Flyers lack of depth at center an issue

PHILADELPHIA, Pa – For a franchise known for coveting quality centermen over the years, the cupboard appears pretty bare these days in the Flyers farm system is officially at its lowest point in years.
There use to be a time when you could pretty much set your clock as to when the Flyers would make a trade for another teams top, but underachieving, center prospect.
Still, the Flyers have always drafted centers as well as made trades to build the middle of the ice. Harken back with me as we take a stroll down memory lane for just a moment and ask if any of these names ring a bell. How about Pavel Brendl, Alexandre Daigle, Chris Gratton, Eric Chouinard, Daymond Langkow, Dean McAmmond, Petr Nedved, and of course, Eric Lindros. These days, at least with the Flyers parent club, 2 of the top 3 centers should be on All-Star team this year: Jeff Carter and Mike Richards. Daniel Briere was an all star in 2007. That’s where the good news ends. As you will see, the number of quality center after the big 3 is all but gone. Today’s focus is on the Flyers’ center position throughout the team’s list of prospects and ranking the top five. (All stats are as of January 5, 2009) 1) Jared Ross – (AHL) Although he just turned 26 in September, Ross just barely makes this years rankings. This was a tough call to make between Ross and his Philadelphia Phantoms teammate, Jonathan Matsumoto. We give a slight edge to Ross for his playmaking ability. The 5′ 9″ Huntsville, AL native might have a home in south Philly on a permanent basis if Ross can prove that leading the Phantoms in scoring last season was not a fluke. This year Ross has 18 goals and 31 assists in 25 games, while last season Ross had 18 goals and 31 assists in 25 games, last season he had 23 goals and 39 assists in 67 games to lead the Phantoms. Ross spend four years at the University of Alabama-Huntsville and was a solid scorer. Ross is on pace to set career highs in both goals and assists. If the decide to move Glen Metropolit in the off-season, Ross could make Flyers the roster come in October. Outlook – The Flyers rarely give someone a shot unless they were already drafted by the team, and since Ryan Potulny was traded to Edmonton, Ross did move up the charts. Still, like Potulny, another organization might take notice of him and give him a real shot to make a roster. 2) Jonathan Matsumoto – (AHL)

Another consistent goal scorer from Bowling Green University who spent three seasons as one of the team’s best players finishing with 49 goals and 64 assists in 110 career games. A former third round pick in 2006, you can bet that Matsumoto will get a long look come training camp this September. Like Ross, Matsumoto isn’t big, but he plays that way. Last season with the Phantoms he finished fifth in points (20 goals, 24 assists). This season he is again fifth in points (20), but is tied for second on the team in goals with 13. His career high in goals is 20. On a team with so many good scorers, Matsumoto might get lost in the shuffle, but as a former third round pick, you can bet the Flyers will give Matsumoto a longer look than Ross will get. That is not a knock on Ross, it’s just an organizational trait the Flyers have. Outlook – Matsumoto’s future might be on another team with Daniel Briere, Jeff Carter, and Mike Richards ahead of him, but like Ross it might come down to money if Matsumoto makes the roster as the Flyers might have to cut payroll down the road. He is a left handed shot and might be better served to move to left wing if he is to have a future with the Flyers. 3) Darroll Powe (AHL) Powe is in his third season of professional hockey out of Princeton University. His career high in goals is 13, his senior season. Currently Powe is up with Flyers due to injuries and centering the fourth line. Standing at 5’11” 204 pounds, Powe will not provide a scoring touch, but is an effective passer and works hard on every shift. Outlook – Power is a fourth liner at best at the NHL level. 4) Zac Rinaldo (OHL) Rinaldo is a sixth round pick in 2008 (178^th overall), is built like Powe. He is listed as a center on the Flyers web site, but he is listed as a left winger on the OHL’s web site where he is playing for Mississauga. In 34 games Rinaldo has 6 goals and 7 assists, good for 10^th on the team. His career high in goals is 16 when he played for the Hamilton RedWings in the OPJHL. Outlook – Like Powe Rinaldo’s future is most likely as a fourth liner at the NHL level. 5) Nate Raduns (AHL) Raduns is a physical player who loves to play along the wall. His 6′ 3″ 205 frame is suited to the Flyers style of play. Like the previous two ahead of him on our list, Raduns will have to show more in order to stick with the Flyers. Raduns has scored more than 10 goals in a season only once (12) in 2007-08 when he played for the Worchester Sharks (AHL). Reduns is a graduate of St. Cloud State (NCAA) where he scored 19 goals and 31 assists in his four years there. Outlook – Stop if you’ve heard this before, but Raduns future is most likely as a fourth liner at the NHL level. Honorable mention – No other centerman are listed as Flyers prospects. As you can tell the current crop of talent is pretty thin and will need to be addressed in the off-season either through a trade or at the NHL Entry Draft. Next time, we will focus will be on the Flyers right wing prospects. Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@Prohockeynews.com