Sport-scan daily brief

The latter option would appear to make more sense.

Why tie up six or seven million in goalies when that money can be spent to bring in some better position players?

Olympics-bound: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is expected to meet with Olympics officials on Monday to hammer out the final details on an agreement for the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.

There had been some speculation that NHL owners might balk at competing in the Olympics, ending a run of participation which began at Nagano, Japan in 1998.

Since that first one, the NHL’s presence has made for some exciting hockey at Salt Lake City, Torino and Vancouver. Backing out this year would have been disappointing to say the least, especially after that exciting U.S.-Canada gold medal game in 2010.

The United States has already jumped the gun a bit. On Friday, the management team of general manager David Poile (Nashville), associate GM Ray Shero (Pittsburgh) and player personnel director Brian Burke (Anaheim) announced Pittsburgh Penguin coach Dan Bylsma to coach the Americans.

Also reportedly in consideration were Vancouver’s John Tortorella and the Flyers’ Peter Laviolette, who coached the U.S. team at Torino in 2006.

Bylsma is a good choice. He’s won a Stanley Cup, he’s managed some strong egos in Pittsburgh (Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin to name a few) and he deserves a chance.

Mike Knuble worked out with Bylsma (they both come from Michigan) when Bylsma was still playing in the early 2000s and grew to respect his work ethic.

That managing egos thing should come in handy, says Knuble, who could be parting ways with the Flyers shortly.

“When you get those teams together in the Olympics, there are a ton of them. You get 20 different egos going,’’ Knuble told the Canadian Press. “Guys are used to being ’the man,’ so it’s how you’re going to handle that. And I seem to think that he has a good grasp on how to handle egos and keep everyone pulling in the same direction.

“He’s an up-and-coming guy. He’s proven that he can win. He coaches in a high-profile city with high-profile players and has shown that he can handle them and handle some of the egos.’’

Wayne Fish: 215-345-3070; e-mail: wfish@phillyburbs.com; twitter: @waynefish1

Burlington County Times LOADED: 06.30.2013

683057 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers draft: Will Flyers sit at No. 11, or move up?

Posted: Saturday, June 29, 2013 4:17 pm | Updated: 9:58 pm, Sat Jun 29, 2013.

By Wayne Fish Staff Writer

This might be hockey’s ultimate version of Catch-22:

The Flyers, who head into Sunday’s NHL Entry Draft (3 p.m. on NBCSN)at the Prudential Center slotted at No. 11, would love to move up and get a shot at a bona fide defenseman like Darnell Nurse, who’s been rated by some experts as high as No. 5.

But to do that, it would take more than draft picks. Roster players, specifically young roster players, would have to be included in the deal and general manager Paul Holmgren appears loathe to do that.

Asked the other day if youngsters like Sean Couturier and Brayden Schenn still have “untouchable’’ attached to their names, Holmgren’s response was a simple “yeah.’’

That doesn’t mean Holmgren wouldn’t turn around and try something big, like he did two years when he shocked the hockey world by trading Jeff Carter to Columbus (prior to draft day) for the No. 8 pick plus Jake Voracek to secure Couturier.

Nurse, the nephew of former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, is said to have a lot of raw ability. How soon he makes it to the NHL remains to be seen.

But the Flyers realize their defense has some age on it, plus a growing list of nagging injuries. By the end of last season, they were without Braydon Coburn, Andrej Meszaros and Nick Grossmann.

Holmgren has watched Nurse play and came away with a good scouting report.

“I’ve seen Darnell play a few times and he’s a hard-nosed kid,’’ Holmgren said. “He’s still probably like 6-foot-4 and I’d venture to guess he weighs like 210 pounds.

“When you watch him play – he’s still a lot of elbows and knees, but he’s a rugged hard-nosed player that can fight pretty good with a puck and he continues to get better. But I have no idea if he’ll be there at our pick.’’

On the other hand, Holmgren could just sit still and hope that a talented kid like defenseman Risto Ristolainen falls in his lap at No. 11. After all, this is said to be perhaps the deepest draft since 2003, when the Flyers took both Carter and Mike Richards.

“Well it’s certainly one of the better ones probably in the last couple of years in terms of overall depth,’’ Holmgren said. “Compared to ‘03, it would be difficult now because you look back at those players and there were a lot of impact players from that draft. So, that’s probably for future debate.’’

