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2013 NHL Entry Draft: Mock Draft Two

Breakdown by League: QMJHL – 8 OHL – 8 WHL – 7 USHL – 2 SM-liiga – 2 SEL – 2 KHL – 1   1. COL – Seth Jones, D, Portland Winterhawks (WHL) Jones is one of the most complete and exciting prospects we’ve seen in years. His combination of size, smarts, mobility, and puck-handling skills are unmatched by any player in this draft and previous drafts. He is a generational talent with the ability to anchor the blue line at an All-Star level for a decade. Jones is the closest thing to a sure bet as a prospect …

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2013 NHL Entry Draft: Mock Draft One

With the NHL Draft lottery completed, Jared Abbott and I wanted to put out our first mock drafts of the first round . Here is his mock. Leading up to the draft we’ll be putting out several iterations of a first round mock. As the draft order becomes finalized and teams’ rosters begin to take shape it will surely effect the projected picks. Of course, there is always the possibility of trades as well, which could dramatically alter the mock.   1. Colorado- Seth Jones (D) Portland Winterhawks (WHL) What else is there to say? Jones is the best overall prospect in …

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2013 Draft Eligibles: Is it Philly or Bust for Valeri Nichushkin?

Ever since Evgeni Malkin entered the league the bar for Russian prospects has been set. His combination of size, speed and stickhandling is something the NHL hasn’t seen, and will not see again. There is only one Evgeni Malkin. Scouts love to make lofty comparisons and envision improbable similarities with young talent. The top Russian talent in the upcoming 2013 NHL Draft is Valeri Nichushkin. The 6’3” 201-pound right-winger is the number two-rated international skater in the final Central Scouting rankings. Nichushkin burst onto the International scene during last year’s WJC in Ufa, Russia. With Team Russia in danger of …

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Future Flyers Report: Konan/Akeson finish season with Flyers, three prospects in 2013 IIHF World Championship, Titans finished, Canadian junior updates

Another pair of Philadelphia Flyers’ prospects made their NHL debut this week, as both Matthew Konan and Jason Akeson appeared in contests for the Orange and Black. Konan made his debut in the Flyers’ 2-1 win on Thursday against the New York Islanders at the Wells Fargo Center. He had two hits and a blocked shot in 13:09 of ice time. In Saturday’s 2-1 win over the Ottawa Senators, both Konan and Akeson suited up for the Flyers. Konan had four shots on net, three hits, and one blocked shot in 18:42 TOI during his first NHL appearance. As for …

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Future Flyers Report: Brandon Manning joins the Flyers, Leier’s Winterhawks nearly in WHL Finals, Straka and Baie-Comeau almost in QMJHL Finals

After Kent Huskins suffered a concussion from Ryan White’s illegal hit in the Philadelphia Flyers’ 7-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Monday, yet another unexpected defenseman made an appearance on the Flyers’ blue line. This time it was Brandon Manning. Manning played in a few games for the Orange and Black last season, as he posted a plus-1 rating in four contests for Philly. He didn’t record a point with the Flyers last season, but the former Chilliwack Bruin played well in his first stretch at the NHL level. A day after Huskins’ injury, Manning appeared in his first …

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Future Flyers Report: Straka signs an entry-level deal, Gostisbehere named an All-American, Wellwood suffers major injury, OHL/WHL playoff updates

The Philadelphia Flyers’ organization signed forward Petr Straka this week. The 6’0″ 194-pound skater is currently helping Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the QMJHL in their postseason run, as the club is set to take on Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in the semifinals. Picked 55th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2010 NHL Draft, Straka had 41 goals and 41 assists in 55 games for Baie-Comeau during the regular season. He also eight goals and 10 helpers in Drakkar’s eight postseason games so far this postseason, which is good enough for third overall in the QMJHL playoffs. In the NCAA, Shayne Gostisbehere …

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Future Flyers Report: Alt signs entry-level deal, Cousins and Alderson debut with Phantoms, Oshawa on the brink of elimination, Zolnierczyk traded

Mark Alt joined the Philadelphia Flyers’ organization just before the beginning of this shortened NHL season began back in the middle of January. In a deal that also brought Brian Boucher back to Philly, the Orange and Black also acquired Alt from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for forward Luke Pither.Alt spent this season with the University of Minnesota, a squad that was upset by the Yale Bulldogs in the opening round of the NCAA tournament. Over his three years with the Golden Gophers, Alt totaled seven goals, 32 assists, and 85 PIMs with a plus-39 rating in 117 games. The …

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Future Flyers Report: Lauridsen in the NHL, Yale ruins Frozen Four dreams, OHL/WHL playoff updates

Oliver Lauridsen experienced a sample size of professional hockey with the Adirondack Phantoms in the 2010-2011 season before spending the entire 2011-2012 campaign with the club. Due to several of the Philadelphia Flyers’ defensemen being out of action because of injuries, Lauridsen got his first taste of the NHL this weekend. At 6″6′, 229 pounds, Lauridsen is a gigantic blue liner that uses his size to his advantage by being a physical, stay-at-home defender. From 2008-2009 to 2010-2011, the defenseman spent most of his time with St. Cloud State University where he had seven goals and 15 assists along with …

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Atlantic Watch: Flyers keep slipping, Penguins keep winning, Rangers and Devils hanging on to playoff spots, Islanders within reach of postseason

The Philadelphia Flyers were the only team in the Atlantic Division not to win a game this week, as they went 0-1-1 against the Pens and Rangers. Things don’t get any easier for the Flyers over the next week, as they take on a division leader and two teams fighting to make the postseason. After a six-day break, the Flyers dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the CONSOL Energy Center on Sunday. Tyler Kennedy, who missed the Pens’ game against the New York Islanders due to being sick, ripped one over Ilya Bryzgalov’s right shoulder with 2:27 left …

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Future Flyers Report: Kyle Flanagan earns tryout, Shane Harper has big weekend, prospects in NCAA tournament, updates on OHL/WHL playoffs

Earlier this week the Philadelphia Flyers’ organization signed Kyle Flanagan, a forward that recently completed his senior year at St. Lawrence University, to a one-year entry-level contract. The 24-year-old, who finished second on St. Lawrence’s squad with 47 points in 35 games and was named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, will join the Adirondack Phantoms on an amateur tryout contract for the remainder of the 2012-2013 regular season. In his first two games with Adirondack Flanagan had two helpers. In the ECHL, forward Shane Harper had a weekend to remember, as he helped the Trenton Titans go 3-0-0 while …

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