From Nashville, Tennessee to Raleigh, North Carolina, we go from a legendary draft to draft with a legendary player. While the 2004 draft wasn’t as great as the drafts before and after it, this draft has possibly the best 1 and 2 picks with Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin.
I would like to say that I will now add picks in each draft that we were in possession of and the trade that sent them away. Also, the picks that we used that we got from a trade will be noted and a synopsis of the trade to get it will be included.
First Pick: Round 3 Pick 27 (92)
Original Pick: Rob Bellamy (RW)
New Pick: Thomas Greiss (94) (G)
Well, having your first pick in the 3rd round never really is fun, and didn’t turn out well. Fun fact, if you click on Rob Bellamy’s name from the 2004 draft wiki page it takes you to his sister’s wiki page and down to the “Family Life” section. His sister was more successful having played in the CWHL and NWHL after college (she played for Boston in both leagues). Rob on the other hand never made it to the highest level in men’s ice hockey getting to the AHL for a few seasons before going over to England for a year and then playing in the ECHL. Thomas. Greiss has had a decent NHL career. Picked just two spots later, Greiss would play in 282 games for the Sharks, Coyotes, Penguins, Islanders before the 2020-21 season would start and would end the 2019-20 season with a career of 137-90-28 with 13 shutouts, a 2.63. GAA, and a .915 sv%. He currently plays for the Detroit Red Wings.
Others in contention: none
Second Pick: Round 4 Pick 3 (101)
Original Pick: RJ Anderson (D)
New Pick: Ryan Callahan (127) (RW)
This pick was acquired in a February 19, 2004 trade that sent Jim Vandermeer, ColinFraser and LA’s 2004 2nd (41-Bryan Bickell) to the Chicago Blackhawks for Alexei Zhamnov and this pick.
Anderson wasn’t the the best choice. He would play 11 games in the AHL, but mostly playing in the ECHL, then playing Scandinavia, last playing in the 2012-13 season. Ryan Callahan, though, was a way better player. In 757 games with the Rangers and Lightning, Callahan had 186 goals and 200 assists for 386 points. He was a part of the first, and so far only, captain for captain trade in the NHL, when the Rangers traded him to Tampa Bay for Martin St. Louis.
Others in contention: none
Third Pick: Round 4 Pick 26 (124)
Original Pick: David Laliberte (RW)
New Pick: Kris Versteeg (134) (RW)
Laliberte was an ok pick. He would play 11 games with the Flyers getting 2 goals and 3 points, but would mostly be an AHL player, getting 61 goals and 77 assists for 138 points in 250 games before going over to Europe. Kris Versteeg would have a good NHL career. In 643 games played with the Blackhawks, Maple Leafs, Flyers, Panthers, a second stint with the Hawks, the Hurricanes, Kings, and Flames Versteeg would put up 149 goals and 209 assists for 358 points. He. was named to the 2009 NHL All Rookie Team, and would win the 2010 and 2015 Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks.
Others in contention: Torey Mitchell (126)
Fourth Pick: Round 5 Pick 13 (144)
Original Pick: Chris Zarb (D)
New Pick: Roman Polak (180) (D)
The highest Chris Zarb ever played was 4 games for the Philadelphia Phantoms. He mostly played in the ECHL before going to play in Scotland and France. Roman Polak played in 806 games with the Blues, Maple Leafs, Sharks, and Stars. In those 806 games he put up 26 goals and 114 assists. for 140 points.
Others in contention: none
Fifth Pick: Round 5 Pick 18 (149)
Original Pick: Gino Pisellini (RW)
New Pick: Mikhail Grabovski (150) (C)
Gino Pisellini played 32 games in the AHL registering a goal and an assist for 2 points, and got 1 goal and 8 assists for 9 points in 57 ECHL games. Mikhail Grabovski was picked next and would definitely have a better career. He reached the NHL playing in 534 games for the Canadiens, Maple Leafs, Capitals, and Islanders scoring 125 goals and 171 assists for 296 points.
Others in contention: none
Sixth Pick: Round 6 Pick 7 (170)
Original Pick: Ladislav Scurko (C)
New Pick: Anton Khudobin (206) (G)
This pick was acquired in a June 22, 2003 trade that sent our 2003 7th round pick (223- Dany Roussin) to the Florida Panthers for this pick.
Scurko’s North America hockey career started and ended in juniors playing in the WHL. He would play just 3 more seasons of professional hockey in Europe. Anton Khudobin has been in the NHL longer than Scurko’s whole hockey career. By the end of the 2019-20 NHL season, Khudobin has played in 218 games with the Wild, Bruins, Hurricanes, Ducks, and the Stars. In those 218 games he has a record of 99-76-25 with 8 shutouts, a 2.46 GAA. and a .919 sv%. Although he hasn’t won any awards, he is considered one of the best backups currently and probably would’ve won the 2020 Conn Smythe had he helped the Stars win the Cup. He is still playing for the Stars as of today.
