Parent, Sbisa tops Flyers defensive prospects rankings

Back in the 1970’s, the Flyers drafted players such as Tom Bladon (72), Larry Goodenough (73), and Behn Wilson (78). In the 80’s it was Jeff Chychrun (84), Gord Murphy (85), Kerry Huffman and Murray Baron (86). In the 90’s it was Chris Therien (90), Dmitri Yushkevich (91), and Janne Niinimaa (93). So far this decade, the only defensemen that have made any kind of an impact on the team would be Dennis Seidenberg and Joni Pitkanen (both drafted in 02).
As you can see from the Flyers’ draft record, only defensemen drafted in the 70’s have had any major impact on the team. Bladon and Goodenough were both part of the Flyers cup winning teams in the 70’s.
Bladon is clearly the best offensive defenseman the Flyers ever drafted scoring scored 75 goals and 171 assists in five seasons during the regular season and the playoffs with the Flyers. Despite Bladon’s success, Mark Howe and Eric Desjardins are the Flyers all time leading scorers by a defenseman.
Howe scored 146 goals and 387 assists during his career with the Flyers, while Desjardins scored 107 goals and 340 assists.
Unfortunately for the Flyers, no defenseman in team history has ever won a Norris Trophy. Only former Flyer Paul Coffey has won the Norris, but he won the trophy as a member of the Edmonton Oilers. Coffey played in only 94 games for the Flyers.
Things are definitely looking up at the defensive position, not only with the parent club but overall within the organization as well. What was once the worst position in terms of depth is now the Flyers greatest strength. With the drafting of Luca Sbisa last season, the Flyers have drafted 15 players as the team’s first pick overall.
Ranking this year’s defensive prospects was easily the most difficult in all of my years in ranking Flyers prospects. It probably should be a top 10 list rather than a top 5 list it is that good. You can easily make a case for at least six prospects to be the team’s best defensive prospect. It was a dirty job but hey we had fun doing it.
Here is a look at what we consider to be the top 5 defensive prospects in the Flyers system. (All stats are as of January 14 2009)
1) Ryan Parent – (AHL)

Parent came over to the Flyers in the Peter Forsberg deal in 2007. Parent is being looked upon as a future shut down defenseman. A former member of Team Canada during the World Jr. Championships in 2006 and 2007, Parent was part of Team Canada’s top defensive pairing with New York Rangers prospect Marc Staal.
Parent will be relied upon to be one of the top Flyers defenseman for years to come. Currently he is a victim of the salary cap. He had an injury during preseason that kept him off skates until recently. Parent is with the Philadelphia Phantoms (AHL) on a rehab assignment. Unless a trade is made, or someone gets injured, Parent will be in the AHL for now, but next season he should start the season with the Flyers.
Parent is a smooth skater who can be either a stay-at-home defenseman or a puck carrying defenseman. Unless a trade is made to add another puck mover into the Flyers lineup, Parent might be forced into that role in the future. With Matt Carle on the roster, Parent will focus on being a stay-at-home defenseman.
Outlook – Parent could very well become one of the Flyers top 2 defenseman for the next 10 years. He won’t remind anyone of past Flyers, but people could very well remember Parent for years to come.
2) Luca Sbisa – (AHL)

