There are two Flyers-related games on the schedule today; one in Europe and one prospect.
* Allsvenskan:
Matt Read and Södertälje SK are in central Sweden to take on Anze Kopitar and Mora IK. Game time is 1:00 PM EST. Live in-game updates will be
available here. The team's game on Thursday against Oskarshamn will be televised on the Viasat channel and online at Viasat Play.
* WHL:
Taylor Leier and the Portland Winterhawks host the Everett Silvertips. Game time is 10 PM EST. You can listen to the free Portland radio broadcast online
here or
purchase a webcast for $6.95.
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Class of 2012 Updates
The last Flyers draft crop to produce more than one NHL player to date was the group of players selected in 2008: Luca Sbisa (now with Anaheim),
Marc-Andre Bourdon and
Zac Rinaldo. Assuming
Nick Cousins remains on-track in his development (including the resolution of his still-pending legal issues), the 2011 group led by
Sean Couturier could also produce more than one NHL player. Trenton Titans rookie forward
Marcel Noebels is another candidate from the 2011 class with a chance of eventually playing in the NHL.
It is still too early to tell how many members of the Flyers draft class of 2012 will go on to play in the AHL much less the NHL. However, it is fair to say that the group as a whole has done reasonably well this season. Odds are that there won't be a future NHL All-Star caliber player in the group, but already there are three players who appear to be on a path to at least reach the pro ranks and possibly the NHL.
Scott Laughton (Center, Oshawa Generals (OHL), 1/20): The projections on the upside Flyers' first round pick remain the same: a future NHL checking line center with grit and occasional offensive pop. He centers the Generals' second line and plays in all game situations.
While Laughton's offensive game has progressed slightly from last season (7 goals and 19 points in 20 games), he likely does not project as a top-six offensive player at the NHL level. Some folks in Philly compared him to former Flyers captain Mike Richards at the same age, but I suspect that is wishful thinking from an offensive standpoint. Richards was a vastly superior offensive player in the OHL; more projectable as a pro both as a playmaker and finisher. Laughton lacks nothing for grit or two-way tenacity, but I just don't see him becoming an offensive top-six in the NHL.
Earlier this season, Laughton served a 10-game suspension for check to the head of Ottawa 67s forward Daniel Walsh. I don't consider Laughton, who has 32 penalty minutes on the season, to be a dirty player. He's an aggressive and agitating one but not a head hunter -- but that particular play was exactly the sort of play the OHL and other leagues are trying to take out of the game. It was far from the most vicious hit I've ever seen, but the head was the direct point of contact.
While Laughton was out of the lineup, the Generals sorely missed his grit. The club, which is in first place in the East Division, struggled for wins during his absence. He does a lot of the little things well, and never gives up on a play. When he was at the Flyers' prospect camp in July, it was clear that he still needed to add quite a bit of muscle to his lean 6-foot-1 frame, but he doesn't play frail.
During his OHL suspension, Laughton participated in the first of the two Ontario games of the 2012 Super Series against the Russian national Under-20 team. He played a solid game.
Laughton, who will turn 19 next May, never had more than an outside shot at being invited to Team Canada's World Junior Championship tryouts this month. The 10 lost games during the OHL season pretty much sealed the deal that he wouldn't get an invite this year amidst the crowded and intensely competitive pool of candidates. But Laughton has one more year of WJC eligibility after this year. I suspect he'll make it next year -- in a 4th line role -- if he's still playing in the OHL come December 2013.
Anthony Stolarz (Goaltender, University of Nebraska- Omaha (NCAA), 2/45): The bright and personable New Jersey native is a long-term developmental project for the Flyers. Goaltenders usually take more time to develop into pro-caliber players than position players. Philadelphia selected the 6-foot-5 Stolarz with full knowledge that, if he has an NHL future, it could take as much as six years for him to emerge as a candidate.