Others in contention: none
Seventh Pick: Round 6 Pick 8 (171)
Original Pick: Frederick Cabana (C)
New Pick: Troy Brouwer (214) (LW)
This pick was acquired in a June 21, 2003 that sent Marty Murray to the Carolina Hurricanes for this pick.
Cabana played in 113 AHL games, all for the Phantoms, scoring 13 goals and 23 assists for 36 points, along with a brief stint in the ECHL before going to Europe. Troy Brouwer has played in 851 games with the Blackhawks, Capitals, Blues, Flames, and Panthers. In those 851 games, he has scored 182 goals and 181 assists for 363 points. He was on the 2010 Stanley Cup winning Blackhawks team.
Others in contention: Matt Hunwick (224)
Eighth Pick: Round 8 Pick 5 (232)
Original Pick: Martin Houle (G)
New Pick: Pekka Rinne (258) (G)
This pick was acquired in a March 8, 2004 trade that sent Chris Therien to the Dallas Stars for this pick and a 3rd rounder in 2005 (89)
Martin Houle did play one NHL game for the Flyers during the 2006-07 season, but otherwise played mostly in the AHL and ECHL. I would like to add that he only played 2 minutes, but Dan still probably has his jersey somewhere. Pekka Rinne is leaps and bounds better, you should know this. He has spent his whole 659 game career with Nashville. In those 659 games, excluding the 2020-21 season, he has a record of 359-201-74 with 58 shutouts, a 2.42 GAA and a .917 sv%. Oh, and he also has scored a goal too. He has been to the NHL All Star Game in 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019. Was on the 2017-18 NHL First All Star Team, and the 2010-11 NHL Second All Star Team. Was on the 2009 NHL YoungStars Team, and Rookie of the Month in February 2009. He was a finalist for the Vezina in 2011, 2012, and 2015 before finally winning it in 2018.
Others in contention: none
Ninth Pick: Round 8 Pick 16 (253)
Original Pick: Travis Gawryletz (D)
New Pick: Mark Streit (262) (D)
Gawryletz would split time between the AHL and ECHL while in North America before going over to Europe. He is now an NHL official and has officiated more NHL games than he played, which isn’t hard cause that number was 0. Mark Streit was a solid defenseman in the NHL for many years. He played in 786 NHL games with the Canadiens, Islanders, Flyers, and Penguins. In those 786 games he scored 96 goals and 338 assists for 434 points.
Others in contention: none
Tenth Pick: Round 9 Pick 30 (286)
Original Pick: Triston Grant (LW)
New Pick: Jannik Hansen (287) (RW)
Triston Grant played in 11 NHL games between the Flyers and Predators getting 1 assist. He spent most of his career in the AHL. Jannik Hansen would go on to play 626 games with the Canucks and Sharks; scoring 109 goals and 147 assists for 256 points.
Others in contention: none
Eleventh Pick: Round 9 Pick 35 (291)
Original Pick: John Carter (C)
New Pick: John Carter
This pick was acquired in a June 22, 2003 trade that sent a 2003 8th (255-Raimond Danilics). and 9th (286-Zbynek Hrdel) round picks to the Tampa Bay Lightning for 2004 7th round pick (227-Chris Campoli) and this pick.
John Carter was the last pick of the draft, so he automatically was the best choice, of course. excluding unsigned free agents. He never played after his 2nd year of Division III ice hockey with Trinity College.
Others in contention: none
Draft Picks Traded Away
1st (25th-Rob Schremp)+Jeff Woywitka+2005 3rd to Edmonton for Mike Comrie
2nd (60th-Brandon Dubinsky)+Guillaume Lefebvre+ATL 2003 3rd to PHX for Tony Amonte (PHX then traded the pick to LA)
7th (221st-Daniel Taylor)+2003 4th (129-Patrik Valcak) to LA for Dmitry Yushkevich
7th (from Tampa 227-Chris Campoli) to NYI for Mattias Timander.
Flyers Real 2004 Draft
Rob Bellamy
RJ Anderson
David Laliberte
Chris Zarb
Gino Pisellini
Ladislav Scurko
Frederick Cabana
Martin Houle
Travis Gawryletz
Triston Grant
John Carter
Flyers New 2004 Draft
Thomas Greiss
Ryan Callahan
Kris Versteeg
Roman Polak
Mikhail Grabovski
Anton Khudobin
Matt Hunwick
Pekka Rinne
Mark Streit
Jannik Hansen
John Carter
By Noah Caplan (@Phlyers24)
Photo creds: Wikipedia
brotherlypuck.com 