Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Youthful newcomers excited to join Flyers

Columbus Blue Jackets v Calgary Flames

CALGARY, CANADA - MARCH 04: Alex Tanguay #40 of the Calgary Flames keeps watch on Jakub Voracek #93 of the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first period of NHL action on March 4, 2011 at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Mike Ridewood/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Much of the attention over the last few days has focused on Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, and their exodus from the City of Brotherly love. But as time passes, a storyline that will gradually become just as important as the players lost will be the young NHLers coming back to the Flyers in the trade. There’s the 8th overall pick in this year’s draft (Sean Couturier), the 7th overall pick in 2007 (Jakub Voracek), and the 5th overall pick in the 2009 draft (Brayden Schenn). The three lottery picks will certainly have their hands full trying to replace two of the best players on one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. No pressure guys.

Their development within their new organization and ability to handle the pressure of Philadelphia will be the determining factors when people look back at these trades. If they blossom into the players the Flyers envision, the trades will help the team’s success for the next 5-10 years. If they wilt under the pressure, then GM Paul Holmgren may need a helicopter and personal bodyguard to survive the lynch mob in South Philly.

Each of the former top 10 draft picks sounds like they’re excited for their newfound opportunity with the Flyers. Even though Couturier and Schenn want to make the big club next season, Holmgren has reiterated that he’s going to do what’s right for their long-term development.

“I think with both of these young men we’re going to be patient,” Holmgren said. “We believe [Schenn is] ready, but again, those players, ultimately, answer the questions [if they are ready].”

(snip)

“My main goal is to make the NHL next year,” Couturier said. “Once I get to camp I’ll be prepared.”


For his part, Brayden Schenn is saying all the right things about the trade as well:

“It’s pretty crazy. It’s a big deal. Myself and Wayne Simmonds got traded for a great player.

“It’s a thrill, a little bit shocking to be here … I’m thrilled to be part of the organization and history there. I’m going into a great organization that’s close to winning [the Stanley Cup] and that’s what I’m excited for.”

The Kings had been patient with Schenn’s development over the last two seasons, but all indications point towards a player who’s ready to show his stuff at the NHL level. Last season he bounced all over North America as the Kings organization tried to decide what they wanted to do with him. He got into 8 NHL games (2 assists) with the Kings, 7 AHL games with the Manchester Monarchs (3 goals, 4 assists), a couple of games with the Brandon Wheat Kings in the WHL, and finally 27 more games with the Saskatoon Blades where he had 21 goals and 53 points. Sandwiched in between his stints in three separate leagues, he also had a spectacular showing at the World Junior Championships with Team Canada. The younger Schenn managed to tie a Team Canada record by netting 18 points in only seven games.

By all accounts, he was one of the most promising hockey players in the world outside in the NHL last year.

Finally, the 21-year-old Jakub Voracek is the veteran of the first round trifecta. Voracek already has three NHL seasons under his belt; he has 39 goals and 95 assists in 241 career games. Whether it was the way Columbus handled his development, the lack of high-end linemates, or an overrated skill set, the young Czech has been a bit of a disappointment thus far. He’s looking forward to his opportunity with the Flyers:

“There’s going to be a lot of expectations from me as well and that’s why I’m working hard in the summer; I’m in Montreal right now and trying to get ready as much as possible, and I hope everything is going to work out well.”

“When I’m on my game I like to play along the boards. I’m an up-and-down, up-and-down, up-and-down winger and I try to play the best I can on both ends and obviously I have to work on my shot a little bit more in this off-season, but I would say that I’m more of a play-maker than a shooter or scorer.”


Up next for all three promising players is the opportunity to jump into Philadelphia’s lineup next season. Voracek will clearly get a chance to show his stuff on the wing, but both Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier will be battling to fill the void at center left by Richards’ and Carter’s departure. There are question marks behind Claude Giroux and Danny Briere—so there’s a chance they both could make the NHL at bottom-six centers. Either way, the Flyers should be happy with the newfound, high-end talent they have in the organization.

It certainly sounds like the players are just as excited.