They have his probability at D right now, probably due to the injury/size concerns and that's what's bringing him down relative to the others. Once he gets another season of junior under his belt, you'll probably see them bump that up to a C or better, like they've done w/ Sanheim, Ghost, etc over the past couple of years.

My top-20 would look like this:

1. Provorov 8.0B
2. Sanheim 8.0B
3. Konecny 8.0D
4. Laughton 7.0B
5. Morin 7.0B
6. Ghost 7.5C
7. Hagg 7.0C
8. NAK 7.0C
9. Cousins 7.0C
10. Lindblom 7.0C
11. Alt 6.5B
12. Stolarz 7.0D
13. Friedman 7.0D
14. Sandstrom 7.0D
15. Straka 7.0D
16. Kase 7.0F
17. Fazleev 6.5C
18. Leier 6.5C
19. Vorobyov 6.5C
20. Martel 7.0F
- Tomahawk

Solid list, although I think Straka had a pretty disappointing AHL season and will probably be in Europe a year from now.

what ever happened to vasiliev?

what ever happened to vasiliev?
- PhillaBully

I think he's a free agent now?

what ever happened to vasiliev?
- PhillaBully

Apparently, did not crack starting line-up of his KHL team in the season opening game.

#5 and #10 will surprise the NHL
- vejim

Very possibly and I hope so!

I have to be honest -- no personal disrespect intended to the writer -- in saying that it is a terrible list. Konecny needs to be much higher, for one thing (as long as he stays healthy, he's got a good shot at becoming an NHL impact player). For another, Michael Parks is now a free agent as his rights expired earlier this month. Even had he been signed, to rank him above Taylor Leier is one of those "out on Waveland Avenue" (i.e., not even in the ballpark) ratings. Parks may or may not get an AHL deal somewhere and perhaps start out in the ECHL with a chance to work up higher but he's several years older than Leier and not on entry-level NHL deal. Beyond that, he spent the last four years playing under Dave Hakstol at UND and the Flyers STILL elected not to offer him an ELC. Those should be two pretty big clues when compiling a rankings list.

While Lindblom was ranked too high in Pronman's list at ESPN -- he is not presently a top 50 NHL prospect leaguewide -- he is way too low on this list (16th among Flyers prospects).
-Bill Meltzer

Spot on Bill!!

FWIW, if I was to rank their top 10 prospects, it would be:

1. Provorov
2. Sanheim
3. Morin
4. Laughton
5. Konecny
6. Gostisbehere
7. Aube-Kubel
8. Cousins
9. Hagg
10. Lindblom
- BiggE

Yes

Thanks Bill. I am kind of surprised that the Flyers aren't having a few scrimmage games against the Caps this year; since the last few years they have played a few of the practice games.
I appreciate the radio broadcasts, but I was hoping to see the preseason games on TV, or at least on the team site; I live in the DC area now.
Let the games begin, and the Orange, and Black banners fly...

what ever happened to vasiliev?
- PhillaBully

Flyers still hold his rights (and will indefinitely as long as there is no NHL-KHL transfer agreement). But he is progressing rather slowly in the KHL.

They have his probability at D right now, probably due to the injury/size concerns and that's what's bringing him down relative to the others. Once he gets another season of junior under his belt, you'll probably see them bump that up to a C or better, like they've done w/ Sanheim, Ghost, etc over the past couple of years.

My top-20 would look like this:

1. Provorov 8.0B
2. Sanheim 8.0B
3. Konecny 8.0D
4. Laughton 7.0B
5. Morin 7.0B
6. Ghost 7.5C
7. Hagg 7.0C
8. NAK 7.0C
9. Cousins 7.0C
10. Lindblom 7.0C
11. Alt 6.5B
12. Stolarz 7.0D
13. Friedman 7.0D
14. Sandstrom 7.0D
15. Straka 7.0D
16. Kase 7.0F
17. Fazleev 6.5C
18. Leier 6.5C
19. Vorobyov 6.5C
20. Martel 7.0F
- Tomahawk

Of these players, how many potential top-6 NHL forwards do you see on the list? I think Laughton, NAK, and Konecny are the only ones that I can see as top-6 guys. Lindblom, Cousins, Fazleev, and Leier seem like bottom-6 guys who can maybe fill in higher in spots/injury reasons. Martel's a wild card (could be Briere, could be Akeson) and I don't think Straka's in their long-term plans.

It's not really a bad thing as we have a fairly young mix in the top-6 (Voracek, Raffl, Couturier, Simmonds, even Giroux) so 1-2 cheap, young players would be a nice supplement.

Of these players, how many potential top-6 NHL forwards do you see on the list? I think Laughton, NAK, and Konecny are the only ones that I can see as top-6 guys. Lindblom, Cousins, Fazleev, and Leier seem like bottom-6 guys who can maybe fill in higher in spots/injury reasons. Martel's a wild card (could be Briere, could be Akeson) and I don't think Straka's in their long-term plans.

It's not really a bad thing as we have a fairly young mix in the top-6 (Voracek, Raffl, Couturier, Simmonds, even Giroux) so 1-2 cheap, young players would be a nice supplement.
- jmatchett383

For sure, they can use more top end forward prospects. The only one, IMO, with a better than 50/50 shot at being a top 6 player is Konecny

Others who have a legit but lesser chance:
Aube-Kubel
Laughton
Lindblom

There are also probably a half dozen others who have a slim to very slim chance, but I'm not realistically counting on any of them.

