PHILADELPHIA, Pa – When scouts and General Managers headed into the 2003 NHL entry draft, most experts considered the draft to be one of the best in overall talent in recent memory. Some drafts get some hype for the superstars that are expected to be taken in the top five picks of the draft, but after that things can get pretty boring, unless you’re the team picking of course.
To tell you just how good the 2003 draft was, only one first round pick has not played a game in the NHL. That “honor” goes to Hugh Jessiman, who was taken by the New York Rangers 12th overall.
The Flyers had two first round picks in the first round that year. One at #11, the pick before the Rangers took Jessiman, the other at #24. Former General Manager Bob Clarke, who had the final say in the Flyers draft picks that season, has always had an affinity for centers. Screwing over the Rangers must have been on Clarke’s mind at the time and made sure Carter would not fall to the Rangers.
Clarke decided to take a “reach” and selected Jeff Carter from the Sault St. Marie Greyhounds instead of the taking someone who was more hyped going into the draft, such as the Los Angeles Kings Dustin Brown (who was taken at #13). That year Carter was rated 27th by Central Scouting, 16th by The Hockey News.
Usually, teams don’t take a player at the same position when they are drafted in the same round, especially the first round, but Clarke once again went for center help by selecting Mike Richards of the Kitchener Rangers at #24. Richards was rated 30th by Central Scouting, 31st by The Hockey News.
Today, no one is calling Carter or Richards a reach when looking back at the draft. In fact, the words “franchise players” are the words most people associated with both players these days. In fact, their journey has been joined at the hip ever since draft day.
Once both players finished with their junior careers in 2005, they joined the Flyers AHL affiliate, the Philadelphia Phantoms for the teams Calder Cup run. Both players helped propel the Phantoms to the Calder Cup championship. Carter was phenomenal scoring 12 goals and 11 assists in 21 playoff games and could have easily been named the playoff MVP. Richards did his part chipping in seven goals and eight assists.
While both players got off to slow starts in the NHL careers, each player has gotten off to better statistics each season they have been in the league. It’s no wonder the Flyers are considered serious contenders to come out of the Eastern Conference.
Today, Carter is leading the NHL in goal scoring with 18 goals in 24 games. Despite Carters goal scoring at a terrific pace, he still only ranks only third on the team in points with 25.
Richards has 26 points and leads the team in face-off percentage (52.0%), and is second on the team in shorthanded goals (3) and in plus/minus (+13).
Simon Gagne has recovered nicely from a concussion filled season in 2007-08 and leads the team in points (31), shorthanded goals (4) and in plus/minus (+15).
Neither player has had a long established career as of yet, but it is pretty safe to say the future looks very bright for the Flyers own version of the dynamic duo.
Brian can be contacted at BRIAN.JENNINGS@PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM
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