Drafting Bolsters Defensive Future

The Flyers have been known to draft well, as evident with their recent 1st round picks: Richards, Carter, Giroux, Downie, van Riemsdyk. All of whom are set to be powerful offensive forces in the NHL. However the Flyers blueline has been subject to debate ever since the days when Hatcher and Gauthier guarded it. So drafting top notch forwards doesn't seem like the obvious thing to do.

Luca Sbisa has great potential and was a steal with the 19th overall pick in 2008, but was sent to Anaheim the next year. The Flyers picked up one of the best defensemen in the game in Chris Pronger. Pronger along with Kimmo Timonen are two of the best blueline patrollers in the league. Matt Carle was a great pick up for as little as Steve Eminger, and is now settling in. Braydon Coburn, picked up in during the trade deadline, for Zhit (Alexei Zhitnik) is now a solid top 4 defenseman.

Beyond that it's a little shaky, Bartulis is signed for the next few years and will look to mature and stay in the NHL all next year. Ryan Parent, a definate star and captain with Guelph, now is struggling to find his Pro sea-legs.

The Flyers have done their best drafting however in the later rounds, picking up a group of solid young and blooming defenseman.

In 2006 the Flyers saw a Russian Defenseman by the name of Denis Boldrov and drafted him in the 2nd round. Kevin Marshall grew Flyers hopes in 2007 when after being drafted 41st overall he said he wants to be the next Chris Chelios. Tough guy Marc Andre Bourdon was selected in with the 68th overall pick in 2008. And in 2009 Simon Bertilsson was the 1st player taken by the Flyers, in the 3rd round.

Russian-born Denis Botrov was subject to controvery after playing 3 seasons in the KHL, but his intentions were always to make it to the NHL. This winter he took a step towards that goal and signed a contract with the Adirondack Phantoms of the AHL. He posted 1 goal and 3 assists but was a minus 11 in 17. Bodrov will continue to perfect his game to North American hockey next season.

Kevin Marshall (pictured aboved) had raised some eyebrows when saying he wanted to be the next Chris Chelios minutes after being drafted. After playing 4 years of hockey in the QMJHL, Marshall played his 1st professional season with the Phantoms this year. Marshall plays a tough style with great defensive awareness. He will continue to season in the AHL, before becoming the next Chris Chelios.


Marc Andre Bourdon, drafted 2 rounds behind Luca Sbisa, may be the reason the Flyers felt Sbisa was expandable. Bourdon was named to the QMJHL First All Star team twice in 08 and 09. In his Junior career he posted 147 points in 186 games, a definate offensive force and projects as an Offensive Defensman. Bourdon will, like Marshall, continue to season in the AHL for the next season or two.

The Flyers first pick in 2009 came on the second day of the draft, but they cashed in selecting Swedish Born Simon Bertilsson. Bertilsson at 6'0" is a very skilled skater but isn't an offensive force. He projects as a Defensive Defenseman that is said to have an excellent Hockey Sense. The Swede is breaking the traditional European trend and plays a physical style and loves boards play. Bertilsson has yet to break into North American Hockey, but at 18 he's showing great progress.

With a great young core of defensemen on their way the Flyers have to be satisfied. However Homer knows the time is now with guys like Pronger and Timonen in their primes. Homer will most likely go after defensman in Free Agency this summer, but has stated that this off season will be crutial for Parent's future. We'll see if another mid round defensive prospect is head the Flyers way this Draft. June 25 - 26 from LA.