Yes
- SuperSchennBros

Is it me or is there a glaring lack of size with the forward prospects? I see the skill which is great but the lack of size i can't get over.

For sure, they can use more top end forward prospects. The only one, IMO, with a better than 50/50 shot at being a top 6 player is Konecny

Others who have a legit but lesser chance:
Aube-Kubel
Laughton
Lindblom

There are also probably a half dozen others who have a slim to very slim chance, but I'm not realistically counting on any of them.
- BiggE

I think NAK is a top-6 guy. I see him as a younger Matt Read type. But that means we get to rehash the whole "Matt Read is/isn't a top-6 player."

"Flyers fans are spoiled with the quality of their broadcast teams.
Some other teams' TV crews drive me nuts. "

I agree. I live in Pittsburgh and the few occasions I've had to listen to Bobby and Staggy stroke Crosby's (ego) have been horrible. Like, not just homer announcers, they cry and female dog more than anyone I've ever listened to if a guy skates by Crosby too fast and his jersey waives in the wind. Being a homer is one thing, but they aren't even good at it. It's pretty embarrassing listening to the extreme overreactions by those two half wits.

Is it me or is there a glaring lack of size with the forward prospects? I see the skill which is great but the lack of size i can't get over.
- Richard_wilderness

Yeah there is. Which is why I think a lot of fans were strong on Crouse

Happy Birthday, Wayne Train
- Jsaquella

It's time he has a 50 goal season

For sure, they can use more top end forward prospects. The only one, IMO, with a better than 50/50 shot at being a top 6 player is Konecny

Others who have a legit but lesser chance:
Aube-Kubel
Laughton
Lindblom

There are also probably a half dozen others who have a slim to very slim chance, but I'm not realistically counting on any of them.
- BiggE

I think there are two different things...where they could reasonably slot into the lineup based on their skill set, and the likelihood that they'll reach the NHL.

Konecny, NAK, Lindblom, Martel and Laughton are forwards that could play a top 6 role. Cousins is borderline on that list. Beyond that, most of their forwards are probably more suited for a bottom 6 role.

I do agree they should look for a few bigger forwards that still have some wheels and skill. Because those guys grow on trees

Yeah there is. Which is why I think a lot of fans were strong on Crouse
- arichardson22

Im ok with taking Provorv. They almost had too. But what I picture in a couple of years with all the smallish skill guys on the farm is the Habs of a couple years ago. Granted we should have the size on D but that formula never totally worked for the Habs.

I could be wrong....

Is it me or is there a glaring lack of size with the forward prospects? I see the skill which is great but the lack of size i can't get over.
- Richard_wilderness

Laughton, NAK and Lindblom aren't tall, but they're all close to 200 pounds.

Konecny is small but if he wasn't he would have gone well before our 2nd pick.

We might be waiting till the 2016 draft to get a forward prospect with real size and skill, such as Dubios.

http://www.eliteprospects.../player.php?player=252480

Im ok with taking Provorv. They almost had too. But what I picture in a couple of years with all the smallish skill guys on the farm is the Habs of a couple years ago. Granted we should have the size on D but that formula never totally worked for the Habs.

I could be wrong....
- Richard_wilderness

I'm happy, heck very happy that they took Provorov. It's much easier to acquire a 2nd or 3rd line forward with size via free agency or in a trade, than it is to acquire a top pair Dman.

"Flyers fans are spoiled with the quality of their broadcast teams.
Some other teams' TV crews drive me nuts. "

I agree. I live in Pittsburgh and the few occasions I've had to listen to Bobby and Staggy stroke Crosby's (ego) have been horrible. Like, not just homer announcers, they cry and female dog more than anyone I've ever listened to if a guy skates by Crosby too fast and his jersey waives in the wind. Being a homer is one thing, but they aren't even good at it. It's pretty embarrassing listening to the extreme overreactions by those two half wits.
- Tomfan365

They are brutal. Bostons crew is just as bad

Im ok with taking Provorv. They almost had too. But what I picture in a couple of years with all the smallish skill guys on the farm is the Habs of a couple years ago. Granted we should have the size on D but that formula never totally worked for the Habs.

I could be wrong....
- Richard_wilderness

Not sure I'd compare Simmonds, Couturier, Voracek, Raffl, and Giroux to Gionta, Cammaleri, and Desharnais.

They are brutal. Bostons crew is just as bad
- PhillySportsGuy

Yup, Buffalo's crew are nearly as bad too.

They are brutal. Bostons crew is just as bad
- PhillySportsGuy

Jack Edwards makes the NESN broadcasts unbearable.
I'm also not a fan of watching Rick Jeanerett overreact to everything the Sabres do/don't do.

Im ok with taking Provorv. They almost had too. But what I picture in a couple of years with all the smallish skill guys on the farm is the Habs of a couple years ago. Granted we should have the size on D but that formula never totally worked for the Habs.

I could be wrong....
- Richard_wilderness

Hagg, sanheim and Morin are all tall.

Blackhawks have 1 big forward and seem to do aight

Hagg, sanheim and Morin are all tall.

Blackhawks have 1 big forward and seem to do aight
- PhillySportsGuy

We can't all have giants like Patty Kane.