That said, Holmgren knows his chances of landing a quality player are better at, say, No. 5 than No. 11.

“We probably have to be prepared to do anything if the right thing comes up,’’ he said. “I think every day there’s more and more talk from around the league. I know I’ve talked to more guys in the last few days, so I know there’s certainly potential for movement of picks. Up, down, I think some teams are looking to trade their picks for the right player.

“I like where we’re at. I think we’re going to get a good player at 11. I mean if you can move higher, then you know, to get into the guys you really like, that you think are probably franchise players, you probably got to get up in the top four.”

Holmgren believes there will be a lot of movement because of the compliance buyouts. The Flyers have already parted ways with Danny Briere and Ilya Bryzgalov. Tampa Bay said good-bye to Vinny Lecavalier.

“I think there’s going to be lots of funny stuff happening in the next 10 days,’’ Holmgren said on Wednesday, “leading up to July 5.

“There’s potential for lots of things to happen because of the buyout, potential buyouts which might become another point. It’s a very competitive league and we’re all trying to do what the Blackhawks just did.’’

Burlington County Times LOADED: 06.30.2013

683058 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers top picks last 10 years

Posted: Saturday, June 29, 2013 4:12 pm | Updated: 8:07 pm, Sat Jun 29, 2013.

Wayne Fish

How the Flyers' last top draft picks have fared (note: not all were in first round):

2003: Jeff Carter (11th overall). Had several big years in Philadelphia, then was traded, later wound up in Los Angeles and won a Stanley Cup last year.

2004: Rob Bellamy (94th overall). Flyers had no picks in first two rounds. Made it as high as the Phantoms for three years. Now with Elmira Jackals in ECHL.

2005: Steve Downie (29th overall). Came with a lot of baggage. A tough kid but a little out of control. Has bounced around, currently playing for Colorado Avalanche.

2006: Claude Giroux (22nd overall). Ranks with Bill Barber, Peter Forsberg and Brian Propp on the franchise's best first-pick-of-the-draft selection list.

2007: James van Riemsdyk (2nd overall). Expectations were just too high, plus he was haunted by No. 1 Patrick Kane's success. Now playing well in Toronto after trade for Luke Schenn.

2008: Luca Sbisa (19th overall). Too bad the Flyers couldn't hang onto this talented kid but someone had to go in the Chris Pronger trade. Now a regular with Anaheim.

2009: Adam Morrison (81st overall). Flyers never signed him and now he's developing in the Boston Bruin program.

2010: Michael Chaput (89th overall). There were high hopes for this kid but then the goalie was shipped to the Columbus Blue Jackets (sound familiar?)

2011: Sean Couturier (8th overall). Hardly a day goes by that Paul Holmgren's phone doesn't ring with other GMs inquiring about the kid's status. As for ability, just ask Evgeni Malkin after the 2012 playoffs.

2012: Scott Laughton (20th overall). Started last year with the Flyers, then went back to junior. Holmgren believes he has a chance to challenge for a full-time job this year.

--Wayne Fish

Burlington County Times LOADED: 06.30.2013

683059 Philadelphia Flyers

NHL Draft: Flyers' Paul Holmgren and Co. already negotiating

Sunday, June 30, 2013

By ROB PARENT

NEWARK, N.J. — There is always more excitement inside the building than out when it comes to the NHL Draft, and that’s especially true this year since it’s being held in Newark, N.J.

Much of the excitement Saturday night, however, was coming from across the river in Midtown Manhattan, where many NHL execs were gathered to discuss player movement in one way or another.

Reportedly, that included the Flyers. Despite plans to stay home until today, general manager Paul Holmgren, chief exec Peter Luukko and company were said to be heading to New York to join the bidding for Vincent Lecavalier, the longtime Tampa Bay Lightning star center that is now a pending unrestricted free agent via a compliance buyout. The Flyers would be one of several teams or more who would possibly offer up bidding packages to Lecavalier’s representatives.

Meanwhile, the Flyers have reportedly floated Braydon Coburn’s name as potential trade bait as they continue to work on freeing up salary cap space for a free-agency season that Holmgren says will be wide open.

“I think there’s going to be lots of funny stuff happening in the next 10 days or 9 days, leading up to July 5,” he said Wednesday. “It’s a very competitive league and we’re all trying to do what the Blackhawks just did.”

