Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Posted: 4:59 p.m.
By Sarah BaickerCSNPhilly.com
Just three weeks ago, Flyers fans thought little of the teams upcoming prospect camp. Like last year, as of the close of the 2010-11 season, there wasnt much hype surrounding any of the young skaters expected to get invites from the team.
But that was thenand in todays Philadelphia hockey climate, three weeks might as well be an eternity. Now, instead of a group made up of Phantoms, college kids and a player or two capable of, perhaps, not much more than a short stint at the NHL level this year, there are a few prospects worth keeping an eye on. That group is highlighted by Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier.
Schenn, the highly touted young center acquired as part of the deal that sent captain Mike Richards to the L.A. Kings, is expected to crack the Flyers lineup this year. At just 19 years old, hes already been compared to a young Richards by general manager Paul Holmgrenand prospect camp will be the Flyers coaches first chance to work with him on ice.
Couturier, 18, was the eighth-overall pick in last months drafta pick the Flyers received when they traded Jeff Carter to the Columbus Blue Jackets. His performance in camp could provide a big clue as to whether hes got a shot at making the NHL this season. The big center (hes 6-foot-4) could give the Flyers brass a lot to think about through the remainder of the summer if hes able to dominate his matchups this week.
On the blue line, the most intriguing participant is Erik Gustafsson, the 22-year-old Swede who played three games for the big club last season. Andreas Lilja, the free agent defenseman the Flyers picked up last week, is expected to become the teams No. 6 D-manbut an impressive camp could be Gustafssons first chance to prove he deserves that spot, instead.
On-ice sessions at camp kick off Wednesday at 9 a.m., and will run from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. On Monday, July 11, the on-ice session will run from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. All practices and scrimmages during prospect camp are held at the Flyers practice facility at Skate Zone in Voorhees, N.J., and are open to the public.
NHL
Friday, July 8, the participants head to Stone Harbor, N.J., for the annual Trial on the Isle event, which includes a mini-triathlon, hockey clinic and autograph session.
E-mail Sarah Baicker at sbaicker@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow her on Twitter at @SBaickerCSN.
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