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Meltzer's Musings: Worlds Update, Drafting Best Available Player |
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FLYERS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDUP
* Braydon Coburn notched a goal and an assist and Matt Read earned an assist on a Kyle Turris goal in Team Canada's 6-1 romp over Italy yesterday at the 2014 IIHF World Championships in Minsk, Belarus. Flyers defenseman skated 19:01 worth of ice time despite serving three separate tripping penalties. Coburn was plus-one for the day.
* Now-former Flyers defenseman Erik Gustafsson sat out his second straight game in the tournament, officially due to being ill with a fever, as Sweden downed Slovakia, 3-1. Earlier yesterday, Kontinental Hockey League team Avangard Omsk announced they had signed the soon-to-be NHL restricted free agent to a contract for next season. Dennis Rasmussen, a 23-year-old forward in whom the Flyers and several other NHL clubs are said to be interested, skated 9:33 of ice time on the fourth line yesterday. He did not record a shot or point.
* Phantoms defenseman Oliver Lauridsen and Team Denmark are in action today. Looking for their second win of the preliminary round, the underdog Danes are up against former Flyers right Jaromir Jagr and the rest of Team Czech Republic.
* Phantoms forward Marcel Noebels and his Team Germany side are also in action today. The Germans will take on tournament host team Belarus.
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NHL DRAFT 2014: EXPECT FLYERS TO GO BPA ROUTE
The Philadelphia Flyers have long been a team that takes the "draft the best available player regardless of his position" route in the NHL Draft. Last year, in a draft that was heavy on defensemen considered first-round caliber prospects, the Flyers put a little bigger priority on taking a defenseman with the 11th overall pick unless one of the top-rated forwards unexpectedly dropped to them. The team, of course, ended up drafting defenseman Samuel Morin.
This year, it would not be surprising at all if the team uses the 17th overall pick to select a forward. The 2014 NHL Draft, which will be held at the Wells Fargo Center, is generally considered to be a little deeper in forwards than defense prospects. Additionally, the Flyers can certainly use more system depth at every position.
With the exception of 2012 first-round pick Scott Laughton, the Flyers do not have any forwards in the system who are close to being NHL-ready. It is not a guarantee that even Laughton will start next season with the big club.
Taylor Leier has the potential to be a good NHL role player in the not-too-distant future. He will likely need some AHL seasoning first. Nick Cousins had a somewhat disappointing first pro season in the American Hockey League in 2013-14 but is still on the radar screen as a player who could eventually put things together and emerge as an NHLer. Players like Petr Straka are darkhorses, and Marcel Noebels went backward in his second pro campaign. Collegiate prospect Michael Parks is another dark horse.
As the 2014 Draft draws closer, I will profile some potential candidates for the 17th overall pick who fit the mold of player -- big frame but a decent skater - that new general manager Ron Hextall said he will prioritize bringing into the organization.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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