Stolarz, a freshman at UN-O, is being brought along slowly this season. To date, he has primarily served as the backup to senior goaltender John Faulkner. Stolarz has made four starts while Faulkner has made 10 starts plus one relief appearance in a game where Stolarz was removed after the second period. The two goalies split the first six games of the regular season but Faulkner has started all but one game since then.
In his last outing, Stolarz recorded a 20-save shutout. Although the opponent was lowly Alabama-Huntsville, it was still a nice way for Stolarz to earn his first collegiate win. In two of his three previous outings, the freshman netminder seemed to struggled a bit at times with nerves (especially in his nationally televised college hockey debut) and positioning. Overall, Stolarz is 1-3-0 with a 2.20 GAA and .902 save percentage.
During the Flyers' prospect camp in July, two things were obvious about Stolarz in the practices and two scrimmages. First, he is a good natural athlete beyond simply being a kid with a big frame. Stolarz looks like he could be good at any sport he plays. Second, he is still very raw as a goaltender.
He still has to work on puck tracking and generally keeping up with the rapid pace at which plays develop (which will only get faster as he moves up the hockey ladder). Stolarz does not always leave himself in good position to make second-opportunity saves. There is room to improve his rebound control as well. He has potential to develop into an above-average puckhandling goaltender.
All of those issues are normal for a teenaged goaltender. The three most advanced goalie prospects (Malcolm Subban, Andrei Vasilevski and Oscar Dansk) were off the board by the time the Flyers' second-round pick came up. That does not mean that Stolarz or another goalie such as Joonas Korpisalo could not end up someday being equal or superior to the three guys who got most of the pre-draft hype. It just means Stolarz has a bit further to go at age 18 to project as an NHL goaltender.
Stolarz earned an invitation to the Team USA summer camp and annual tourney in Lake Placid, conducted shortly after the Flyers' prospect camp. He was not invited to the December pre-World Junior Championship camp. That was not unexpected.
As the remainder of his first collegiate season progresses, increased playing team is the biggest goal for Stolarz. Working in his game against live competition as well as practice is more important than how his stats look. Stolarz is being groomed be the starter after Faulkner graduates. He is ahead of Dayn Belfour, who has not appeared in a game this season. As such, Stolarz will need more game action; preferably with at least a couple games against stronger opponents than Alabama-Huntsville.
Shayne Gostisbehere (Defense, Union College (NCAA), 3/78): "Ghost" has the makings of a high-value draft pick. He impressed at the Flyers' prospect camp, performed very well for Team USA at the summer tourney in Lake Placid and has furthered his development as a sophomore in the collegiate ranks.
It is fair to say that Gostisbehere has become one of the top offense defensemen not only in the ECAC but in any of the NCAA conferences. In 13 regular season games to date this season, he has five goals and 13 points.
Typically paired with Greg Coburn (the younger brother of Flyers defenseman Braydon and an attendee of the Flyers' 2012 summer prospect camp), Gostisbehere receives heavy ice time in all game situations. While both defensemen have two-way ability, Gostibehere is the better puck-mover, passer and shooter of the two and Coburn generally plays a little more conservatively. Coburn has 4 goals and 11 points this season; in part because opponents have to be hyper-aware of Gostisbehere's ability to create offense on his side of the ice. Coburn's production has kept opposing teams honest.
Defensively, Gostisbehere is not a liability at the collegiate level. He has a quick stick, is smart positionally and usually makes good reads on cross-overs. He triggers the breakout quickly and confidently, but sometimes gets away with passes that would be intercepted by pro-level forecheckers. Additional refinement will come in time.
The biggest concern with "Ghost" is his lack of size. Although listed at 5-11, he appears closer to Kimmo Timonen's height. A bigger issue: He has a small frame. Timonen packs 195 well-muscled pounds on his (listed) 5-foot-10 body, and still is considered undersized. Gostibehere, listed at 167 pounds by USA Hockey, is unlikely to play at more than about 185 pounds as a pro.
