On the Philadelphia Flyers …
Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Daily News: The Philadelphia Flyers have plenty of defensive prospects in their organization, but they are a little thin up front. They are expected to go after forwards with size this year at the draft.
The Flyers will select at No. 17 if the Predators win their series against the Sharks, and would at No. 18 if the Predators lose.
Potential first round targets for the Flyers could include Keiffer Bellows, Julien Gauthier, Max Jones, Riley Tufte, Luke Kunin, German Rubtsov, Michael McLeod.
Sam Carchidi: (answering question) Doubt the Flyers would trade Travis Sanheim, but they would probably listen to offers on Sam Morin.
On the Florida Panthers …
George Richards of the Miami Herald: The Panthers and Erik Gudbranson agreed on a one-year contract yesterday. The 24-year old said the one-year, $3.5 million deal will give the team the flexibility to sign Vincent Trocheck and Aaron Ekblad to long-term deals. Gudbranson is eligible to sign a long-term deal after January 1st, 2017.
“This is where I want to be, no doubt, and I will be here,” Gudbranson said shortly after the Panthers were eliminated from the postseason by the Islanders last month.
“The foundation is here. These are the greatest guys I’ve ever played with, and this is most fun I have had playing hockey. It’s a privilege to practice and play with these guys every day and learn from them. As a hockey player, you want to be in an environment where you can learn and be creative and get better every day.”
Panthers captain Willie Mitchell is expected to retire or not be back with the team next year. Gudbranson could be in the mix to be the Panthers next captain.
Harvey Fialkov: The Panthers had been trying to get Gudbranson on a multi-year deal.