That would be win a Stanley Cup, not buy one.

Meanwhile, a kid named Seth Jones will have that same Cup dream dancing in his head at Prudential Center today for a draft that won’t start until 3 o’clock in the afternoon — Happy Hour in Newark.

According to Joe Sakic, now dressing himself up as the executive star in charge of the Colorado Avalanche, he’d be perfectly happy drafting Nathan MacKinnon, projected as a dominant center who indeed dominated the Quebec junior ranks playoffs this spring. The only caveat to that is that there are still a lot of people who think Sakic is blowing smoke when it comes to MacKinnon, and that Sakic’s little buddy Jones will be Colorado’s selection.

Why?

“That was kind of the moment I can remember I wanted to be a hockey player, and eventually raise the Cup one day,” Seth Jones said at a prospects luncheon Friday afternoon in nearby Weehawken.

So now shouldn’t it be expected that Sakic make Jones’ dreams come true ... especially when Jones happens to be the top-rated player in the draft according to many a hockey draft geek?

“No, not at all,” Jones said. “No. 1 is special, but at the same time, there are a lot of great players who haven’t been No. 1 and they went on to have great careers.”

Jones has drawn comparisons to premier physical defenders with an offensive touch ... a guy like Chris Pronger, for example.

“It’s pretty cool to be put in that category,” Jones said. “I’m at a loss for words for anybody to say that.”

If Jones, who cut his teeth playing for two years in the U.S. National Team Developmental Program, isn’t taken by the Avalanche, then the draft will turn instantly intriguing for the Flyers.

For as vacant as their organization is when it comes to defensive prospects, they’d love to get Jones or another defender much like him, Darnell Nurse. It’s just that selecting at No. 11, it would be awfully difficult to move up far enough to get those guys.

“He’s a big guy, obviously,” Holmgren said of the 6-foot-4, 205-pound Jones. “He has a lot of range in his game. He’s a great skater. He’s good with the puck. I wouldn’t call him physically dominating in terms of hitting, but he dominates with his stick and his hockey sense.”

Jones might have 10 or 15 pounds on him, but Nurse is every bit 6-4, too, and is working to add bulk to a presence, which already can intimidate.

“As a player I’d like to fashion my game after Shea Weber,” Nurse said. “He has a lot of impact, not only in the defensive zone but in the offensive zone, and he just keeps it simple.”

This is not a Draft Day that would seem to go off as simple as it should. Those so-called “amnesty buyouts” and changing budgets are conspiring to produce a lot of trade talk, and positioning for the start of the free agency period July 5. The Flyers, having already dispatched Danny Briere and Ilya Bryzgalov and their combined annual cap hits of nearly $12.2 million via compliance buyouts, could fall into that. With the amnesty buyouts, coupled with the four-year, $21 million contract Holmgren made official with defensive free agent Mark Streit this weekend, the Flyers were $4.2 million below the anticipated $64.3 million cap.

Perhaps they’re trying to clear Coburn’s $4.5 million lot in order to try to free up enough space to bid for Lecavalier or make some other grand move. And maybe not.

If they don’t make a trading move that influences their current selection spot, they could be looking at a nice consolation draft prize on defense. Perhaps they could get Ryan Pulock and his 100 mph shot, or ready-now physical defender Rasmus Ristolainen or even hulking Russian defender Nikita Zadorov.

“I think that you have to have an open mind,” Holmgren said. “Eleven is a good spot. I think we’re going to get a good player, but if we can move up the food chain and get what we agree is a better prospect, you’ve got to look at it if it makes sense.”

Delaware County Times LOADED: 06.30.2013

683060 Philadelphia Flyers

Here's who might be available to the Flyers if they keep their draft pick

Sunday, June 30, 2013

By ROB PARENT

If the Flyers don’t move up in the draft, there are a few very intriguing prospects that could be had at No. 11:

■ Valeri Nichushkin

18, left wing, 6-4, 196

A rare Russian forward in that he not only uses his size, he seems to enjoy it. Nichushkin is thought to be able to develop into the type of skilled power forward who likes to run over people, and people in the NHL will like to see that.

That said, there are some doubts about the work ethic he put into the combine, meaning that it’s possible he might drop from an anticipated top-10 spot.

