Posted: Friday, March 19, 2010, 5:34 PM | 35 comments |
 

Flyers sign top prospect
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Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren crossed another undrafted free agent off his list this week.

Holmgren confirmed to the Daily News that the Flyers have agreed to a two-year contract – beginning next season – with Colorado College forward Mike Testwuide.

The Colorado Springs (Col.) Gazette said the former Tigers captain agreed to a deal Thursday afternoon, capping off a hectic week that included serious offers from the Rangers, Capitals and Avalanche.

The deal is worth close to the maximum NHL Entry Level contract for top draft picks at $900,000/year (NHL) and $65,000/year (AHL).

Testwuide, 23, was one of the most sought after college players because scouts feel he is close to NHL ready.

The Flyers narrowly missed out on fellow college player Casey Wellman earlier in the week, who signed with the Minnesota Wild after wrapping up two seasons at UMass. Wellman will make his NHL debut tonight in Columbus.

The 6-foot-3, 220 pound winger won’t be playing for the Flyers or Phantoms this season, opting to let an upper body injury heal itself in the offseason.

“Mike will be given every opportunity to earn a roster spot in our 2010 training camp,” Holmgren said.

Testwuide posted 21 goals and 10 assists in 39 games for Colorado College.

“[The Flyers] showed interest and were pretty consistent,” Testwuide told the Colorado Springs (Col.) Gazette. “I liked the organization and the style of play. I think I will fit in well.”

Testwuide will join Colorado Springs native Ben Holmstrom (UMass-Lowell), Luke Pither (OHL's Barrie Colts) and Shane Harper (WHL's Everett Silvertips) as undrafted free agent signees in the Flyers organization.
Posted by Frank Seravalli @ 5:34 PM  Permalink | 35 comments
35
Comments   
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:03 PM, 03/19/2010
    Good to get him instead of the rangers, caps and avs.
    — P Even
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:06 PM, 03/19/2010
    I don't get it...how can he be a top prospect and yet undrafted? So he's the best of the undrafted? I'm not sure how this would get me excited.
    — ant8817
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:11 PM, 03/19/2010
    Well all the forwards in the world won't help if they can't find a decent goalie more than once every 30 years.
    — LGbalsac
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:14 PM, 03/19/2010
    How can he be so good and go undrafted?
    — flyerdup
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:16 PM, 03/19/2010
    Well said, LGbalsac, well said.
    — flyerdup
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:19 PM, 03/19/2010
    Ant8817 - The NHL drafts North Americans from ages 18-20. If you're a late bloomer, you would then be an undrafted free agent. Tim Kerr, Steve Thomas, Dwayne Roloson, Dave Poulin, Adam Oates, Brian Rafalski, Ed Belfour, Dan Boyle, Geoff Courtnall, Steve Duchesne, Chris Kunitz, Andy McDonald -- all undrafted. So there's potential upside here...
    — PhilaLogic
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:28 PM, 03/19/2010
    Players are not often drafted after age 20 because, while they are still eligible for the draft (if from North America, Euros over 20 are not eligible), they are not required to enter the league that way and thus are able to choose the team they wish to play for. This really only applies to NCAA (and a few Canadian College) players because players can only be in Juniors until age 20 at which point they are either drafted or then go to college, or sign minor-league deals... If he never declared for the draft (as he would have to do in any North American Pro Sport), intending to spend the full 4 years in college, he would never be drafted.
    — Ckott
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:29 PM, 03/19/2010
    Got it...well he has some size...if he can skate then I am all about it because this team needs a net presence.
    — ant8817
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:34 PM, 03/19/2010
    PhilaLogic, North Americans can be drafted after age 20, but it is not required, Euros are not eligible after that age due to previous (and the, slowly trickling in, new) transfer agreements with the IIHF and the individual national federations.
    — Ckott
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:54 PM, 03/19/2010
    Go Boosh!
    — DavidLeeRoth
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:55 PM, 03/19/2010
    Ckott, the NHL site says players 21 or older (who've played a year in North America) are not eligible. Maybe I'm reading it wrong? But the larger point is the same. And thanks, regardless, for offering facts. These boards could be interesting and dynamic if so many others weren't using them to work out their emotional issues by whining incessantly.
    — PhilaLogic
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:35 PM, 03/19/2010
    Let me take a stab at pronouncing this kids name....sounds like Test-woodie to me
    — TommyGun
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:46 PM, 03/19/2010
    Agreed, PhilaLogic. And, by the way, they should never have traded Cliff Lee.
    — 1980
  • Comment removed.


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About Frank Seravalli
Frank Seravalli is in his fourth year with the Daily News and third season covering the Flyers. He started at the Daily News as an intern writing about the boozing legends of the Lincoln Financial Field lots and hasn't left. Since joining the Flyers beat, he has covered everything from the Winter Classic to the Stanley Cup Final and everything in between. Prior to joining the Daily News, the Bucks County native did a large amount of freelance work for local media outlets, covering high schools, colleges and all four of Philly's major sports teams. He resides in Center City. E-mail Frank at seravaf@phillynews.com and follow him on Twitter @DNFlyers.

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