From Los Angeles, California to Minneapolis, Minnesota we see the Edmonton Oilers claim the 1st overall pick once again and select Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and then Gabriel Landeskog went to the Avalanche and Jonathan Huberdeau to Florida. This draft was a pretty good one as well. This was also when the news that the Atlanta Thrashers were moving to Winnipeg to become the Winnipeg Jets broke and had Winnipeg’s first pick, Mark Scheifele. They didn’t even have a jersey ready for him so he got a blank, black NHL jersey.
First Pick: Round 1 Pick 8 (8)
Original Pick: Sean Couturier (C)
New Pick: Nikita Kucherov (RW) (58)
This pick was acquired in a June 23, 2011 trade that sent Jeff Carter to Columbus for Jakub Voracek, Columbus’s 3rd, and this pick.
Sean Couturier is a phenomenal player, and has been fantastic for the Flyers. He and Voracek really made this Jeff Carter trade a massive W, and Columbus lost both of their Carter deals. In 692 NHL games with the Flyers, Coots has 174 goals and 269 assists for 443 points. Coots has seen his offense explode in the past few seasons, but has always been known for his strong defensive play that has resulted getting votes for the Selke in all but one of his NHL seasons and earning two nominations and finally won the trophy for the 2019-20 season. He has also gotten Byng votes in two seasons and was 9th in Calder voting in the 2011-12 season. Nikita Kucherov has cemented his place as one of the top players in the world. In 515 NHL games with the Lightning, Kucherov has 221 goals and 326 assists for 547 points. In the 2018-19 season Kucherov got 128 points that led to him getting the Art Ross, Hart, Ted Lindsay, an All Star Game appearance, and a spot on the NHL’s First All Star Team. That season was the highest point total by a player since Mario Lemieux got 161 points in the 1995-96 season. On top of that, Kucherov has gone to the 2017 and 2018 All Star Games, was on the 2017 and 2020 Second NHL All Star Team, and on the 2018 First NHL All Star Team. He won the Cup in 2020. He had also gotten votes for the Selke, Byng, and Hart in multiple different seasons.
Others in contention: Dougie Hamilton (9), Jonas Brodin (10), Rickard Rakell (30), Scott Mayfield (34), John Gibson (39), Vincent Trochek (64)
Second Pick: Round 3 Pick 7 (68)
Original Pick: Nick Cousins (C)
New Pick: Johnny Gaudreau (LW) (104)
This pick was acquired in a June 23, 2011 trade that sent Jeff Carter to Columbus for Jakub Voracek, Columbus’s 1st, and this pick.
Nick Cousins was the other part that the Flyers got in the Jeff Carter trade. In 376 NHL games in Philadelphia, Coyotes, Canadiens, Golden Knights, and Predators he has 46 goals and 69 assists for 115 points. He has served as a serviceable bottom 6 forward. And now another major miss by the Flyers was bringing Johnny Hockey to his home team. IN 520 NHL games with the Flames he has 170 points and 324 assists for 494 points. He was 1 point shy of 100 in 2018-19. He has gone to the NHL All Star Game from 2015 to 2019. He was on the 2015 NHL All Rookie Team and won the 2017 Lady Byng. He was a finalist for the 2015 Calder, 4th in Hart voting in 2019 and is a perennial Byng contender. Plus, we wouldn’t have to hold our breath about bringing Johnny home when he has made remarks about wanting to play for Philly at some point.
Others in contention: Blake Coleman (75), Jordan Binnington (88), Jean-Gabriel Pageau (96), Tobias Rieder (114)
Third Pick: Round 4 Pick 25 (116)
Original Pick: Colin Suellentrop (D)
New Pick: Andrew Shaw (C) (139)
Colin was a complete bust. He played four years at University of New Brunswick before retiring. Andrew Shaw isn’t a sexy pick like the first two, but Andrew Shaw carved out quite a good career. In 544 NHL games with the Blackhawks and Canadiens, he had 116 goals and 131 assists for 247 points. He retired during the 2020-21 season. He was a part of the 2013 and 2015 Cup winning Hawks teams. Shaw finished 12th in Calder voting in 2011-12. He was one of the biggest tough guys in the NHL, and played with an edge that isn’t seen as much today.
Others in contention: Sean Kuraly (133)
Fourth Pick: Round 4 Pick 27 (118)
Original Pick: Marcel Noebels (LW)
New Pick: Josh Manson (D) (160)
This pick was acquired in a July 19, 2010 trade that sent Simon Gagne to TB for Matt Walker and this pick.
Marcel Noebels played less than 100 AHL games for the Phantoms before going back to Germany. Josh Manson has made a decent career as a top 6 defenseman. In 408 NHL games with the Ducks, he has 22 goals and 82 assists for 104 points.
Others in contention: Laurent Brossoit (164),
Fifth Pick: Round 6 Pick 25 (176)
Original Pick: Petr Placek (RW)
New Pick: Ryan Dzingel (RW) (204)
Petr Placek never played higher than at Harvard. Dzingel has played 372 games for the Senators, Blue Jackets, and Hurricanes, and in those games he has 82 goals and 98 assists for 180 points.
Others in contention: Dylan DeMelo (179), Colin Blackwell (194)
Sixth Pick: Round 7 Pick 25 (206)
Original Pick: Derek Mathers (RW)
New Pick: Ondrej Palat (LW) (208)
Mathers was a career AHL and ECHL player until he retired after the 2016-17 season. Ondrej Palat has been a great top 9 player for the Tampa Bay Lightning. In 551 games with the Lightning, Palat has 125 goals and 249 assists for 374 points. He was on the 2014 NHL All Rookie Team and helped the Lightning win their Stanley Cup in 2020. He was runner up in the 2014 Calder race behind Nathan MacKinnon. He has received Selke votes in 3 seasons and was 35th in Byng voting in 2018.
Others in contention: Scott Wilson (209)
Draft Picks Traded Away
1st (25-Stuart Percy)+3rd (86-Josh Leivo) to TOR for Kris Versteeg
2nd (56-Lucas Lessio)+Scottie Upshall to PHX for Daniel Carcillo
PIT’s 3rd (84-Harrison Ruopp (conditional: would go to PHX if PHI signed Ilya Bryzgalov before the 2011 Draft))+2012 3rd (81-Oskar Sundqvist)+Matt Clackson to PHX for the rights to Ilya Bryzgalov
5th (146-Mattias Backman)+Ole-Kristian Tollefsen to DET for Ville Leino
Flyers Real 2011 Draft
Sean Couturier
Nick Cousins
Colin Suellentrop
Marcel Noebels
Petr Placek
Derek Mathers
Flyers New 2011 Draft
Nikita Kucherov
Johnny Gaudreau
Andrew Shaw
Josh Manson
Ryan Dzingel
Ondrej Palat
By Noah Caplan (@Phlyers24 and @NoahlyPod)
Photo creds: Wikipedia
brotherlypuck.com 