next season with the Phantoms but he will be a great asset to the Flyers in the future.
3. Marc-Andre Bourdon
Marc-Andre Bourdon is another great prospect in the Flyers system. He was picked with the 67th pick in 2008. Bourdon is a great all around defenseman who put up spectacular offensive numbers in the Q. The kid can do it all, hit, pass, score, and is solid on D. He put up 60 puts in 54 games last season in the QMJHL. He will most likely be with the Phantoms next season but he and Kevin Marshall are the defensemen of the future for the Flyers.
4. Patrick Maroon
Patrick Maroon was picked in the 6th round of the 2007 Entry Draft. As a sixth round pick, a whole lot wasn't expected of Maroon but this kid is a diamond in the rough. Maroon is a big guy, listed at 6'4 ,225, who hopes to become a power forward in the NHL. But unlike a lot of power forwards, Maroon has great hands. He can score the garbage goals in front of the net but can also create plays. Maroon will play with the Phantoms next year but hopefully he will get a few games with the Flyers.
5. Andreas Nodl
Andreas Nodl was drafted with the 39th pick in the 2006 draft. Nodl is a speedy winger who can score. But last season with both the Flyers and Phantoms he did not put up great numbers. In 38 games with the Flyers, Nodl had only 4 points and in 38 games with the Phantoms he put up 20 points. If Nodl can find his scoring touch he will be a dangerous player for the Flyers in the future. Nodl could make the team as a third line winger but I don't see it happening unless he performs well in camp.
Honorable Mention: Denis Bodrov
Denis Bodrov may be one of the most NHL ready prospect in the organization. Bodrov is a defensive defenseman, he plays an extremely physical game and could be what the Flyers need on their 3rd pairing. But contractual issues with his team in Russia and with the Flyers may be keeping him from coming over. Some reports have said that Bodrov would not come over without recieving a one way contract from the Flyers. If Bodrov comes over to play in Philly he could find a spot as a cheap 6th defenseman. We'll have to wait until training camp to see how this situation with Bodrov pans out.

Flyers Propsects

2009-07-08T18:58:00.000-07:00

This blog will follow the prospects of the Philadelphia Flyers organization. This is my second blog about the Philadelphia Flyers, the first being about the team itself. I hope you enjoy my blog and leave feedback.