Flyers looking to draft big-shooting defenseman

NEWARK, N.J. - The Flyers would love to select bruising defenseman Darnell Nurse in the first round of Sunday's NHL draft in Newark, but unless they trade up, he probably won't be there when they make the 11th overall pick.

Rasmus Ristolainen might be a nice consolation prize.

The Finnish defenseman has a lot going for him. He's a righthanded shooter, has imposing size (6-foot-4, 207 pounds), and is regarded as a strong player at both ends of the ice.

Oh, and he plays a physical, edgy style, an uncommon trait for most European players.

Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said Ristolainen, 18, might be NHL-ready.

"He looks like a man right now compared to some of the kids you see," Holmgren said.

Ristolainen, No. 4 on Central Scouting's list of draft-eligible European skaters, logged more than 25 minutes a game last season while playing for Finland's top league.

Other than Seth Jones, Holmgren said, Ristolainen is "probably the most ready [defenseman] to jump right in" and play in the NHL. "Offensively, he looks like a good, solid prospect with a big shot."

Scouts are divided as to whether Ristolainen will be there when the Flyers pick at No. 11.

The Flyers have six picks in the seven-round draft; they dealt their fourth-rounder to Los Angeles for Simon Gagne.

Overall, the Flyers will select 11th, 41st, 72d, 132d, 162d, and 192d. They are exploring moving up in the draft, and may dangle defenseman Braydon Coburn and winger Matt Read in a deal.

Holmgren said there would be some draft surprises.

"You have a lot of scenarios that you run through and mock drafts that you run through. . . . But I guarantee there's going to be at least one player that's taken before we pick that we didn't think would go there," Holmgren said. "And all of a sudden, it throws things into a little bit of a change of dynamic at the time."

Among the Flyers' biggest needs: landing a big, physical defenseman, and getting faster on the front line.

If the Flyers draft a defenseman in the first round - Nurse, Ristolaimen, Ryan Pulock, and Nikita Zadorov are on their radar - they will be more patient with their development, Holmgren said.

Hunter Shinkaruk, a center/left winger, is among the speedy forwards who may be available at No. 11.

Colorado has the first overall pick and is expected to select center Nathan MacKinnon, who had 75 points in 44 games for Halifax of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He seemingly passed Jones with his MVP performance in the Memorial Cup, during which he had 13 points and a hat trick in the title game.

More than 20 prospects have ties to current or former NHL players, including highly touted center Max Domi, whose father, Tie, was a feisty player who was selected 27th overall by Toronto in 1988 and played across 16 seasons in the league.

Projections for the first half of Sunday's first round: