He will be the first African American player to be drafted number one. That's a pretty exciting event for the NHL.
- mayorofangrytown

So is it a good thing that never even occured to me and I could care less what race he comes from?

In terms of sheer offensive upside, I'd put Pulock ahead of Nurse and way ahead of Ristolainen (who is more puck-mover than a potential 35+ point offensive producer despite what you see in the highlights package).
- bmeltzer

I only know what I've heard but the interview yesterday spent a decent amount of time on Jones and Nurse. Specifically Nurse because of the the jump he made in the rankings. Explaining his move up he said that every time they saw him in the second half of the season he showed them a different dimension to his game and an improvement in each facet. They feel his growth potential is as significant as Jones'.

I havent seen either play (other than youtube ) , but why do scouts rank nurse highr than pullock and risto(some sweet hands)?
- Philly1980

6'5, better skater, better puck-rusher, mean, bigger upside.

Risto is a "safer" pick, although he's far from polished in his own zone -- he's a lot like Nurse, but with more of a track record and a lower ceiling.

Pullock's not exactly a physical menace to play against, although he's supposedly pretty good in his own zone.

I only know what I've heard but the interview yesterday spent a decent amount of time on Jones and Nurse. Specifically Nurse because of the the jump he made in the rankings. Explaining his move up he said that every time they saw him in the second half of the season he showed them a different dimension to his game and an improvement in each facet. They feel his growth potential is as significant as Jones'.
- mayorofangrytown

if risto and nurse are avalable when its your turn you pick them up...they are big and can skate...can move the puck too

isnt he committed to a two year khl contract?
- Philly1980

Yes, but he is otherwise a top 4 pick in any draft. If he falls in the draft it could be a steal in the long term.

The reason I disagree with this is because you can trade. As long as trading is allowed you can always address an organizational weakness. So we pick a center who is projected to be amazing, we see how he does in the AHL and if he's on target to be awesome we trade one of our top 6 for some D.
It's not ideal but it does ensure that those most likely to be superstars don't get passed up...
- FlyersGrace

Understood. It just seems to me that teams who trade forwards for top defenseman always pay a little more, especially if there is any sort of bidding war. The value of good D is just higher due to scarcity.

I don't think anybody would argue it's better to build a team through the draft rather than through trades, but I also understand assessing the talent of teenagers, some of whom have never set foot on North American soil, is an inexact science that gets more difficult as you move from forward to defenseman to goalie prospects.

There's little doubt that whoever we pick June 30, 2013, I'll be happy and excited (and sick of the heat), and wishing October would hurry up and get here.

Understood. It just seems to me that teams who trade forwards for top defenseman always pay a little more, especially if there is any sort of bidding war. The value of good D is just higher due to scarcity.

I don't think anybody would argue it's better to build a team through the draft rather than through trades, but I also understand assessing the talent of teenagers, some of whom have never set foot on North American soil, is an inexact science that gets more difficult as you move from forward to defenseman to goalie prospects.

There's little doubt that whoever we pick June 30, 2013, I'll be happy and excited (and sick of the heat), and wishing October would hurry up and get here.
- wolfhounds

Thanks for staying so level headed Wolfie! I know most of the board disagreed with you, but you never got snarky and I appreciate that even though my post was VERY late. Dang work!

Team Bryz needs to hire a PR guy. Bill isn't sugarcoating things today. Bryz is not "misunderstood". He's an intelligent guy who has been in north america for 10+ years. He knows what he's doing when he talks to the press or when he does things during games that cause controversy.
- Flyers_01

Couldn't have said this better. I like Bryz a lot, and want to keep him. I do not think Bryz is as aloof as the media paints him, AT ALL...

Bryz is probably one of the smartest players in the league. He's witted, well-read, has a degree from a Russian Univeristy (obtaine while playing in the NHL in the summers), and is clearly interested in bigger things than sports and trival crap.

I personally think that he isn't liked by many teammates because he's literally eons beyond them mentally and intellectually. Typically, people at different spectrums of intelligence do not get along unless brought together by some common denominator, in this case hockey.

I suspect that's why players, like Derek Morris and such, has so many issues with him... They're all literal meat-heads who'd be flipping burgers if it wasn't for their careers.

Yes, but he is otherwise a top 4 pick in any draft. If he falls in the draft it could be a steal in the long term.
- hereticpride

question is if your sitting @ number 5 and who do you pick? somehow i have the feeling flyers will be picking 5-8

So is it a good thing that never even occured to me and I could care less what race he comes from?
- FlyersGrace

Yes, it's a good thing for you and I didn't consider it until it was brought up on NHL tonight. I think it's great for the sport that young black players can look and see that they can be the best in their draft year. It's always great for the sport when a segment of the population that is disenfranchised from the sport can see a crack in the door.

My friends son is 5 and he really doesn't pay attention to hockey but since his son likes up to my kid and my kid plays hockey, the 5 yr old noticed there was a black player on the Flyers and now he wants to watch. It's a really cool thing when kids can find a way in and Seth Jones will do that.

Couldn't have said this better. I like Bryz a lot, and want to keep him. I do not think Bryz is as aloof as the media paints him, AT ALL...

Bryz is probably one of the smartest players in the league. He's witted, well-read, has a degree from a Russian Univeristy (obtaine while playing in the NHL in the summers), and is clearly interested in bigger things than sports and trival crap.

I personally think that he isn't liked by many teammates because he's literally eons beyond them mentally and intellectually. Typically, people at different spectrums of intelligence do not get along unless brought together by some common denominator, in this case hockey.

I suspect that's why players, like Derek Morris and such, has so many issues with him... They're all literal meat-heads who'd be flipping burgers if it wasn't for their careers.
- Flyers_V88

well said

If the Russian kid Nish. (Name is totally escaping me) falls past 6 do you take him over a D man? KHL issues aside I've seen a lot of Malkin comparisons. I think a few have mentioned Rick Nash too.
- hereticpride

Valeri Nichushkin. Yes, and I would have no problem waiting a couple years for him to be ready and able to come over to North America. Have heard from a scout I trust that he would be the first pick of many draft years even with the "KHL factor" considered. Others cite some consistency issues ("has a couple great shifts per game but can also disappear for the rest of the game") as to what they have him a little lower; sometimes as low as about number 10. What no one disputes is that he can dominate at times, even as a recently-turned 18 y/o in the KHL.

question is if your sitting @ number 5 and who do you pick? somehow i have the feeling flyers will be picking 5-8
- Philly1980

Agreed. Assuming Nurse is gone at 4 it leaves a lot of interesting options.

Flyers are young enough to let him play out the two years and not have it hurt us all that much. Players have alsp gotten out of these contracts before as well so who knows...

Agreed. Assuming Nurse is gone at 4 it leaves a lot of interesting options.

Flyers are young enough to let him play out the two years and not have it hurt us all that much. Players have alsp gotten out of these contracts before as well so who knows...
- hereticpride

i think the flyers are impatient...if they get a forward they probably want him now more than later...someone will get traded for d help this year.

i think the flyers are impatient...if they get a forward they probably want him now more than later...someone will get traded for d help this year.
- Philly1980

Yeah I see that as a likely possibility. They might stash a D draftee in the AHL for a couple of years or so to see how he progresses with some minor call ups, but a forward? They wouldn't keep him out of the dance long cuz we have to move some young blood for D help...

Understood. It just seems to me that teams who trade forwards for top defenseman always pay a little more, especially if there is any sort of bidding war. The value of good D is just higher due to scarcity.
- wolfhounds

That's why I'd rather they draft a defensemen. If they draft a forward, they then have to trade him or Laughton or Couturier for a defensemen and probably overpay. And I will be gutted if they trade a 20 year old Couturier without even giving him the chance to play a full season on the second or third line with quality wingers.

That's why I'd rather they draft a defensemen. If they draft a forward, they then have to trade him or Laughton or Couturier for a defensemen and probably overpay. And I will be gutted if they trade a 20 year old Couturier without even giving him the chance to play a full season on the second or third line with quality wingers.
- Feanor

I see Read, Simmonds, Laughton, Cousins, or Brayden going before Coots... Unless it's an amazing D coming back...

Couldn't have said this better. I like Bryz a lot, and want to keep him. I do not think Bryz is as aloof as the media paints him, AT ALL...

Bryz is probably one of the smartest players in the league. He's witted, well-read, has a degree from a Russian Univeristy (obtaine while playing in the NHL in the summers), and is clearly interested in bigger things than sports and trival crap.

I personally think that he isn't liked by many teammates because he's literally eons beyond them mentally and intellectually. Typically, people at different spectrums of intelligence do not get along unless brought together by some common denominator, in this case hockey.

I suspect that's why players, like Derek Morris and such, has so many issues with him... They're all literal meat-heads who'd be flipping burgers if it wasn't for their careers.
- Flyers_V88

There are plenty of bright players in the NHL who are well-liked, including Russians. For instance, former NHL defenseman Alexander Khavanov -- one of the very few players who went to college in Russia while simultaneously launching a pro career -- was very well-liked and well-respected among his teammates, even with the cultural differences.

Plain and simple, Bryzgalov is not well-liked by teammates because it's their belief that he's thrown teammates under the bus on more than one occasion. He doesn't have to be a social butterfly, and goalies in general are often viewed as oddballs for various reasons.

When teams win, the disparate personalities co-exist. When they lose, the personality clashes that exist in every locker room become more significant and the finger-pointing starts.

Again, I personally don't believe that Bryzgalov is a bad guy or acts out of malice. But some of it is his own doing. He wasn't well-liked in Anaheim, Phoenix, Philly, CSKA or among Team Russia leadership during the NHL lockout; so some that has to be of his own doing beyond his play on the ice.

I will say, though, that Vladislav Tretiak backed Bryzgalov to the hilt when he was getting pilloried in the Russian media during the NHL lockout.

I forgot about Read, but I really doubt they trade Schenn, and Cousins wouldn't return much on his own.

Thanks for staying so level headed Wolfie! I know most of the board disagreed with you, but you never got snarky and I appreciate that even though my post was VERY late. Dang work!
- FlyersGrace

Wait, most of the board disagreed with me? Those bastards!

Yeah, I've cut down on my snark. My Dr. said it was making me unpleasant to be around. I asked if he was sure it was the snark. He said let's start there and see where it takes us.

But this is one of those rare debates where there's no heat to it because it's abstract and so completely out of the fan's hands, and because, in my opinion, there's no wrong answer. No matter what, the Flyers should come out of this year's draft with a very good prospect.

That's why I'd rather they draft a defensemen. If they draft a forward, they then have to trade him or Laughton or Couturier for a defensemen and probably overpay. And I will be gutted if they trade a 20 year old Couturier without even giving him the chance to play a full season on the second or third line with quality wingers.
- Feanor

Any dman you'd draft outside of Jones would be at least 1-3 seasons away from the show, and 2-6 years away from really filling the Pronger void (assuming they are even able to).

Whether they take a forward or defense with their pick, Homer's still going to have to do what he's got to do for short-term help at the position. And... I honestly don't think he's willing to trade either one of Couturier or Schenn.

When teams win, the disparate personalities co-exist. When they lose, the personality clashes that exist in every locker room become more significant and the finger-pointing starts.
- bmeltzer

To back your point: I'm pretty sure I remember reading that Tom Barrasso was universally disliked on every team he played on.

Winning is the best locker room deodorant.

There are plenty of bright players in the NHL who are well-liked, including Russians. For instance, former NHL defenseman Alexander Khavanov -- one of the very few players who went to college in Russia while simultaneously launching a pro career -- was very well-liked and well-respected among his teammates, even with the cultural differences.

Plain and simple, Bryzgalov is not well-liked by teammates because it's their belief that he's thrown teammates under the bus on more than one occasion. He doesn't have to be a social butterfly, and goalies in general are often viewed as oddballs for various reasons.

When teams win, the disparate personalities co-exist. When they lose, the personality clashes that exist in every locker room become more significant and the finger-pointing starts.

Again, I personally don't believe that Bryzgalov is a bad guy or acts out of malice. But some of it is his own doing. He wasn't well-liked in Anaheim, Phoenix, Philly, CSKA or among Team Russia leadership during the NHL lockout; so some that has to be of his own doing beyond his play on the ice.

I will say, though, that Vladislav Tretiak backed Bryzgalov to the hilt when he was getting pilloried in the Russian media during the NHL lockout.
- bmeltzer

He comes across as being very self-absorbed and petulant.

He comes across as being very self-absorbed and petulant.
- Tomahawk

Bill does NOT!

Any dman you'd draft outside of Jones would be at least 1-3 seasons away from the show, and 2-6 years away from really filling the Pronger void (assuming they are even able to).

Whether they take a forward or defense with their pick, Homer's still going to have to do what he's got to do for short-term help at the position. And... I honestly don't think he's willing to trade either one of Couturier or Schenn.
- Tomahawk

And this is why I have this little niggling doubt about our pick. I could see Homer trading it for short term D help and that scares me. Really, really scares me...