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Flyers Draft news

Believe it or not these dudes are not members of the hot new emo band that will be headlining this years Warped Tour. No, they are Flyers second round draft pick Kevin Marshall and 5th rounder Mario Kempe.

The big news of course was that Flyers used the #2 overall pick to select "the young John Leclair", NJ's James Van Riemsdyk. Van Riemsdyk was highly rated and excelled at the world juniors, but as a product of the US Developemental program has not faced the grind of a actual season like a Canadian Junior player. He will play next year for the University of New Hampshire.

The Flyers actually traded up (draft pick) to select Marshall, a stay at home defensemen from the QMJHL who is known for getting under his opponents' skin. Marshall was completely stoked to selected by the Flyers. And while Holgrem likened him to Danny Markov, I am going one better in the reminds-me-of-this-former-Flyer match-up game and dub him the next Moose Dupont. Or maybe Davy Havok

In a bit of a shocker, Paul Holgrem selected Garrett Klotz in the third round.

"He's tough and aggressive," Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said.

Translation: 2 goals and 107 penalty minutes. While I endorse the drafting of a goon/potential power forward, did it have to come in the third round?

The Flyers had no fourth round pick, their next selection was Kempe. Kempe is a Swede who plays in the QMJHL. Supposedly this guy is a great skater and stick handler who doesn't pass and hates to get physical. Sort of an anti-Flyer.

In the 6th round the Flyers chose Patrick Maroon (US Juniors- yeah this league really exists) and Jonathon Kalinski (Minnesota State- this really exists too). Maroon may turn out to be a great pick. This guy scored 95 points and recorded 155 pm in 57 games. He is going to Ferris State (again, not fictional) next year.

Finally the Flyers selected goalie Brad "Slim" Phillips (US National Program) in the 7th round. Phillips has had some success in international competition. He is a Sean Bradley like 6 ft 2, 163 lbs. More detailed ananlysis here. Flyers brag about the Phantoms of the future here.