-The Beginning-

With the ending of every season there is a rebirth.  While only one team will revel in the glory that comes with winning The Stanley Cup, all thirty teams will be given a chance to revitalize themselves during a period of time that begins in June.  This year that magical time, otherwise known as the NHL Draft, will be held on June 24^th in Vancouver, British Columbia and every GM and coach will be hoping to land the missing pieces of the proverbial puzzle. 

Fortunes are made and lost in rounds 1 to 7 as teams anxiously await each passing selection, hoping their top choice will still be available when their turn arrives.  Will the Flyers draft well?  Perhaps, they will find a diamond in the rough, like Quebec did in 1994 by drafting Chris Drury and Milan Hedjuk in rounds 3 and 4?  Or maybe they will suffer the fate of the 1990 New York Islanders, who passed up on Keith Tkachuk, Martin Broduer, Doug Weight, Sergei Zubov and Alexei Zhamnov, amongst many others, for the likes of Scott Scissons with the 6^th pick overall.  However, to attempt to predict the future, we must face the past.

-Post Lockout Draft World Order-

In the winter of 2005, after a lengthy lockout filled with contempt and dismay, Commissioner Gary Bettman cancelled the first NHL season since 1919.  Everyone knew there would be potentially lasting effects on the game and its fans, but not everyone has attempted to study the effect it will have on the 2006 draft.  The lockout, coupled with new rule changes designed to open up the game and eliminate obstruction, could severely alter the face of the draft, and thus the league, for years to come.  The Western Hockey League, which has been home to some of the best and toughest customers the NHL has allowed through the doors, may now find its players less marketable to NHL teams.

Conversely, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, which has long been known for its wide open offensive style, may find it hard to keep players stocked on the shelves.  The NHL, may also see an influx of more European influence as the demand for a more international friendly game appears to be imminently required by Gary Bettman and the rules committee.  However, this demand for European skill and skating ability may not be enough to convince some NHL teams to draft high profile Russian skaters.            

Unfortunately, with the absence of a player transfer agreement with Russia, NHL teams may find themselves struggling to pry top Russian talent from Russia clubs without paying large transfer fees.  The owner of Evgeni Malkin’s contract with Metallurg Magnitogorsk has suggested that he expects the kind of money that was paid by soccer powerhouse AC Milan to buy out Andriy Shevchenko's contract with Dynamo. 

While that is certainly very optimistic, it does leave questions as to whether many Russian players who are playing in Russia can be brought to the NHL without paying massive transfer fees.  It’s unlikely a player will ever command 25 million, or anything approaching it, due to the economic difference between teams like AC Milan and the Pittsburgh Penquins.  Instead it’s more likely that Russia will use their young talent to negotiate a new, and more favorable, transfer deal by ransoming the top talent to NHL clubs.  The question is, will the Flyers, or any other NHL teams want to be a party to this process.

-Number One Guns-

In this pre-draft world dominated by players who have yet to prove themselves on the NHL level, there are always a chosen few who are worthy of special attention and this year’s draft will be no exception.  Most scouting services agree that three of the top rated players available for selection will be Erik Johnson (Defenseman – 6’4 222lbs –USNTDP), Phil Kessel (Center – 6’0 189lbs – University of Minnesota ) and Jordan Staal (Center – 6’4 209lbs – Peterborough Petes OHL).

The talented Erik Johnson was originally, at best, rated a distant second to Phil Kessel at the beginning of the 05-06 season. However, his performance at the World Junior Championship versus other top young talent was enough to catapult him into the number one ranking.  Johnson displays all the major tools to be an outstanding NHL defenseman.  From his booming shot to his impressively fluid ability to move the puck up ice, he’s the real deal.  Critics of Johnson’s game would say that he still makes too many mistakes, but even the loudest of Johnson’s detractors would admit that in time he will be a very good NHL defenseman.  

