In the wake of the Adam Oates-Maxime Ouellet trade, it's time to update Flyertown's list of the top 10 prospects for the Orange and Black. Regardless of what hockey pundits have written about the big trade, the Flyers did not mortgage their future in this deal. Yes, they gave up a lot. Maybe they even gave up too much. But there's still plenty of hope for the future of this franchise. Young guns already in the NHL like Simon Gagne, Justin Williams, Kim Johnsson, and Ruslan Fedotenko show every sign of being in for the long haul. And the Flyers still have 11 picks in the 2002 draft to work with--yes, even after giving up three picks.
Perhaps more worrisome for Flyers fans is the team's seeming inability to develop strong prospects on the blue line. In the past year or so, the Flyers have given up on a large number of them--shipping them off to various expansion franchises desperate for warm bodies. It's been "bye-bye" to Jason Beckett, Mikhail Chernov, Andy Delmore, Mark Eaton, Francis Lessard, and Joe DiPenta. Petr Hubacek, who once managed to make the Flyers out of training camp, has also been sent off. Hopefully the Flyers can improve their track record with their current blue-chipper, Jeff Woywitka.
So without further ado, here's the updated list. Prospect rankings are based on potential, current production, and my own intuition. In other words, this is just one (fairly educated) fan's opinion.
(6'1, 176 lbs), 6/18/80
6th round (168th overall), 1998
2001-02 STATS: (Through 3/24) 27GP, 1.70GAA
Currently playing for TPS Turku (Finnish Elite League). With the trade of Maxime Ouellet to the Washington Capitals, Nittymaki now inherits the title of "Flyers' Goalie of the Future." Paul Holmgrem has said that the Flyers will probably try to sign Nittymaki this summer and bring him over to play for the Phantoms. While Nittymaki's play suffered a little during the past season due to his military commitments, his play this season has been excellent. He's now the starter for TPS Turku in Finland, and he's had a chance to play for some Finnish national teams. He has the potential to become a number 1 NHL goaltender.
(6'0, 210 lbs), 3/23/81
1st round (4th Overall), 1999 (Note: Selected by NY Rangers, acquired in Lindros trade)
2001-02 STATS (AHL): (Through 3/24) 55 GP, 10G-15A-25P, -15, 18 PIM
Currently playing for the Philadelphia Phantoms (AHL). If I based my rankings solely on skill, Brendl would easily be number 1. No one has ever doubted Brendl's raw potential--he's been ranked in the top ten of the The Hockey News's annual future watch prospect ranking. Brendl hasn't shown the ability to put all the pieces together, however, in the AHL or NHL. After arriving in Philly after the Lindros trade, Brendl said all the right things about making the best of his fresh start. He had an excellent preseason, but he was injured in the Flyers' season opener. He couldn't play as he had earlier, and consequently was sent down to the Phantoms. Even in the AHL, however, Brendl's play has been underwhelming. His numbers, though decent, are far below expectations for someone of his draft position and someone who was the main key in a blockbuster trade. Brendl will once again have a chance to make the Flyers out of training camp in 2002, but he could still end up being one of the biggest busts in Philadelphia since Dainius Zubrus.
(6'2, 209 lbs), 9/1/83
1st round (27th Overall), 2001
2001-02 STATS: (Through 3/24) 72 GP, 14G-23A-37P, +28, 109PIM
Currently playing for Red Deer Rebels (WHL). I recently wrote a long profile called Meet Jeff Woywitka so I won't write too much here. Needless to say, Woywitka is the best defensive prospect in the Flyer system. Though he's still a few years away from the NHL, Woywitka has the best skills of any of the Flyers young blueliners. He's got good skating for his size, and he can put up some points. He disappointed some prospect watchers by failing to make Team Canada's entry for the prestigious World Junior Championships, but overall he's put together a pretty good season. Woywitka will probably spend another year in junior and begin playing for Philly (AHL or NHL) in 2003-2004.
(6'2, 204 lbs), 8/22/80
9th round (253rd overall), 1998
2001-02 STATS: (Through 3/24) 47GP, 3G-11A-14P, +5, 52PIM
Currently playing for the Philadelphia Phantoms (AHL). Of all the Flyers prospects, St. Jacques is the most ready to play in the NHL right now. As I've noted before, St. Jacques has been a sleeper in the Flyer system. Drafted very late in the 1998 (According to legend, Andre "Moose" Dupont--St. Jacques's agent at the time--personally asked Clarke to draft St. Jacques, who had been expected to be a midround pick), St. Jacques is now ranked very high by Flyers management. He almost made the team out of training camp in 2001. He played in several preseason games, and he was the last player assigned to the Phantoms. If the Flyers hadn't acquired to two top-notch defensemen over the summer (Kim Johnsson and Eric Weinrich), St. Jacques would probably already be a regular on the Flyer blueline. As it turned out, St. Jacques did get his first taste of the NHL this year, when injuries to Eric Desjardins and Chris Therien had the Flyers scrambling for warm bodies on the blueline. He acquitted himself very well, moving the puck decently and making some big hits. Of course, he also made some rookie errors! St. Jacques worked particularly well with Eric Desjardins--perhaps it's a French connection--and he is now logging major minutes for the Phantoms (who lost their top two defenseman to injury) in the AHL.
I expect St. Jacques to have a strong chance of making the Flyers at training camp in 2002. While he will never be a true offensive defenseman, his mobile and physical game still make him highly desirable.
