If the rumors are true that the Flyers are considering a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets that would send Jeff Carter to Columbus for playmaking-winger Jacob Voracek and the 8th overall pick in this year's draft, this is who the Flyers might target.
First we need the first seven picks out of the way.
1) Edmonton selects Ryan Nuggent-Hopkins
2) Colorado selects Adam Larsson
3) Florida selects Ryan Strome
4) New Jersey selects Gabriel Landeskog
5) NY Islanders select Dougie Hamilton
6) Ottawa selects Jonathan Huberdeau
7) Winnipeg selects Sean Couturier
And with the 8th overall pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft in Minnesota the Philadelphia Flyers... are looking at a few good defenseman who are still one the board.
Ryan Murphy - Kitchener - an offensive defenseman whose game is comparable to Mike Green.
Nathan Beaulieu - Saint John - an offensive defenseman much like Murphy, comparable to Dan Boyle.
Duncan Siemens - Saskatoon - stay at home defenseman who compares to a young Jay Bouwmeester.
After much deliberation the Flyers select 6'3" defenseman Duncan Siemens. Siemens fits well into the group of prospects the Flyers have in their system right now. The Flyers have seen a lot of Siemens as they have sent scouts to see Adam Morrison, their first pick in 2009 who also plays in Saskatoon.
Now the Flyers have three solid two-way defensemen Erik Gustafsson, Joonas Lehtivuori and Kevin Marshall; a promising offensive defenseman in Marc-Andre Bourdon; and now stay-at-home defenseman Duncan Siemens.
Right now the Flyers have 6 defenseman on their roster: Pronger, Timonen, Carle, Coburn, Meszaros and Bartulis. However, go a year into the future and Coburn and Carle are free agents. Another year, Bartulis and Timonen are free agents. Three years from now, Meszaros will be a free agent. Prospects are at a premium for the Flyers in the next few years.
Siemens could play right away, he has a great frame and plays a smart game. He is considered a stay-at-home player but he did rack up 43 in 72 games last year in the WHL. He possesses a great shot and can play all special teams.
The NHL draft is June 24th on VS USA.
Whichever GM passes on Ryan Murphy will regret doing so for the rest of their career, or what little's left of it. Comparing Murphy to Mike Green does not do him justice. Green is a dunderhead, and is a gaffe waiting to happen. Murphy has a MUCH higher hockey IQ than Green. The player who compares most favorably with Murphy is former Norris Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy winner, Hall of Famer Brian Leetch. The Flyers, in their infinite 1970's wisdom, always look at the big, physical player first; that's why it's assumed that they would pick the big, ploddingly-slow Siemens. Murphy has the eye-popping speed and puck skills that come along in a defenseman once every 10-15 years. If the Flyers are fortunate enough to be a position to draft this kid and pass on him, you can be assured that the Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins WILL NOT make the same mistake.
ReplyDeleteMurphy may be the top defensive prospect in this draft or riding a close 2nd to Larsson. In the Flyers "position" they should have a shot at him. I just feel the organization will much rather prefer a larger defenseman given the size of their D-corps already.
ReplyDeleteI would love to see the Flyers get a guy like Murphy though. Just hope Homer is not scared off by his size despite his awesome play at both ends of the ice.
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