Close friends Crouse, Konecny could end up with Flyers

Left winger Lawson Crouse and right winger Travis Konecny, best friends since their early years, could be drafted in the opening round of Friday's NHL draft - and there's even an outside chance both will be selected by the Flyers.

Getting drafted in the first round "has been a dream of ours," Konecny said at the scouting combine in Buffalo earlier this month. "I hope we're able to experience that together. . . . As much as we're best friends and help each other, we're also competitive and we push each other."

"We've been best friends since we were 6 years old," said Crouse, who was Konecny's schoolmate and teammate while growing up in Ontario. "It's been a lot of fun going through this and we're very proud of each other."

The Flyers have the seventh and 29th picks in the first round. Crouse is expected to be available at No. 7 and would get strong consideration from the Orange and Black. Craig Button, TSN's draft guru, rates Crouse as the 10th-best prospect and Konecny at No. 33.

Both wingers starred in the Ontario Hockey League this season - Crouse had 51 points in 56 games with Kingston, Konecny had 68 points in 60 games with Ottawa - and they bring something different to the table.

The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Crouse is a power forward who creates havoc in front of the net. He thinks he can play in the NHL "right away. Obviously I know it's tough to get to that level, and I'll do whatever it takes over the summer to get there."

Crouse, known for the physical style that was Eric Lindros' trademark, doesn't lack confidence.

"A lot of my skills are underrated. I believe in myself as a player and I know I have the skill and the ability to play in the National Hockey League," he said.

Konecny, who stands 5-10 and weighs 175 pounds, is a whippet on skates, somebody who creates scoring chances with his blistering speed.

"I wake up every day thinking there's somebody better than me, and I just want to push to be the best," he said.

Crouse said he models his game after the Rangers' Rick Nash and Boston's Milan Lucic.

"I like to play like a more-skilled Lucic, but I do have that ability to play strong and play mean and tough," he said. "And given the opportunity, I can bury the puck like Rick Nash."

At Kingston, Crouse was known as the Sheriff. "I stand up for my teammates and am willing to do whatever it takes to win," he said.

The Flyers will open the season Oct. 8 at Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay, while their home opener is Oct. 12 against Florida and Jaromir Jagr. The rest of the schedule will be announced Thursday. . . . Button on rugged 6-3, 211-pound winger Mikko Rantanen, whom the Flyers will consider at No. 7: "I don't think you're ever going to see him be that 70-point scorer; he's going to be that player who just helps you win. He gets chances around the net because he's determined and smart. He may not have the great finishing hands, but he's going to create lots of offensive chances and strong offensive-zone possession. He reminds me of [former Dallas winger] Jere Lehtinen in that he can make everybody around him better." . . . Defenseman Nick Luukko, who played at Vermont and whose father, Peter, used to be the Flyers' president, signed with the Phantoms.

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