Gostibehere plays a courageous game. He willingly puts his body in harm's way, and he absorbs more than his fair share of punishment. At prospect camp this summer, he was knocked out of the first scrimmage game after a heavy hit by Laughton and kept out of the second scrimmage as a precaution. During Union's season to date, he's gone off limping in at least two matches but has not missed any games.
The Margate, FL native is a close to a shoo-in for the Team USA roster at the 2012 World Junior Championships. He could even earn a second-pairing role but it at minimum likely to be in the starting six.
It will be interesting to see when the Flyers sign Gostisbehere to an entry-level contract and he turns pro. It could be as soon as the end of the 2012-13 collegiate season, giving him a cup of coffee with the Phantoms at the tail end of the regular season and the Calder Cup Playoffs (if the team reaches the postseason). Alternatively, he could return for his junior season.
Fredric Larsson (Defense, Brynäs Gävle J20 (SuperElit North), 4/111): For the sake of both the Flyers and Larsson himself, I hope the next Collective Bargaining Agreement (whenever a new one is finally agreed upon to end the NHL lockout) lengthens the signing window for players drafted from Europe. As things stand now, the Flyers will have to make a decision by June 2014 on whether to sign Larsson or relinquish his rights.
I don't think that will be a sufficient evaluation period. A four-year time frame seems more realistic in his case to determine if there's NHL potential.
Larsson, like many big-framed defensive defensemen, is going to take a little longer to develop sufficiently to compete against higher-grade opposition. He turns 19 next July and will have one more season of J20 SuperElit eligibility remaining. I don't think he'll be quite ready next year to join the Brynäs senior team in Elitserien. Even if he is, he'll get very little ice time.
Larsson's bread and butter is his physical game. He loves hit. He is a willing shot blocker. As he continues to fill out his 6-foot-3 frame, he has the best-case scenario potential to develop along similar lines to Nicklas Grossmann; perhaps a little better skater than Grossmann, but not as much bullish physical strength. Grossmann is also a good positional defenseman. Knowing when to go for the hit and when to hold his body positioning is a still-emerging area of Larsson's game even at the Swedish junior level.
There is still some room for improvement in triggering the breakout. Larsson makes a good first pass but can improve his pacing as he moves to higher levels.
Brynäs has experimented with Larsson as a forward on the power play this season. He stations himself in front of the net and looks for rebounds, deflections and one-timers. Larsson has had a bit of success in that added role. All three of Larsson's goals this season have been scored in those situations. When playing at the point, he has a heavy slap shot but it takes awhile for him to wind up and fire.
Overall, Larsson has seven points and a plus three (+23, -20) rating in 22 games played to date this season. He also has 47 penalty minutes. He missed two games with an upper-body injury but is fine now. At the Flyers prospect camp this summer, Larsson sustained a concussion when he got steamrolled in the defensive corner. He started the Swedish season on time.
Taylor Leier (Left Wing, Portland Winterhawks (WHL), 4/117): Leier is emerging as a bit of a sleeper prospect to eventually play at the professional level. I'd compare him to Eric Wellwood, who is a little faster (although Leier is a fine skater in his own right) but a bit less naturally aggressive.
Leier is a solid two-way player at the WHL level. He played solely on a checking line last year but is seeing more scoring-line time and some secondary power play time this season in addition to his defensive duties at even strength and the penalty kill. He recently had a five-game point streak. Overall, Leier has 9 goals and 19 points in 21 games. He has 18 penalty minutes and is plus-17 (as a team, the Hawks have a 125-56 goal differential).
Portland is a power-packed team with an array of offensive weapons. As such, Leier's main value is his ability on the forecheck and backcheck. He is ninth on the team in scoring. If and when he reaches the pro level, he is likely to play a role similar to his current one.
Leier is a bit undersized (listed at 5-foot-11, 178 pounds). He'll fill out some more but will never be the type of player who muscles opposing players off the puck. Even so, he's a tenacious forechecker with good speed and a hunger for the puck. He'll make second and third efforts. Whether that can someday translate to effective play along the walls at the pro game remains to be seen. But he ventures into those areas with gusto, and that works in his favor at least at the WHL level.
