With an overall disregard and an organizational back turn on drafting young talent, the Flyers prospect system is among the worst in the NHL. And as of Friday, by officially losing the rights to goaltender and lead prospect Joacim Eriksson, along with defenseman Simon Bertilsson, goalie Nicola Riopel and forward David Labrecque, they began cutting it from both ends.
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Filed under 2011 offseason
The word on 6’0, 190 lbs., defenseman Simon Bertilsson is that if the 2009 NHL draft was not so filled with elite Swedish players, he would have been taken higher. Somewhat overshadowed by the many Swedes in the draft, Bertilsson is a physical, stay-at-home blue liner that is mature in his own zone and thinks the game well.
“We really like Simon,” said Holmgren. “He’s a hard-nosed kid and is good with the puck. We like him a lot.”
Bertilsson has a lot of upside, but he needs to get stronger to be a capable pro defenseman. With his mobility and smarts, he is a solid pick at 87.
Filed under 2009 NHL draft
