2019 NHL draft: 5 players in combine who might interest Flyers at No. 11

Share

The 2019 NHL Scouting Combine has been underway in Buffalo, New York, this week and runs through Saturday.

General manager Chuck Fletcher, assistant general manager Brent Flahr and the scouting staff will continue doing their homework leading up to the June 21-22 draft in which the Flyers hold the 11th overall pick.

Let's take a look at five players participating in the combine who might interest the Flyers at No. 11:

Victor Soderstrom, D, 5-11/179, Brynas (SHL)

One of the better blueliners in the draft, Soderstrom is known as a smooth and skilled player with the all-around package. The NHL Central Scouting's third-ranked European skater played 44 games this season in the competitive Swedish Elite League.

The Flyers have drafted four forwards in the first round over the past two drafts and haven't selected a defenseman in the first round since Ivan Provorov in 2015, so replenishing the position will be important. The Flyers also have a recent track record of drafting Brynas products.

Cole Caufield, RW, 5-7/162, USA U-18 (NTDP)

Yes, those are Caufield's correct measurements. While he's tiny, he can flat-out score the puck. In 64 games this season with the U.S. national U-18 team, Caufield went off for 72 goals and 100 points. He has a big-time shot and adeptly uses his size.

In 2018, the Flyers drafted two players (Joel Farabee, Gavin Hain) out of the U.S. national team development program. The club has added more size into the pipeline, so snatching a smaller winger shouldn't be a problem.

Next season, Caufield will play at the University of Wisconsin, joining Flyers prospect Wyatt Kalynuk, a junior with the Badgers.

Peyton Krebs, C, 5-11/180, Kootenay (WHL)

The Flyers have always liked versatile centers and Krebs is one. The WHL product is elusive, makes plays and sees the ice. He does a lot for the ICE, who went 13-45-10 this season. He scored 68 points (19 goals, 49 assists) in 64 regular-season games during 2018-19 and had a strong U-18 IIHF World Junior Championship performance, scoring 10 points (six goals, four assists) in seven games for Canada.

Interestingly, his head coach with the ICE is James Patrick, the uncle of Flyers center Nolan Patrick.

Thomas Harley, D, 6-3/188, Mississauga (OHL)

A defenseman that possesses quality size, length and upside, Harley had the fourth-most assists among OHL defensemen this season with 47, to go along with 11 goals over 68 games.

He turns 18 on Aug. 19 and is the 11th-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting.

Philip Broberg, D, 6-3/199, AIK (Allsvenskan)

Broberg is a Swedish blueliner with elite skating ability and excellent size. He moves the puck up the ice like a forward and has played against strong competition.

NHL Central Scouting had Broberg third in its midterm marks for European skaters before slotting him fifth in the final rankings.

Click here to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games easily on your device.

More on the Flyers

Contact Us