Defenseman raises eyebrows at Flyers' camp
In all likelihood, towering defenseman Oliver Lauridsen will start the season with the AHL Adirondack Phantoms.
Defenseman raises eyebrows at Flyers' camp
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
In all likelihood, towering defenseman Oliver Lauridsen will start the season with the AHL Adirondack Phantoms.
But the 6-foot-6, 236-pound Denmark native with the l-o-o-o-n-g reach raised some eyebrows during the opening of the Flyers' prospect camp Wednesday in Voorhees.
He was one of the most impressive players on the ice _ outshining highly touted Brayden Schenn in a one-on-one drill _ and could be in the mix as the Flyers try to figure out who will be their sixth defenseman during training camp in September.
That Dman will replace veteran Sean O'Donnell, who signed as a free agent with Chicago. (I would have re-signed O'Donnell, but that's a story for another day.)
The Flyers' top five defensemen are Chris Pronger, Andrej Meszaros, Braydon Coburn, Kimmo Timonen and Matt Carle.
The sixth spot figures to go to either Oskars Bartulis, Erik Gustafsson, recently signed Andreas Lilja or Matt Walker, whose $1.7 million cap hit may work against him.
That said, Lauridsen, 22, is an intriguing prospect. He is expected to start the season with the Phantoms, but you never know. (Remember how 18-year-old Luca Sbisa was the surprise of camp in 2008 and made the big-league team?)
Drafted in the seventh round in 2009, Lauridsen played just two games with the Phantoms last season before injuring his shoulder in March and requiring surgery.
"It's hard to find a 6-6 guy who can get around the ice like that," GM Paul Holmgren said. "It's really remarkable the turnaround he's made since the injury."
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Holmgren is still negotiating with RFA Wayne Simmonds....The GM said there is still a chance he adds a (low-level) free agent, but that nothing is imminent.
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Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter at BroadStBull.
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Comment removed.- Who said he was the featured player? No one. Just that figment of your imagination in your negadelphia mind. No one said Jagr is the centerpiece of this team - Giroux, Briere, JVR, Pronger- any of those guys ring a bell? The article is about a new prospect who's had a promising start to camp. Being negative has no place here. Get over yourself and stop trying to fill that empty hole in your life with Flyers hockey.
— gob1234 - Comment removed.
- Just a few months ago during the season, I read about how depleted the Flyers minor league system was (http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/Flyers-have-worst-farm-system-in-NHL.html). I know they got two (should be) gems in Schenn and Couturier in the Richards/Carter trades, but now I'm hearing about all this talent. Lauridsen, Gustafsson, Read, Testwuide, Sestito, Wellwood, Rinaldo, etc. What happened?— Dannyy90
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- they should have spent the $$$ on another top 4 d-man for insurance. with so many new players, they can't wait until the trade deadline. they need chemistry. Sbisa was not NHL ready. Bartulius is not NHL material. Signing Talbot was great. He is a hits leader, Cup ring, and can play center and wing, which means Schenn or Couturier make the roster, Talbot can move to wing.— MichaelZoe
- You're criticizing this guy's size? I'm sure you'd take Chara, no problem.— HandNik
- big isnt always better, let the kid develop some— section707
- i dont think you can say that when you have only seen him play 2 games maybe! i have seen him his whole college career and he is amazing at playing hockey! he is an amazing guy as well and if you bash him because of how big he is that is wrong, he is way better then any other 6-6 230lb d-man out there. the fact that he is here from DENMARK must mean he is good, so just dont say bigger isnt always better cause in oliver's case it is better, he is a great guy who loves his fans and he loves what he does which is hockey. and yeah in hockey big is kinda better cause you would be intimidated going up to him i bet, cause with skates he is like 6-8/6-9 think about that next time! — lauridsenlover
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- reports out of canada have homer convincing both Harts to waive his NMC and Tampa including him in a package with Carle, Bob and Schenn for Stamkos and Gilroy;.....Flyers losing no draft picks in the deal,.....apparently, Homer will not give up any defense unless Hartnell and his 4.2 cap hit is attached to it and somehow he has convinced Harts to waive the NMC,.....maybe he threatened to stash him in the minors, but it looks like Leights is comin back,......would the Flyers then sign Brian McCabe with the extra cap space if this scenario would be true??— SyddBarrett
