From Columbus, Ohio to Ottawa, Ontario the Senators actually get to host the draft they were told they would, and if they were upset about not hosting the draft of Sidney Crosby, well they would host the draft of defensemen. This draft was highlighted by 1st pick Steven Stamkos, but the draft produced some amazing defensemen like Drew Doughty, Alex Pietrangelo, Erik Karlsson, John Carlson, Travis Hamonic, Tyleer Myers, Slava Voynov (good player, bad person), Justin Schultz, TJ Brodie, and Jared Spurgeon. Just imagine a top 6 of Doughty, Karlsson, Pietrangelo, Carlson, Josi, and Spurgeon (or any of the other defensemen I named). This was also a pretty good goalie draft with Jacob Markstrom, Braden Holtby, and Jake Allen.
*Note, all point totals are from before the 2020-21 season, unless noted otherwise*
First Pick: Round 1 Pick 19 (19)
Original Pick: Luca Sbisa (D)
New Pick: John Carlson (D) (27)
This pick was acquired in a June 20, 2008 trade that sent RJ Umberger and a 4th (118-Drew Olson)to Columbus for a 3rd(67-Marc-Andre Bourdon) and this pick (Colorado’s pick)
Oh boy, we got a defenseman in this amazing defensive draft, who’d we get? Luca Sbisa….oh ok. Sbisa has had a decent NHL career. In 548 games with the Flyers, Ducks, Canucks, Golden Knights, Islanders, and Jets he has 20 goals and 93 assists 113 points. Sbisa is currently playing for the Predators. His biggest contribution to the Flyers was being a part of the trade to bring Chris Pronger to Philly (fun fact: that was the 2nd time Joffrey Lupul was traded for Chris Pronger). John Carlson is a painfully fun story. The 27th pick was ours. We traded it to Washington which is highlighted below in the “Draft Picks We Traded Away” section. He is exactly someone we could use. A steady RHD that has tremendous offensive upside. It was tough to choose between him and Josi. Anyway, in 757 NHL games all with the Capitals he has 105 goals and 373 assists for 478 points. Carlson was on the 2011 NHL All Rookie Team, went to the 2019 (won Hardest Shot) and 2020 All Star Games, was on the. Second All Star Team in 2019, and on the First All Star Team in 2020. Carlson has been in the top 10 for Norris votes 4 times coming in 2nd last year (2019-20). Carlson was a huge part of the 2018 Washington Capitals that finally won a Cup.
Others in contention: Jordan Eberle (22), Tyler Ennis (26), Michael Del Zotto (20), Jacob Markstrom (31), Jake Allen (34), Slava Voynov (32), Roman Josi (38)
Second Pick: Round 3 Pick 6 (67)
Original Pick: Marc-André Bourdon (D)
New Pick: Adam Henrique (C) (82)
This pick was acquired in the trade that got them the 19th pick.
Bourdon played 45 games for the Flyers in 2011-12. In those 45 games he had 4 goals and 3 assists for 7 points. Otherwise, he played for the Flyers organization, mostly with the Phantoms. Adam Henrique is a lot better than Bourdon, quite frankly. Fun fact: Henrique’s fist goal was against Bobrovsky when he was with the Flyers. In 665 games in the NHL with the Devils and Ducks, he has 186 goals and 192 assists for 378 points. He was a part of. the NHL All-Star Rookie SuperSkills Competition in Ottawa for the 2012 All Star Game. He was Rookie of the Month for December of 2011. He was 3rd in Calder voting for the 2011-12 season. He was a major part of the 2012 Devils team going to the Stanley Cup Finals, scoring the series clinching goals, both in OT, in the 2nd and 3rd rounds (the first rookie to do so).
Others in contention: Zack Smith (79), Adam Comrie (80)
Third Pick: Round 3 Pick 23 (84)
Original Pick: Jacob DeSerres (G)
New Pick: Braden Holtby (G) (93)
This pick was acquired in the John Carlson trade shown below.
How weird, with a pick from Washington, we could’ve picked their goalie. DeSerres played 1 game in the AHL for the Adirondack Flames, that he lost. Braden Holtby has played a bit more games, at a bit higher level than DeSerres. In 468 games played with the Capitals, Holtby has a 282-122-46 record with a 2.53 GAA, .916 sv%, and 35 shutouts. He went to each All Star Game from 2016-2020. Won the Vezina in 2016, along with being on the NHL’s First All Star Team. Won the William M Jennings Trophy in 2017, along with being on the NHL’s Second All Star Team. And he backstopped the Capitals to their first, and so far only, Cup win in 2018. He has received Vezina votes in 2015 and 2017, placing 4th and 2nd respectively. He also received Hart votes in the 3 consecutive season 2015, 2016, and 2017, placing 18th, 4th, and 10th respectively. He currently plays for the Vancouver Canucks.
Others in contention: Cam Atkinson (157), Jared Spurgeon (156), TJ Brodie (114), Gustav Nyquist (121)
Fourth Pick: Round 6 Pick 27 (178)
Original Pick: Zac Rinaldo (C)
New Pick: Jason Demers (D) (186)
We all know Zac Rinaldo. A lot of people loved him when he was here. Always think of him with Carcillo, and Jody Shelly. One of he true enforcers for the Flyers. In 370 NHL games with the Flyers, Bruins, Coyotes, Predators, and Flames he has 18 goals and 24 assists for 42 points. I hope we can all agree that Jason Demers would be the better pick here instead of Rinaldo. In 658 NHL games with the Sharks, Stars, Panthers, and Coyotes he has 45 goals and 165 assists for 210 points.
Others in contention: none
Fifth Pick: Round 7 Pick 15 (196)
Original Pick: Joacim Eriksson (G)
New Pick: Anders Lindback (G) (207)
This pick was acquired in a June 18, 2008 trade that sent Vaclav Prospal to the Lightning for 2009 conditional 4th (if Prospal re-sign in TB) and this pick.
Joacim Eriksson played 1 NHL game for the Vancouver Canucks on January 15, 2014 against the Ducks where he let in 6 goals on 31 shots in just over 36 minutes of play. Anders Lindback would’ve been maybe a decent 3rd goalie. In 130 NHL games with the Predators, Lightning, Stars, Sabres, and Coyotes he had a 45-58-8 record with a 2.87 GAA .904 sv% and 3 shutouts.
Others in contention: none
Draft Picks Traded Away
1st (27-John Carlson) to WSH for Steve Eminger+3rd (84-Jacob DeSerres) YIKES!!!
2007 3rd (84-Phil Desimone)+2nd (58- Dmitri Kugryshev) to WSH for 2007 2nd (41-Kevin Marshall)
3rd (88-Geordie Wudrick) to LA for Jaroslav Modry
Mike York to NYI for Randy Robitaille+5th (148-Matt Martin)
7th (208-Nick Pryor) to ANA for 2009 7th
Flyers Real 2008 Draft
Luca Sbisa
Marc-Andre Bourdon
Jacob DeSerres
Zac Rinaldo
Joacim Eriksson
Flyers New 2008 Draft
John Carlson
Adam Henrique
Braden Holtby
Jason Demers
Anders Lindback
By Noah Caplan (@Phlyers24 and @NoahlyPod)
Photo creds: Wikipedia
brotherlypuck.com 