(6'0, 180 lbs), 7/18/81
6th round (172nd Overall), 2001
2001-02 STATS (DEL): (Through 2/8) 48GP, 6 G-11 A-17 P, +10, 54 PIM
Currently playing for Adler Mannheim (German Elite League). I must admit that I payed little attention to the name "Dennis Seidenberg" back on Draft Day 2001. Germany isn't known as a major hockey country--the only two NHLers of note from Germany are Marco Sturm and Olaf Kolzig--and Seidenberg was a pretty late pick. In the past nine months, however, Seidenberg has shown that he should have been drafted long before 172nd overall. Seidenberg played for Team Germany at the World Championships last April, which was pretty impressive for a player who was only 19 at the time. Now 20, Seidenberg opened a lot of eyes with his smooth play for the surprising Team Germany at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City. The Flyers are strongly considering bringing Seidenberg over to play in the AHL for the Phantoms next season--they'll have plenty of room, after clearing out their cupboard of defensemen such as Beckett, Lessard, et al. Expect him to make an appearance at the annual prospect minicamp and perhaps also at training camp.
(6'1, 195 lbs), 5/7/81
7th round (227th Overall), 2000
2001-02 STATS (AHL): (Through 3/24) 71GP, 18G-14A-32P, +13, 105PIM
Currently playing for the Philadelphia Phantoms (AHL). Lefebvre plays prototypical Flyers hockey--hardnosed, physical, and gritty. He has surprised observers with his development in the past year. When he joined the Phantoms for the playoffs in the spring of 2001, he quickly made an impression on coach John Stevens. In his ifrst full AHL season, Lefebvre is putting up solid numbers similar to his stats in juniors. In one interview, Stevens noted, ""Some guys go from 50 goals in junior to 30 in the pros. He's the other way. He scored 25 in junior and 25 in pro. It's because he does the little things so well." It's hard to say when or if he'll make an appearance in the NHL. The Flyers depth at forward is going to make it hard for any prospect to crack the lineup. Even with the impending retirement of Rick Tocchet, there are too many forwards who need ice time. I expect Lefebvre to spend another year in the AHL. If the Flyers decide to clean house and go younger at some point in the future, however, Lefebvre will probably be one of the first prospects in line for a callup.
(6'0, 180 lbs), 11/11/81
3rd round (94th overall), 2000
2001-02 STATS (RSL): (Through 2/8) 38GP, 7G-5A-12P, 22 PIM
Currently playing for the SKA St. Petersburg team. Drozdetsky is a bit of a project in the Flyers organization. The Flyers drafted him on the recommendation of their respected European scout, Inge Hammarstrom. On the Flyers' official website, Assisant GM Paul Holmgren describes Drozdetsky as "a skinny guy guy" who needs to improve his strength in order to maximize his potential. If Drozdetsky ever makes it to North America, it will be as a skill player who puts up points. I think he's a long shot to come to North America in 2002-2003, but we could see him in the AHL or NHL in 2003-2004.
Drozdetsky is extra-cool because he shares a birthday with me. Of course, he is a bit younger...
(5'11, 161 lbs), 9/25/77
5th round (158th Overall), 2001
2001-02 STATS (CEL): (Through 2/8) 27 GP, 2.39 GAA
Currently playing for Slavia of the Czech Elite League. Malek is another unorthodox Czech goalie in the tradition of Roman Cechmanek and Dominik Hasek--though his own unique style is different from both of his famous elders. He makes saves with his quickness and agility (unlike Cechmanek, who relies heavily on his size). One of the top goalies in the Czech Elite League, Malek is expected to stay in Europe for at least one or two more years before he considers coming to North America.
(5'11, 185 lbs), 6/8/79
7th round (200th overall), 1999
2001-02 STATS (AHL): (Through 3/24) 60 GP, 20G-19A-39P, -9, 43 PIM
Pletka is a small and occasional defensively suspect player who needs to put up big numbers if he ever wants to crack an NHL lineup. His numbers in the AHL are pretty run of the mill--remember the sort of numbers another Vaclav (Prospal) put up for the Phantoms?--though it's only fair to acknowledge that the Phantoms don't have the offensive weapons that they once did. Pletka has probably been passed by Lefebvre on the Flyers depth charts, because Lefebvre is a more all-around (if less skilled) player than Pletka.
Update 3/26: Pletka has left the Phantoms to sort out "personal problems." There's no word on when or if he will return. Update 3/31: There's been more info on Pletka's departure. Apparently Pletka was very disappointed at not being with the Flyers, complained a bit too much about it, and was sent packing by Bob Clarke.
(6'2, 194 lbs), 7/19/79
7th round (195th overall), 1998
2001-02 STATS (AHL):(Through 2/8) 48 GP, 10 G-15A-25P, -9, 32 PIM
Played most of this season with the Philadelphia Phantoms (AHL), recently loaned to Springfield Falcons (AHL). Divisek had his lone NHL callup late last season, and he looked a bit overwhelmed by the play. Since then, he's been a decent (if not overly impressive) forward for the Phantoms. I was a little puzzled by his loan to Springfield Falcons--the Phantoms got a goalie to replace Max Ouellet in exchange--and wonder how this will effect Divisek's development. Divisek has a history of playing well with Vaclav Pletka. Like Pletka, Divisek could be an NHLer at some point, but right now he's being leapfrogged by younger prospects.
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