At various junctures of the 2011-12 season, 11 different rookies suited up for the Flyers. Seven started during the playoffs, including checking forward Eric Wellwood, who dressed for all 11 postseason games the club played after being recalled from Adirondack in the second half of the season.
Heading into next season, it appears that Wellwood has the inside track to a starting spot and the job is his to lose. He has clearly jumped ahead of Harry Zolnierczyk (who had passed Wellwood on the depth chart in training camp and the first half of last season) in the team's plans. Wellwood is the superior defensive player and, while Zolnierczyk is a plus skater in his own right, no one in the organization can match Wellwood when it comes to sheer speed.
The two things that have held Wellwood back to some degree are his lack of size and finishing ability. Although he gets his share of scoring chances relative to his ice time, Wellwood has some problems turning them into goals. He did punch home a respectable five goals and nine points in his 24 regular season games but finished without a point in the playoffs despite a couple of breakaways and several other wide open scoring opportunities.
While Zolnierczyk is also undersized, he is more aggressive and physical than Wellwood. On the flip side, Zolnierczyk has been a bit of a defensive liability at times, while Wellwood showed himself to be reliable defensively at 5-on-5 and also an asset to the penalty kill.
Truth be told, I think Zolnierczyk got exposed a bit over the course of the NHL season and he looked like a player who did not belong at the top level (at least not yet). Wellwood seemed to belong in the NHL but, as with any young player in his role, his hold on a roster spot can become tenuous.
It will be interesting to see what happens if the Flyers add a veteran 9th-to-12th forward to the lineup this offseason. If the club adds someone like Travis Moen or Adam Burish to the mix, Wellwood would move down a spot on the depth chart once again.
I'd be interested to hear the readers' views on whether they'd prefer to see Wellwood or Zolnierczyk in the lineup next season or, alternatively, see the club sign a veteran free agent role player who is a little bigger physically than either of the two young players.
**************
Five years ago today, the Flyers traded back to Nashville the first-round pick Philadelphia acquired in the Peter Forsberg trade several months earlier. In exchange, the Flyers received the rights to impending unrestricted free agents Kimmo Timonen and Scott Hartnell.
Simultaneous to the announcement of the trade, the Flyers officially announced that they had signed Timonen and Hartnell to six-year contracts. Next season, the players enter the final year of their respective contracts.
Nashville used their re-acquired first-round pick to select Jonathon Blum with the 23rd overall pick of the 2007 Entry Draft. Blum has primarily played in the AHL thus far in his career. He has suited up in 55 NHL games over parts of the last two seasons.
**************
KINDLE USERS: Please sign up for Flyers Buzz. For more information click here.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
Join the Discussion:
»