Flyers take Swedish LW in 5th round
In the fifth round of today's NHL draft, the Flyers have selected left wing Oskar Lindblom from Sweden. He played this past year on Brynas in the Swedish Elite League.
Scouting reports list the 6-foot, 185 pound 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.
The Flyers continue to stockpile defenseman. 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 Travis 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, position, HT, WT
1 (17) Travis Sanheim, Calgary Hitmen, D, 6-3, 189
2(48) Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Val d'Or, RW, 5-11, 187
3 (86) Mark Friedman, Waterloo Blackhawks, D, 5-10, 185
5 (138) Oskar Lindblom, Brynas (Sweden) LW, 6-2, 187
6 (168)
7 (198)