Photo courtesy of the Phiadelphia Flyers

Sbisa burst onto the scene after being drafted 19^th overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. The Italian born native is as physical as he is a tremendous skater. Currently is a healthy scratch during recent Flyers games, but he has played in 38 games so far this season and has impressed everyone.
Like Parent, Randy Jones is back from an injury. That has put Sbisa up in the press box for now. The question now is, do the Flyers send him back to juniors for more playing time, but if they do he won’t be able to return to the Flyers lineup until after his junior season is over.   Sbisa is the youngest Flyers draftee to have ever made the Flyers roster as a defenseman. That should say a lot about his skill level.
Outlook – The Flyers have a very good prospect on their hands. Handling him well in his development will be the key for his success. The Flyers do not have a history of being patient, but even they know Sbisa can be like Parent and stay with the big club for years to come.
3) Denis Bodrov – (KHL)
The Flyers rarely draft well when it comes to Russian born prospects, but Bodrov appears to be the exception to the rule. A second round pick in 2006 (55^th overall), Bodrov is currently playing in the KHL for Lada, but before the season began Bodrov was being courted by Flyers General Manager Paul Holmgren to come to training camp.
Bodrov decided to wait until next season, but with the amount of talent on the Flyers blueline these days, things could get very complicated. Holmgren feels Bodrov may be NHL ready. If so it could make for an interesting training camp in September, especially when you consider that Bodrov will not stay in the states unless he is a part of the Flyers roster, which makes sending him to the AHL not an option.
According to www.russianprospects.com he is not a goal scorer but he is considered a “smooth, effortless skater. He is not a speedster, but doesn’t get out skated. He doesn’t throw the body around. Okay strength, doesn’t get out muscled on the boards”.
Outlook – If he can continue to improve on his skating he just might make the big club next season. He is a true dark horse to make the team next season.
4) Michael Ratchuk – (AHL)

Photo courtesy of the Phiadelphia Phantoms

Defensemen rarely get noticed on a team that wins the NCAA championship, which is what Ratchuk was as a member of Michigan State in 2007.   You can bet that the Flyers noticed his contributions during the Frozen Four tournament.
Still, when you are 5′ 11″, getting noticed can become a problem, but not if you have the speed of Ratchuk. During the Flyers rookie camp in the off-season, Ratchuk clearly established himself as one of, if not the fastest Flyers prospect. Unfortunately for Ratchuk, he is not blessed with an offensive game which might force Ratchuk, due to his lack of size, to become a checking forward if the Flyers decide his size becomes an issue. So far the Flyers have no moved him to forward, but that could change in training camp.
Outlook – Despite the knock on his size, Ratchuk was drafted with the new rules on obstruction in mind. If can make the translation at the minor pro level, taking him at the second round might make the Flyers look good for years to come.
5) Kevin Marshall – (QMJHL)

Photo courtesy of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

Marshall, who was taken in the second round (41^st overall) in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, is a solid hitter who is starting to show a bit of an offensive side as well.
The Flyers did sign Marshall in the off-season so they obviously did see something they like about his game. If his reputation continues to grow as being one of the QMJHL’s best hitters, the Flyers could have a two way threat on their hands.
Outlook – Marshall has the potential to be ranked first on our list next season. You can bet he will most likely be ranked go pro next season and start with the Phantoms. Marshall is definitely in the Flyers long term plans and for good reason.
Other Notables

Photo courtesy of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

Leaving Marc-Andre Bourdon off the top 5 list was a difficult choice because he is clearly the Flyers best offensive defenseman. He was a third round pick in 2008 (67^th overall). Currently Bourdon is second in the QMJHL in scoring by a defenseman with 13 goals and 30 assists in 40 games for Rimouski.  
R.J. Anderson is in his senior season at the University of Minnesota. A former 4th round pick in 2004, Anderson decided to return to Minnesota for his senior season and will most likely start next season in the AHL, but with four seasons under his belt he could impress management enough at training camp to start with the Flyers. If not, a full season in the AHL wouldn’t hurt his development.
Chris Zarb, a 6′ 4″ native of San Diego, Ca, started the season in the ECHL with the other Flyers affiliate, the Mississippi Sea Wolves, but he is currently up with the Phantoms. Don’t be surprised if he makes our top 5 next season along with Anderson depending on how the Flyers draft and trades pan out.
Overall Outlook Add Bourdon into the mix and the Flyers have six players who could all start in the NHL one day. If the NHL salary cap goes down due to economics, it might not be far fetched. In fact, you can bet at least one of them will be moved as part of a bigger package to land an established NHL defenseman at this years trade deadline since most teams are looking for young defenseman to be part of any trade, and the Flyers can afford to let go of at least one of them.
Well there you have it folks, the Flyers top 5 defensive prospects. Next time, we finish our series of Flyers prospects by taking a look at Flyers top 5 goalies.
Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@Prohockeynews.com .