2009 SBN NHL Mock Draft: Narrowing down our choices

by Travis Hughes on Jun 19, 2009 6:34 AM EDT in Philadelphia Flyers Features

Over the past four days, hockey writers from across SB Nation have been participating in a mock draft. Today is the fourth day of the event, and as you can see, things are well underway. Here's what's happened so far.

1. New York Islanders (Lighthouse Hockey) - John Tavares, London (OHL)
2. Tampa Bay Lightning (Raw Charge) - Victor Hedman, Modo (Sweden)
3. Colorado Avalanche (Mile High Hockey) - Matt Duchene, Brampton (OHL)
4. Atlanta Thrashers (Bird Watchers Anonymous) - Evander Kane, Vancouver (WHL)
5. Los Angeles Kings (Battle of California) - Brayden Schenn, Brandon (WHL)
6. Phoenix Coyotes (Five For Howling) - Jared Cowen, Spokane (WHL)
7. Toronto Maple Leafs (Pension Plan Puppets) - Magnus Svensson-Paajarvi Timrå IK (Swedish Elitserien)
8. Dallas Stars (Defending Big D) - Oliver Ekman-Larssen, Leksand IF (Sweden)
9. Ottawa Senators (Silver Seven) - Nazem Kadri, London (OHL)
10. Edmonton Oilers (The Copper & Blue) - Ryan Ellis, Windsor (OHL)
11. Nashville Predators (On The Forecheck) - Jordan Schroeder, U of Minnesota (NCAA)
12. Minnesota Wild (Hockey Wilderness) - Zach Budish, Edina, MN (HS)

The master list is being updated on James Mirtle's From The Rink, but for detailed explantions on each pick, visit the individual team sites. Broad Street Hockey will make the Flyers selection this sometime on Saturday or Sunday, and it will be announced on Monday morning. But like the draft, it's never a one-man undertaking. Your help is needed, and today, we'll be narrowing down the choices. First off, we need to decide what position the pick should be.

Of course, it all depends on who is available. But there are a ton of solid defenseman, as well as a ton of solid forwards that should be available when the Flyers select at 21. In essence, are the Flyers in need of stockpiling young blue line talent, or should they be selecting a forward with their first round pick? Or should they scrap all of that and go with a goalie, despite the fact that Paul Holmgren said they won't be doing that in the first round?

Your help is needed in making this selection. Once a decision is reached on a position, we'll break down the top five players that should be available at 21 in hopes of getting some sort of consensus on a pick. Of course it's all going to blow up in our faces and Calgary is going to take whoever we select. But them's the breaks when it comes to the draft, ya know?

Anyway, back to the question. Should the Flyers select a forward, a defenseman, or a goalie with the 21st overall pick? This poll will be open through the afternoon and evening tonight, and early tomorrow a breakdown of the available players will be up with some more poll action.

Poll

What position should the 21st overall selection play?

Forward

44 votes

Defense

89 votes

Goal

27 votes

160 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Based on the term "should"

I’m going defense. If there’s anything I’ve learned from the past with the Flyers, it’s you can never have enough defensive depth.

If, for whatever reason, there is a run on defensemen in the coming picks, I’d rather take a top forward prospect against reaching for a “riskier” D-man. It’s a personal style when it comes to drafts.

"...You know, Reemer, someday I'm gonna own a big sports bar."

by IcersGuy on Jun 19, 2009 9:06 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah, the Flyers need a goalie, but ...

(and yes, I am aware Emery is now on the team) as was stated on this site earlier in the summer, they’re not going to get one at this stage of the draft who’s a “for sure,” “right away” lock and can step into the crease at this moment (or probably even within the next two years) for the Fly Guys.

I’ll follow up on what IcersGuy said [nice to see you on BSH on the way :)] and say that I don’t think you can go wrong on defense. I think building a young core of defensemen can only help you going forward, Bouwmeester or not (of course what happens there could and should very well impact what happens in the draft).

The way the draft works though, IG is also right in that if a run on defensemen takes place, it won’t be worth passing up snagging a possible talented forward for a lower tier defenseman. Call it “best available” if you want, but it’s more of a “defense-first” strategy and if the “best available” projected at that position on D slip away from you, you’ve gotta go for a more solid prospect on the front line. Just my opinion.

by phantom818 on Jun 19, 2009 11:05 AM EDT reply actions

I chose defense because I am a strong believer in the cliche “defense wins championships” and if the Flyers defense had of been good combined with our offensive firepower, Pittsburgh wouldn’t have had a chance in the playoffs. However, I also think that with the NHL draft the the Flyers should take the best player available on the board at the time. I feel like that eliminates the risks of picking a dud, and if another team wants whoever we choose we can always work out a trade or something.

by Mitchell Green on Jun 19, 2009 11:30 AM EDT reply actions

Foward

We have stocked up on D it is going to be hard to get these guys in, Kevin Marshall, Marc Andre Bourdon, and Luca Sbisa are the Flyers other top 3 prospects with Van Riemsydyk as the only foward. I rather trade this pick and grad the rights to a solid UFA.

by chrislanci on Jun 19, 2009 12:13 PM EDT reply actions