Bright Future for Broadstreet Bullies

[liamenator]

Taking a Page out of flambers book, here is a rundown of the Flyers' current under-26 talent in the system.

CPHL FORWARDS
Ladislav Nagy
Season Totals:
57GP 21G 28A 49PTS +5 73PIM
With the Todd Bertuzzi trade, CPHL allstar Nagy became the de facto offensive catalyst to the Flyer attack. Leading the team in Goals, Points and Powerplay Goals, he is key to any success the Flyers will have this season. Although his play has slowed recently, Nagy is a leading candidate for team MVP thus far this season.

Alexander Ovechkin
Flyer Stats:
4GP 3G 0A -1 12PIM
Season Totals:
41GP 12G 11A 23PTS +6 93PIM
Hockey's Future Prospect Rating: 9.0
Ovechkin arrived as the centerpiece of the Todd Bertuzzi trade with high expectations. It is still early to draw many conclusions, but with 3 goals in 4 games, Ovechkin just might be living up to the hype. He will see more icetime in Philly than he did in Montreal, playing alongside Ladislav Nagy on both the top line and the top PP unit. One area of concern is his inability to stay out of the Penalty Box. Ovechkin must learn he is more valuable to his team on the ice and to avoid being pulled into any rough stuff.
Projection: Franchise Player

Michael Ryder
Flyer Stats:
13GP 2G 4A 6PTS -5 30PIM
Season Totals:
54GP 10G 16A 26PTS -15 106PIM
Hockey's Future Prospect Grade: 6.5
Ryder was brought in a month ago to inject youth and scoring to the Flyer forward ranks and has performed about to expectations. His icetime has largely been patrolling the wing on the 2nd line, with periodic shifts on the top-line. One glaring weakness is his +/- rating, something GM liamenator is surely hoping will improve.
Projection: Minimum Top 6 forward, 1st line RW upside.

Trent Hunter
Season Totals:
55GP 4G 19A 23PTS -11 53PIM
Hockey's Future Prospect Rating: 7.0
Hunter was brought in the same day as Ryder for the same reasons: youth, offense and potential. Coming over from Florida, the drop in icetime with the Flyers has hampered his offensive contributions, but it is too early to say he has been a disappointment. liamenator feels very confident in using Hunter on the 3rd line or if needed periodically on the 2nd line.
Projection: Top 6 forward.

Andy McDonald
Flyer Stats:
5GP 2G 1A 3PTS +2 4PIM
Season Totals:
50GP 11G 7A 18PTS +2 37PIM
Recently aquired McDonald has fit in quite nicely on the Flyers 3rd line and with the recent injury to Eric Lindors he will see some 2nd line icetime. McDonald has seen sporadic use on the Flyers 2nd PP unit and this is likely to continue.

Niko Kapanen
Season Totals:
57GP 7G 14A 21PTS -8 54PIM
Hockey's Future Prospect Rating: Graduated
Kapanen has struggled at points this season, but has proven to be a very versitile member of the Flyers squad. With the ability to play either Center or Left Wing, Kapanen was given a bump in icetime after strong play last month. However, he struggled with the added responsibility but with the recent aquisition of Andy McDonald, Kapanen is back on the 4th line where is most effective. With his fantastic defensive rating, tops among Flyer forwards, Kapanen is their most important penalty killer.

Jarret Stoll
Flyer Stats:
14GP 0G 2A 2PTS +6 2PIM
Season Totals:
30GP 2G 3A 5PTS Even 10PIM
Hockey's Future Prospect Grade: 7.0
Stoll has managed to carve himself a spot on the Flyers CPHL roster, cementing a spot on the 4th line with his strong play. If the injury bug hits the Flyers, they have no worries plugging Stoll in on the 3rd line.
Projection: Minimum 3rd line center, 2nd line upside

Matt Pettinger
Season Totals:
53GP 3G 3A 6PTS -4 26PIM
Hockey's Future Prospect Rating: Graduated
Pettinger has cemented himself into the Flyer lineup this season after playing well in various stints the past 2 seasons. His strong defensive play have been an asset on the 4th line and his offense continues to improve.
Projection: 3rd-4th line winger


CPHL DEFENCEMEN
Nick Schultz
Season Totals:
54GP 6G 14A 20PTS +6 44PIM
Hockey's Future Prospect Rating: Graduated
The Crown Jewel of the Flyers' young defenseman, Schultz has been exptremely impressive in his sophmore campaign. Already being used in all situations he has exceeded expectations and is likely going to patrol their blueline for many years to come.
Projection: Top-2 Defenseman

Colin White
Season Totals:
57GP 6G 18A 24PTS +14 157PIM
The lone remaining Flyer from the first liamenator take-over, the GM was extremely pleased to see White remaining on his roster upon returning to the team. Team Captain White punishes opponents with his physical play, and has seen an unexpected offensive outpouring this season, already exceeding his career-high point totals just 57 games into the season.

CPHL GOALIES:
Robert Esche
Season Totals:
43GP 16-18-5 2SO 3.00GAA 0.893Sv%
#1 Tender Esche has been maddeningly inconsistant this season, showing flashes of brilliance followed by streches of mediocrity. However the fact remains that Esche is only going to improve, so the Flyers would be foolish to give up on him in an attempt to upgrade in goal short-term.

