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Flyers select 3 defensemen & 3 forwards

The Flyers chose three defensemen and three forwards in Ron Hextall's first draft as general manager.

There was a little more emphasis on speed and the Flyers continued to build their defensive depth in the system.

The draft concluded with rounds 2-7 on Saturday at the Wells Fargo Center, the first time the Flyers have hosted the event.
Counting the three defensemen taken this year, the Flyers have now selected 11 at that position in the last three drafts.

"I think it was  pretty decent draft," Hextall said. "There were still some names on the table we liked when it was over, there is depth as you get later rounds it is crap shoot,"

With their final selection in the NHL Draft, the Flyers chose Swedish defenseman Jesper Pettersson in the seventh round (198th overall).

The Flyers selected their second player from the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League when they drafted forward Radel Fazleev in the sixth round (168th overall).

That is the same team as Flyers first round pick Travis Sanheim.

An 18-year-old Russian, Fazleev had five goals and 20 assists in 38 regular season games for Calgary.

In the fifth round the Flyers have selected left wing Oskar Lindblom from Sweden.

Scouting reports list Lindblom as not being a particularly fast skater but won't shy away from contact.

He turns 18 in August. Lindblom is ranked the 23red among European skaters by NHL Central Scouting.

In the third round (86th overall) the Flyers picked defenseman Mark Friedman from the Waterloo Blackhawks of the United States Hockey League.

Counting Friday's first round pick of Sanheim, the Flyers have now selected 10 defensemen over the past three drafts (through the third round).

Friedman will be attending Bowling Green.

This past season he had 10 goals and 30 assists in 51 games for Waterloo.

He said he prides himself on his all-around game.

"I can bring offense and defense, I can be power play guy a penalty kill guy and can be trusted in all situations," Friedman said.

Friedman, who turns 19 on Christmas Day, was ranked 124th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting.

Earlier, the Flyers selected center-wing Nicolas Aube-Kubel with their second round pick. He was selected 48th overall.

Aube-Kubel competed for Val d'Or of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, where he had 22 goals and 31 assists in 65 regular season games. During the playoffs, he had four goals, 19 assists and a plus-11 rating in 24 games.

He was ranked the 40th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting.

"When I put the (Flyers) jersey on it was very special," Aube-Kubel said. "I heard the screams in the stands, it is amazing."

Flyers picks

Round (overall) name,former team, league, position, HT, WT

1 (17) Travis Sanheim, Calgary Hitmen, WHL, D, 6-3, 181

2(48) Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Val d'Or, QMJHL, RW, 5-11, 187

3 (86) Mark Friedman, Waterloo Blackhawks, USHL, D, 5-10, 185

5 (138) Oskar Lindblom, Brynas,  SWEDEN, LW, 6-0, 185

6 (168) Radel Fazleev, Calgary Hitmen, WHL, C, 5-11, 174

7 (198) Jesper Pettersson, Linkoblig SWEDEN, D, 5-9, 187