■ Rasmus Ristolainen

18, defense, 6-4, 207

A Finnish defender who is almost a finished product. Played two years against men in the Finnish ranks, showing a proclivity for being physical. Needs to develop a bit more offensively, but has impressive skating, shooting and passing skills and seems just right for a defense-poor organization like Philadelphia’s.

■ Nikita Zadorov

18, defense, 6-5, 221

Another Russian playing in the Canadian junior ranks who got a strong look-see by the Flyers. The boy has already made a name for himself as a hitter, pure and simple. The Flyers tend to like kids like that.

As a bonus, he’s a willing fighter, yet puts his hands to better use than just clenching them all the time. Could be a true find.

■ Ryan Pulock

18, defense, 6-0, 211

Raw prospect, played hurt ... and still has a shot that once was clocked at 101 mph. Yes, 101.

That alone will put his stock on the rise in the first round. But right now, this converted center and his awesome slapshot could possibly be available when the Flyers’ turn comes up. He’ll need some real defensive seasoning, but his offensive prowess could be too intriguing to pass up.

■ Curtis Lazar

18, forward, 6-0, 190

Anywhere there’s a draft involving the Flyers, there is at least some attention paid to the kind of player they used to solely concentrate on — gritty Canadian wingers who play responsible games.

In the tradition of Mike Ricci, comes Curtis Lazar. He’d be a safe pick, and probably an effective, two-way winger in the NHL within two years.

Delaware County Times LOADED: 06.30.2013

683061 Philadelphia Flyers

With so much uncertain, might as well mock the draft

Sunday, June 30, 2013

By ROB PARENT

NEWARK, N.J. — What, a mock draft for the NHL? Not even the great, all-knowing Mike Mayock’s smarter and cooler brother could do something worthwhile with that. Picking what hockey team takes whatever hockey teen is anyone’s guess, especially this year, when an anticipated mass selloff of high contracts via compliance buyouts might spur a flurry of trade activity when the draft kicks off today at 3 at Prudential Center.

So from this vantage point, here’s another best guess of how that draft’s first round will go. Call it a mock “mock draft” ...

1. Colorado Avalanche to Florida Panthers: In their first draft together as Real Fantasy Bosses, former Colorado Avalanche stars Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy have fun playing the management game. The guys were honest (brutally so in the Roy’s case) players, but now they get to be professionally dishonest because, well, that’s what the job calls for. So after Honest Joe spent the past week talking up Nathan MacKinnon as a No. 1 overall choice, and talking down the idea of taking his friend Popeye Jones’ kid, defensive prospect Seth Jones, he does the right thing by everyone.

He trades the No. 1 overall pick to Florida, which takes MacKinnon, who at 17 is a year away at most from lighting it up as a scoring center.

2. Florida Panthers to Colorado Avalanche: This pick goes to the Avs, which of course use it to take Seth Jones ... keeping everyone happy in Colorado’s new extended family.

3. Tampa Bay Lightning: Having cut $10 million man Vinny Lecavalier from the salary cap, GM Steve Yzerman does the logical thing and replaces that spot with a 17-year-old Russian kid from Finland named Aleksander Barkov, who projects to be a point-per-game scorer at center even if he doesn’t know what country he should play for at the Olympics. As for the money he’s saving, Stevie Y decides to spread it around for free agents who might have at least some knowledge of keeping the puck out of the Lightning net.

4. Nashville Predators: Holding on valiantly to the intimidating defensive presence everyone else wants in Shane Weber, and at only $20,000 or so per minute during the season, Preds GM David Poile shocks the crowd by smiling when he takes the podium. Then he shocks everyone some more by taking Rasmus Ristolainen ... essentially an 18-year-old Weber wannabe.

5. Carolina Hurricanes to FLYERS: Continuing a long tradition that dates back 20 years, ’Canes GM Jim Rutherford consults with former colleague and lifelong friend Paul Holmgren to see if he can help him out. The result is the ’Canes trade down to No. 11, handing the No. 5 pick to the Flyers in exchange for the No. 11 and the rights to Sami Kapanen and Keith Primeau. The NHL quickly voids the deal, so Rutherford takes Braydon Coburn instead. Holmgren also agrees to send Carolina a late-round pick that the Flyers don’t want to use because they want to leave the draft early, then throws in a box of cigars for Jimmy.

