Flyers Prospect Camp 7/9-7/15

This week marks the annual Philadelphia Flyers Prospect Camp where Flyers rookies, draft picks, and select amateurs showcase their skills and talents in front of Flyers staff.  Among the 43 players invited to participate are 2012 draft pick Anthony Stolarz, the Flyers first overall draft pick.  We have listed our top 5 players to watch at this years Flyers Prospect Camp taking place at the Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, NJ.

1. Jason Akeson (C, 38)

The Flyers signed Akeson as an undrafted free agent in 2011 from the Kitchner Rangers of the OHL.  A talented forward, Akeson lead all rookies in scoring this season, as well as leading the entire Phantoms team with 14 goals, 41 assists for a total of 55 points.  Akeson possess a lot of offensive skill while also playing a strong two way game.  With strong puck handling ability and the capabilities to pass the puck efficiently, Akeson proved in his rookie campaign in the AHL that he possesses the knowledge and skill to play at the NHL level.  Although his size limits him, Akeson makes up for it with immense hockey talent and a proven track record.  In his junior campaign with the Kitchner Rangers, Akeson tallied 68 goals and 168 assists for 254 points in 201 regular season games and shows improvement after each season.  Keep an eye out for Akeson this week; you may see him this season wearing a Flyers jersey this fall.  

2.  Brandon Manning (D, 23)

Flyers fans may remember Manning as he played in 4 games for the Orange and Black.  Filling in nicely on the blue line while the Flyers suffered some defensive injuries, Manning has a high hockey IQ and knows how to anticipate where the play will go.  His short stint with the Flyers showed that he can apply his hockey intelligence to the NHL and adapt to the transition.  With a 6'1 frame, Manning is a little on the small end among NHL defensemen, however his grit and tenacity make him a fan favorite.  With the Adirondack Phantoms, Manning posted 6 goals, 13 assists, and 81 PIM.  Manning combines a strong defensive game with great puck moving abilities, and with a defense core that is lacks a strong third pairing Manning has a strong chance of sticking with the club this season.

3.  Anthony Stolarz (G, 79)

The Flyers first overall pick in this year's draft, Stolarz has something that most goalies do not have; size.  His  6'5 200-lbs frame gives Stolarz an edge in the net.  Stolarz has the ability to drop quickly into the butterfly and take away much of the bottom of the net.  Even quicker is his post to post mobility; a skill that is imperative in today's game.  Posting a strong performance in the USHL with Corpus Christi, Stolarz posted a 2.84 GAA and a .920 save percentage in 50 games with the IceRays.  A journeyman goaltender in the USHL, Anthony Stolarz has a lot of determination.  Already committed to University of Nebraska-Omaha this fall, Stolarz will not appear for the Phantoms anytime soon.  However remember the name Stolarz as he may be starting for the Orange and Black in the next few years.

4.  Nick Cousins (C, 72)

Nick Cousins was drafted by the Flyers in the 3rd round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft from the Jeff Carter trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets.  This past season with Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL, Cousins lead all players in scoring with 35 goals, 53 assists for a total of 88 points.  In addition to his offensive upside, Cousins also has a grittiness to his game that Flyer's fans will admire.  Cousins put together 28 multi-point games with the Greyhounds in the 2011-2012 season.  It will be interesting to see if Cousins can translate his game to the professional level.  Cousins has a unique blend of grit and offensive skill that resemble Brad Marchand.  Look for Cousins to make an impact this season with the Adirondack Phantoms.

5.  Oliver Lauridsen (D, 7)

Few may know of Lauridsen, but his 6'6 frame makes him tough to miss.  This past year with the Phantoms, Lauridsen tallied 4 goals and 3 assists in 65 games; not too bad for someone making the jump from college hockey at St. Cloud State to the professional level.  Drafted by the Flyers in the seventh round (196th overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Lauridsen still has a way to go before making it to the show, but a lot of scouts like him because of his extremely hard work ethic.  With the loss of Chris Pronger imminent, Lauridsen may be able to fill in with his size.  In today's NHL, players like Pronger, Chara, and Buffalo's Tyler Meyers show that having a big defenseman can help your team tremendously.  Typically defensmen take longer to develop, but the Gentofte, Denmark native (playing for an impressive Denmark at the World Junior Hockey Championships) will definitely compete for the few spots that remain on the Flyers blue line.