2013 Draft Eligibles: Anthony Mantha, from the Valley of Gold to the City of Brotherly Love?

By Jared Abbott
Posted on 05/20/2013 at 9:00 am

It seems that Sean Couturier has become the popular comparison for NHL draft prospects eyeing a roster spot in their draft year. Tom Zulewski compared Sean Monahan to the Flyers’ forward, and others have raised associations between Couts and Rimouski Oceanic forward Frederik Gauthier. The latest to be linked to the former Drummondville Voltigeurs star is Anthony Mantha. Mantha and Couturier have nearly identical size, immediately drawing a link between the two players. Both also entered the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) as pure scorers, who play to put the puck in the net. Couturier altered his game to …

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2013 NHL Entry Draft: Mock Draft Two

By Jared Abbott
Posted on 05/09/2013 at 8:00 am

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 …

2013 NHL Entry Draft: Mock Draft One

By Tom Zulewski
Posted on 05/08/2013 at 9:00 am

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 …

2013 Draft Eligibles: Buyers beware of the Crosby comparison for Nathan MacKinnon

By Tom Zulewski
Posted on 04/30/2013 at 1:00 pm

The argument over the top prospect in this year’s draft has been going on for over a year now and will continue up until draft day most likely. As hockey fans know it centers on Halifax Mooseheads center Nathan MacKinnon, Portland Winterhawks defenseman Seth Jones and MacKinnon’s teammate in Halifax, Jonathan Drouin. Seth Jones is my number one overall prospect followed by Drouin and then MacKinnon. Some people may call me crazy for having MacKinnon at number three. Everyone knows that he’s a potential franchise player in the NHL with all the tools to succeed at the next level. However, …

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

By Craig F
Posted on 04/29/2013 at 9:00 am

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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Atlantic Watch: Pens at the top of the Eastern Conference, Islanders clinch playoff spot, Rangers hanging on to eighth

By Craig F
Posted on 04/24/2013 at 11:00 am

After learning that they wouldn’t be in the playoffs for the second time in the last 18 seasons, the Flyers pulled off two straight wins. The Orange and Black look to end the campaign on a strong note with one more home game and one more away game. The Flyers were shut out by Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils on Thursday in a 3-0 loss at the Wells Fargo Center. Brodeur stopped 23 shots from the Flyers to end the Devils’ 10-game losing streak, while the trio of Ryan Carter, Matt D’Agostini, and Adam Henrique scored in Jersey’s …

2013 Draft Eligibles: Valentin Zykov, a Russian-born player for the Flyers in Round One?

By Jared Abbott
Posted on 04/23/2013 at 11:00 am

Whenever a 17-year old makes the coveted Team Russia roster for the Subway Super Series, eyebrows raise and brows furrow. “Who is this kid? I thought he had 11 points in 52 games last season and now he is skating on a line with Anton Zlobin (PIT 173rd overall ’12) and Mikhail Grigorenko (BUF 12th overall ’12).” Instead of stumbling playing on a line with such highly touted NHL prospects 2013 draft-eligible forward Valentin Zykov dazzled onlookers, forcing their attention back to the program momentarily to identify the big Russian. In the first game of the series Zykov scored a …

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

By Craig F
Posted on 04/22/2013 at 9:00 am

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 …

Image courtesy of Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images

Atlantic Watch: Flyers Surging, Islanders continue point streak, Rangers hanging on to playoff spot, Devils’ skid reaches 10 games

By Craig F
Posted on 04/17/2013 at 11:00 am

After putting themselves in a very big hole, the Philadelphia Flyers ended this week with two emphatic wins to show that they could be a playoff team. It might be too little too late, but the Orange and Black will carry their two-game winning streak into their upcoming seven-day stretch. Philly started the week with a 3-1 loss at home to the Ottawa Senators. Colin Greening put home the decisive tally with 5:36 remaining, as Robin Lehner made 24 stops in the win. Ilya Bryzgalov made 31 saves in the loss, while Claude Giroux potted the Flyers’ lone goal on …

Straka in his time with Rimouski Oceanic. Image courtesy of mrx.ca.

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

By Craig F
Posted on 04/15/2013 at 9:00 am

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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