Nevertheless, the club is hoping the player it drafts will make a mark down the road.

The Flyers will select 27th overall, and before you start thinking that pickings are slim at that position, consider this: Jimmy Watson, Pelle Lindbergh, Ron Hextall, Rick Tocchet, Chris Therien and Vinny Prospal were among the Flyers selected much later than 27th.

Moreover, Simon Gagne, Mike Richards and Steve Downie are among the current Flyers who were chosen in the same draft neighborhood. Gagne was taken 22d, Richards 24th and Downie 29th.

"I don't know if it'll be an impact player, but we think we can get a good prospect," general manager Paul Holmgren said at an informal news conference yesterday at the Skate Zone in Voorhees.

Then again, there are no guarantees the Flyers will pick 27th.

"We're exploring moving up, moving back, and we possibly could even trade the pick," Holmgren said. "There are a lot of things that could happen."

The first round will be held Friday in Ottawa, Ontario - speedy center Steven Stamkos is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick, by Tampa Bay - while the second through seventh rounds will take place there Saturday.

Because of past trades, the Flyers own only three picks on Saturday: in the fourth round, the 118th selection overall; the sixth, the 178th overall; and the seventh, the 208th overall.

The Flyers have just four overall picks, their fewest since 1968. Holmgren seems eager to deal for more selections. The Los Angeles Kings might make a good trade mate, since they have 15 picks, including 10 in the first four rounds.

Holmgren said his club, strong at forward, would draft the best player available regardless of position.

Centers Zach Boychuk and Evgeny Grachev, defensemen Vjateslav Voinov and Michael Del Zotto, and goalies Jake Allen and Kevin Poulin are among the highly ranked players who could be available at No. 27.

The best 27th overall pick in recent NHL history was made by the New Jersey Devils, who selected center Scott Gomez in 1998. Gomez was the Calder Trophy winner as rookie of the year for 1999-2000.

Free-agent update. The Flyers are negotiating with potential restricted free agents Jeff Carter, R.J. Umberger and Randy Jones. Holmgren said he was hopeful of signing them but was not especially close.

He was close to signing Riley Cote, another potential free agent on July 1.

In addition to signing the Big Three, one of Holmgren's off-season goals is to add a defenseman. Brian Campbell, John-Michael Liles, Mark Streit and Mike Commodore are among potential free agents who could fit the bill.

Bolstering the roster and staying within the salary cap, which is expected to reach $55 million, will be tricky, but Holmgren seemed confident.

Gagne progressing. Simon Gagne, who missed the final 27 games after suffering a concussion, is working out in Quebec and champing at the bit to return, Holmgren said.

Gagne has no ill effects from the concussion, and there's no way of knowing if he's fully recovered until he starts absorbing regular contact.

Holmgren said Gagne needed to be in better condition than he was last year when camp starts.

Notes. Holmgren said there was a better than 50-50 chance that veteran defenseman Derian Hatcher would return to the club. That would make it difficult to sign one of the topflight free agents. Hatcher, limited to 44 games because of injuries last year, has a $3.5 million contract. . . . The Flyers chose forward James vanRiemsdyk with their No. 1 pick, the second overall, in last year's draft, and he collected 11 goals and 23 assists for the University of New Hampshire this season. The Flyers wanted vanRiemsdyk, 19, to join the organization in 2008-09, but the 6-foot-4, 210-pounder has decided to return to college and delay turning pro. . . . The first round of Friday's draft will be televised on Versus at 7 p.m.