Ironically, Johnson plans to attend the University of Minnesota, where fellow top draft prospect Phil Kessel has been lighting the lamp during 05-06.  Since turning 16, Kessel has always been targeted as the potential gem of the 2006 NHL draft.  After an impressive U18 WJC in 2004, where he led the US team to a silver medal, he has completed his freshman season at the University of Minnesota by amassing 51pts in 39 games for the Golden Gophers.  One look at the flashy Wisconsin native and his talent is absolutely undeniable, but his attitude and potential “me first” approach to the game has left some scouts with enough doubt to put Johnson a half stride ahead.  On pure ability, no one approaches Kessel’s package of speed, explosiveness and scoring prowess. 

While Kessel provides the flamboyant exuberance of youth with extraordinary offensive talent, there may be NHL teams who would like to build around a true power forward.  If you’re an NHL club and you have the desire to draft an imposing forward who comes with a bit of a pedigree, then Jordan Staal is your man.  The 6’4 Staal (younger brother of Eric and Marc Staal) has yet to fill out his frame, but is still planning on becoming a triple threat to every NHL team he doesn’t suit up for.  A rare combination of speed, size and skill means Jordan can flat out play with anyone in this draft class and probably hurt you if you don’t get out of his way.  While he certainly has the capability of scoring big goals, Jordan has also learned to distribute the puck cleanly and to play with real fire and tenacity.  The only real down side to drafting Staal, as high as number one overall, is that

he will need time to fill out and develop a more consistent approach to his game shift in and shift out.   

Certainly Johnson, Kessel and Staal all deserve special recognition.  However, Jonathan Toews, Nicklas Backstrom, Peter Mueller or any of the other 2006 draft hopefuls could be drafted number one overall as well and take home the honor of being the NHL’s most wanted player.  In hockey, as in any professional sport, sometimes organizations draft by need and not necessarily from a depth chart created by scouting services. 

-Your Philadelphia Flyers-

As an organization, the Philadelphia Flyers have historically drafted very well since Bobby Clarke has taken the reigns as the team’s GM.  With young centers like Jeff Carter, R.J. Umberger, Michael Richards and Ryan Potulny already poised to either become excellent NHL players or break onto the professional scene next year, it would seem logical that the Flyers may use their 1^st round selection to acquire a solid puck moving defenseman or scoring winger. 

With their first pick, several enticing options should be available to the Flyers in the mid to late first round.  One such option is Nigel Williams, who is a defender who shares many of the same physical assets as Erik Johnson.  Williams shares similar upside to Johnson, but looks to be a little further behind the curve.  He will need time to add muscle to his lanky frame and become comfortable playing at his peak potential, but ultimately should prove to be a very capable NHL defenseman.  With the influx of penalties given in the NHL for hooking, holding and obstruction a 6’4 defenseman with outstanding skill and the speed to go toe to toe with very mobile forwards, could prove to be a hot commodity.

If the Flyers are willing to take a chance on a tremendously impressive offensive defenseman then Ivan Vishnevsky from the QMJHL would be an unbelievable value anywhere in the 2^nd round or even late 1^st round.  Vishnevsky has displayed the kind of offensive talent that only very few young prospects have, while showing everyone that he’s not afraid to take risks and skate his way out of trouble.  In spite of his obvious ability to run a powerplay with precision and put points on the board by attacking in transition, scouts are concerned about his tendency to be too risky and rely on his blazing speed to make up for mistakes.  However, Vishnevsky is still young and after leading all QMJHL rookies in points for defenseman (48pts in 54 games) he has time to develop.    

Another possible option for the Flyers, if they elect to select a forward, may be the unparalleled speed of 18 year old right wing Vladimir Zharkov.  Zharkov could easily be the fastest or most elusive skater in the draft and given the path the NHL has chosen for itself his value would be quite high in the later part of the first round if he can continue to score with consistency.  In addition to blazing speed, Zharkov has played well in big game situations while showing of his quick wrist shot and willingness to play at either end of the ice. 

Regardless, it is clear that the Flyers first chance to atone for a disappointing exit in the 2005-2006 playoffs will begin with their first selection in the draft.  And with the knowledge that dynasty’s can be created with just one or two selections, we will wait in breathless anticipation of a drafted savior to carry the Flyers to their first Stanley Cup in over 30 NHL seasons.