With that, Bob Clarke steps up to announce the Flyers’ pick, but he forgets the kid’s name. So Holmgren takes the mic in front of red-faced model of impatience Gary Bettman and announces Darnell Nurse is the Flyers’ new D-man.

A piercing scream goes up from the crowd at Prudential Center, and the Philadelphia media quickly hone in on the source of the noise. It’s Donovan McNabb, better known as Darnell Nurse’s uncle, who is waving a white towel and yelling his support for the kid. Unfortunately, Uncle Don then gets sick at his seat.

6. Calgary Flames: Still seeking to recover from trading longtime star Jarome Iginla and then seeing their Saddledome washed away in a flood, the Flames throw out their draft plans and are still wondering why top CHL prospect Jonathan Drouin is available at No. 6. They take him, and all seems well in Rodeoland.

7. Edmonton Oilers: Having failed on several fronts to make trades in order to free up the money for a long-term contract for Sam Gagner, Oilers GM Craig MacTavish takes Valeri Nichushkin, who is projected as a 6-4 guy who likes to run over people at his wing position. The Oilers need to get a little more physical.

8. Buffalo Sabres: The Sabres, who never have a clue when it comes to drafting, developing and actually holding onto scoring talent, try again by getting Sean Monahan.

9New Jersey Devils: Lou Lamoriello, privy to the rumors that some company is about to take majority ownership of the Devils, decides he needs a name player to keep The Kingdom of Lou as his own. So he takes Tie Domi’s kid. The attendees at Prudential Center, most of whom are given seats as compensation for helping to park cars before the draft, go crazy and anticipate a fight to break out right then and there. But aside from being the same size as his pugilistic pug of a dad, Max Domi is actually a small, skilled player. Lou figures he’ll score a lot of goals ... and if Devils fans don’t know any better, well, so what?

10. Dallas Stars: Spending all their time trying to acquire old guys with high salaries through trades and pending free agent signings, the Stars call out Elias Lindholm on a whim. He is apparently is a highly rated center. Then they get back to the phones.

11. FLYERS to Carolina Hurricanes: NOW it’s Jimmy’s turn. So he calls Paul Holmgren to ask for suggestions, then orders up a plate of Hunter Shinkaruk. Despite the stinky name, this forward will wind up to be the steal of the 2013 draft. At least he will be when all the Canadian media soothsayers tweet that he is.

12. Phoenix Coyotes: Some guy who says he represents the Coyotes is about to announce his selection when Bettman stops him. The NHL commish wipes his brow, shakes his head with an odd grin, then promptly announces he’s moving the pick to Seattle, and, oh yeah, the team is going with the pick. The now declared Seattle franchise takes a defenseman named Samuel Morin because he’s 6-foot-6, and the people of Seattle are used to basketball players.

With that, Bettman then goes back to the mic and declares the 2013 draft, which began at 3 p.m., is suddenly suspended. Apparently, NBC has decided to lock out all its union personnel after consulting with NHL officials on how to run an entire draft in seven hours.

What a perfect way to wrap up the season that never was.

Delaware County Times LOADED: 06.30.2013

683062 Philadelphia Flyers

Darnell Nurse isn’t picky, just wants to play in NHL

Sunday, June 30, 2013

By ROB PARENT

WEEHAWKEN, N.J. — Darnell Nurse knew what his job was supposed to entail Friday. Eat a buffet lunch, shake a lot of hands, and tell the media gathered here at a posh but blazing spot along the Hudson River what their readers and listeners wanted to hear: Sure, he’d love to play for their favorite hockey team.

So to members of the Devils media came an outpouring of affection for Scott Stevens. And for the Philadelphia contingent, well, of course this still growing 18-year-old had grown up admiring former Flyers defensive star Chris Pronger.

He talked of Pronger’s ability to dominate the defensive zone, his ability to skate, his offensive contributions and, mostly, the snarl with which he played.

“That’s something you’ve either got or you don’t have,” Nurse said. “Absolutely ... I have it.”

Perhaps that’s what he’s told a series of teams interested in making him a top-shelf selection this weekend at the NHL Draft festivities, and that’s why Nurse was one of six elite prospects being put on display at this watery spot outside of a Sheraton hotel Friday afternoon.