AHL FORWARDS
Jakub Klepis
Hockey's Future Prospect Rating: 7.0
Undeniable talented and an excellent passer, Klepis continues to improve his game at the AHL level. Some seasoning is required, most notabley in the defensive side of his game, but he has a bright future with the franchise.
Projection: 2-3rd line Center

R.J. Umberger
Hockey's Future Prospect Rating: 7.0
Smooth Skating former 1st round pick Umberger is a very intreguing prospect. Character issues have hampered his reputation, but the Flyers are quite happy with his development in the AHL. He is one of the first forwards they look to in the event of an AHL call-up.
Projection: Minimum 3rd line Center, 2nd line upside.

Nigel Dawes
Season Totals:
6GP 0G 0A -4 16PIM
Hockey's Future Prospect Rating: 7.0
One of the first things liamenator did upon taking back control of the Flyers was to aquire some depth in order to send not-yet-CPHL-ready Dawes back to the AHL. In his brief tenure with the big club it was very evident he is not yet able to elevate his game to the level needed for the CPHL. Prolific goalscorer Dawes has impressed at 2 straight World Junior Championships and has scored over 120 goals over 2+ seasons in the WHL.
Projection: Top-6 winger upside

Dustin Brown
Manchester Monarch Season Totals:
49GP 20G 28A 48PTS 34PIM
Hockey's Future Prospect Rating: 8.0
Aquired in the Mark Parrish trade, Brown is arguabley the Flyers top forward prospect and the closest to making a big impact at the CPHL level. Already with significant NHL experience, Brown is playing at a point-per-game clip in the AHL this year. Brown has garnered comparisons to Adam Deadmarsh in the way he mixes his game with both physical play and offensive skill
Projection: Top-line winger

AHL DEFENCEMEN
Tomas Pock
Flyers Stats:
2GP 1G 0A 1PTS +1 0PIM
Hartford Wolfpack Season Totals:
22GP 0G 5A 5PTS 14PIM
Hockey's Future Prospect Rating: 7.0
Pock has to be considered a project, but early indications is he will be an effective CPHLer. An undrafted free-agent, the offensive-defenceman currently is with the Rangers AHL-affiliate in Hartford after an impressive 4-point, 6-game NHL stint at the end of the 03-04 season.
Projection: Servicable NHLer, Top-4, PP Quarterback upside.

Lukas Krajicek
San Antonio Rampage Season Totals:
52GP 2G 18A 20PTS 35PIM
Hockey's Future Prospect Rating: 8.0
Also aquired in the Bertuzzi trade alongside Ovechkin, Krajicek is very close to being CPHL-ready. Possessing both great offensive instincts and work ethic, he impressed in an 18-game stint with the Panthers in last year's NHL season. Should the injury bug hit the Flyers' blueline, Krajicek will certainly see some time in the CPHL this year, if not sooner.
Projection: PP Quaterback, Top-4 Defenseman

AHL GOALIES
Mike Brodeur
Flyer Stats:
2GP 0-0-0 8.82GAA 0.706Sv%
Greenville Grrrowl (ECHL) Season Totals:
26GP 12-13-1 2.67GAA 0.923Sv%
Hockey's Future Prospect Rating: 6.5
A long-term project, Brodeur will work his way up through the ranks slowly. Signed by the Blackhawks last season, he can be considered a dark-horse to make an impact as he has excelled at every level he has played at so far.
Projection: Back-up, with upside of a B-level #1 goaltender

ECHLers
Corey Locke
Hamilton Bulldogs Season Totals:
49GP 13G 15A 28PTS 14PIM
Hockey's Future Prospect Rating: 7.0
After a mamoth 151 point MVP season in the OHL in 02-03, Locke was passed over by every team, falling to the 4th round largely due to his small stature. A gratuitous listing of his height is at 5'10', but in reality it is probably a lot closer to 5'7'. Talent is definately there, but questions surround his ability to handle the rigours of physical play at the top level.
Projection: minimum AHL all-star, upside top-6 scorer

Jeff Schultz
Calgary Hitmen Season Totals:
55GP 1G 25A 26PTS 23PIM
Hockey's Future Prospect Rating: 6.5
The huge blueliner, picked in the 1st round of the '04 draft by the Washington Capitals, possesses a surprising amount of offensive skill. The potential of a 6'6' offensive defenseman is mouth-watering to scouts, and if Schultz can put it all together, he is worth the risk of his high draft position.
Projection: minimum Top-6 D-man, top-4 PP QB upside.

Lukas Kaspar
Ottawa 67's Season Totals:
42GP 15G 26A 41PTS 32PIM
Hockey's Future Prospect Rating: 7.5
"The Hair" was picked 22 overall by SJ in last years draft and came over from europe to play in the OHL. Kaspar has soft hands and a nose for the net, using his large frame to open up ice for he and his linemates. He has impressed in his adjustment to the North American game, scoring at almost a point-per-game in his rookie CHL campaign.
Projection: 2nd-3rd line winger

Kirill Koltsov
Manitoba Moose Season Totals:
28GP 3G 14A 17PTS 42PIM
Hockey's Future Prospect Rating: 7.0
An offensive defenseman prospect of the Vancouver Canucks, Koltsov played all of last season and started this season with the Moose of the AHL before returning to Russia recently. He posseses good offensive abilities and is a good skater. Look for him to the be signed by the Flyers before the end of the year.
Projection: PP QB upside