Leier participated in the Flyers' summer prospect camp. In late August, he suffered an abdominal muscle tear that rendered him unable to participate in the WHL preseason and forced him to miss the start of the regular season.
It took Leier a few games to get back up to speed, but he asserted himself by then end of a lengthy eastern road trip. Ever since then, he's played with a lot of confidence.
Reece Willcox (Defense, Cornell University (NCAA), 5/141): After playing BCHL hockey for the Merritt Centennials, the righthanded-shooting Willcox joined Cornell this season. For a true freshman defenseman, the 18-year-old has not looked at all out of place in the college game.
Willcox has good mobility and also generally makes a crisp first-pass. He's had a few turnovers and unforced icings but those happen to all defensemen. Despite decent size, he is not a very physical defenseman, so he relies on his positioning and skating. Even as he fills out his 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame, Willcox is not to magically morph into a big hitter. But he blocks his fair share of opposing shots, has a quick stick in the passing and shooting lanes and, for an 18-year-old defenseman, above-average poise under forechecking pressure.
The offensive area of Willcox's game is still a work in progress. He likes to pinch on the play when the opportunity presents itself and he received power play time in Cornell's nationally televised loss against Harvard. He can still stand to be more aggressive. At the Flyers' summer prospect camp scrimmages, he showed a little reluctance to shoot the puck but his shot looked decent (albeit nothing overwhelming) during the instructional days earlier in camp.
One of the main benefits of drafting collegiate and college-bound players in the NHL Draft is the ability to evaluate them for the duration of their NCAA eligibility while retaining their rights. Willcox, who was originally on a WHL track before turning his focus to U.S. colleges, is the type of player who might not have been ready for a contract in the two-year window for CHL-affiliated players but could be a pro candidate given up to four seasons of college experience.
Valeri Vasiliev (Defense, JHC Spartak Moscow (MHL), 7/201): Vasiliev is the lone member of the Flyers' 2012 draft class whom I have yet to see play. Thanks to the widespread availability of webcasted games nowadays, it's become much easier to see games from around the world. Although there are a few MHL matches that make their way onto the Web, I have yet to come across any of Vasiliev's games. He also did not attend the Flyers' summer prospect camp. Therefore, any impressions I have are second-hand.
Vasiliev was not expected to slip near the bottom of the 2012 Draft. He was initially pegged as a second- or third-round prospect. A shoulder injury last season along with the typical questions about the signability of Russian prospects caused him to still be available when the Flyers' turn came up in the seventh round.
The defenseman fits a similar physical and stylistic profile to former second-round pick Denis Bodrov. Both have decent size and are stay-at-home defensemen known for playing a physical brand of hockey with good mobility. Bodrov has never panned out as an NHL prospect and has become an average KHL starting defenseman. That, of course, has no bearing on whether Vasiliev will prove to be a superior, comparable or inferior pro-level player.
For a time late this summer and early fall, there was an "outside chance" that Vasiliev would leave Russia to join the USHL's Waterloo Black Hawks. He was even listed as a transfer on the USHL's official site and, for a period of about a week to 10 days, did not play a game for Spartak. However, he soon returned to the lineup. In the interim, Waterloo officials soon said that Vasiliev was not coming and the absence from the Spartak lineup had nothing to do with arranging an overseas transfer.
Prior to the short-lived intrigue with Waterloo, Vasiliev missed two games with a suspected concussion. He returned to the lineup for three games and then did not play while the reports surfaced of him going to the USHL. Perhaps he had a recurrence of concussion-like symptoms or it may have been a different, undisclosed injury.
At any rate, Vasiliev has played 27 regular season games to date for Spartak in the MHL season. He has one goal, three assists, 51 penalty minutes (25 of them from a fight and automatic game misconduct) and a plus-four rating while skating on the team's second defensive pair.
Vasiliev has reportedly practiced with Spartak's KHL squad at times this season, but has not appeared in any games for the big club.
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