Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Kotkaniemi, Kupari, Combine, Flyers Radio 24.7 and More

Bill, appreciate the insight on prospects. When today in history reaches game 6 of the 2010 cup maybe just skip the segment.

That pass from Hartnell on the 1st goal (from the highlights), WOW!

Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Kotkaniemi, Kupari, Combine, Flyers Radio 24.7 and More
- bmeltzer

Bill,
Appreciate all you do. We are lucky to have you.

How did Koresenkov look this past year. Did he improve enough to get drafted? If not, will he be invited back to Fyers camp in the off season?

I'd be fine with either of the Finns at 19, at 14, if both are on the board, I'd lean towards Kotkaniemi. His overall hockey sense and intelligence are things that can't be taught, and even if he's just an average skater, I can live with that in a player who is smart, skilled and has good size as well.

Kupari has great wheels as Bill pointed out, but I'm not sure if he will ever put it all together, however if he is still on the board at 19, I'd be fine with him.

Putting Dahlin aside, because it's not going to happen, here are the guys I really love in this draft and I'd be thrilled if the Flyers ended up with any one of them, thought that would likely require them to move up:

Svechnikov
Zadina
Tkachuk
Hughes
Walstrom
Dobson

Here is my next group, guys I like a lot, and if the Flyers were to walk away from 2 of the guys in this group, I'd be very happy. Also, some of these guys should be available at 14 and perhaps even at 19:

Boqvist
Bouchard
Farabee
Ty Smith
Kotkaniemi
Sandin
Kupari
Kravtsov
Kaut
Lundestrom

@ BiggE

I like Kotkaniemi a lot. There's talk of him going as high as number 3 in the draft.

@ BiggE

I like Kotkaniemi a lot. There's talk of him going as high as number 3 in the draft.
- VladDrag

I've heard the same, but I just don't buy it. Yeah, I know the Habs would like a center, but Kotkaniemi at 3 is a flat out reach. If the Habs want him that badly, they'd be better off trading down. If I were Bergevin, I'd be on the phone with Arizona and finding out what they'd be willing to add to pick #5 to move up to three. Even if it's just their 2nd round pick (#35 overall), I'd make the deal. You're still going to Kotkaniemi at #5 and you add a high 2nd round pick to your asset pool.

At the very least, there is no way I'd even consider taking Kotkaniemi over Svechnikov, Zadina, Wahlstrom, Tkachuk, Hughes or Dobson, so I'd have to be picking 8th or lower to even be looking at him.

Bill,
Appreciate all you do. We are lucky to have you.

How did Koresenkov look this past year. Did he improve enough to get drafted? If not, will he be invited back to Fyers camp in the off season?
- WhirlingDervish

Kosorenkov has a shooter's chance at a career. I thought he was worth an ELC. I think his most likely route is returning to Russia and playing in the KHL.

If the dude can’t skate at an above average level, want nothing to do with him.

League is changing. Adapt or die.

Putting Dahlin aside, because it's not going to happen, here are the guys I really love in this draft and I'd be thrilled if the Flyers ended up with any one of them, thought that would likely require them to move up:

Svechnikov
Zadina
Tkachuk
Hughes
Walstrom
Dobson

Here is my next group, guys I like a lot, and if the Flyers were to walk away from 2 of the guys in this group, I'd be very happy. Also, some of these guys should be available at 14 and perhaps even at 19:

Boqvist
Bouchard
Farabee
Ty Smith
Kotkaniemi
Sandin
Kupari
Kravtsov
Kaut
Lundestrom
- BiggE

I would add K'Andre Miller, Jonatan Berggren and Bode Wilde to this group. Also Hayton but I think he will be taken by 12th pick.

If the dude can’t skate at an above average level, want nothing to do with him.

League is changing. Adapt or die.
- flyer_nutter

So no John Tavares then. Or Couturier.

I would add K'Andre Miller, Jonatan Berggren and Bode Wilde to this group. Also Hayton but I think he will be taken by 12th pick.
- bmeltzer

Always enjoy your draft analysis. Makes this time of year better. Keep it coming sir.

I would add K'Andre Miller, Jonatan Berggren and Bode Wilde to this group. Also Hayton but I think he will be taken by 12th pick.
- bmeltzer

I like Miller and Berggren, but Wilde scares me. Kid has all the talent in the world, but from what I've seen and read about him, he seems to have the hockey sense of doorknob and I've heard some things about his having somewhat of an attitude problem too.

edit: Hayton, I go back and forth on. I think he's definitely going to be an NHL player, but will he ever be more than a solid 3C? I'd probably shy away from him at 14 (if he's still there), but if he's still on the board at 19, I'd be fine with that pick.

So no John Tavares then. Or Couturier.
- bmeltzer

Great players.

Couturiers other skills allow him to overcome his lack of explosiveness.

I’d like team speed increases overall if possible. Personal preference.

Great players.

Couturiers other skills allow him to overcome his lack of explosiveness.

I’d like team speed increases overall if possible. Personal preference.
- flyer_nutter

Kotkaniemi, from what I've seen and read, has both the skills and, perhaps more importantly, the smarts, to overcome being an average skater. I'd have no problem at all if he was the Flyers pick at 14.

Lets make a deal with Detroit for the 6th pick. Offer Phil Myers and the 14th pick

Lets make a deal with Detroit for the 6th pick. Offer Phil Myers and the 14th pick
- atlasgibbs

No thanks. I like Myers a lot and think he has potential to develop into at least a solid top 4 guy and possibly a guy you can play on the top pair.

predatory

No thanks. I like Myers a lot and think he has potential to develop into at least a solid top 4 guy and possibly a guy you can play on the top pair.
- BiggE

Im not convinced any of the players you could get at 6 is better than Myers anyway.

Great players.

Couturiers other skills allow him to overcome his lack of explosiveness.

I’d like team speed increases overall if possible. Personal preference.
- flyer_nutter

That contradicts the previous statement you made. If a guy can play, he can play, that simple.

Ever since we lost our Nordic God of Defense, I feel like the organization has lacked in Finnish players.

No thanks. I like Myers a lot and think he has potential to develop into at least a solid top 4 guy and possibly a guy you can play on the top pair.
- BiggE

I don't think you can ever have enough young defensemen in the system. I'm not interested in trading Myers to move up in the draft.

I'm actually not interested in moving up in the draft unless it's a Godfather-style "offer Hextall can't refuse".

Im not convinced any of the players you could get at 6 is better than Myers anyway.
- MBFlyerfan

Yup, the only player, IMO, guaranteed to be better than Myers is Dahlin, and that is not happening.

I don't think you can ever have enough young defensemen in the system. I'm not interested in trading Myers to move up in the draft.

I'm actually not interested in moving up in the draft unless it's a Godfather-style "offer Hextall can't refuse".
- johndewar

I'd be willing to explore a deal to get up to the 3-5 range, but neither Myers or Sanheim would be part of what I'm willing to part with.