NHL DRAFT: Rounds 2-7 Running Blog

* Ginning is a physical defensive defenseman (lefthanded shot) in a similar mold to the role Flyers defenseman Robert Hägg has established. Ginning himself said he patterns his game a bit after Edmonton Oilers defenseman Adam Larsson.
* On the Swedish national U18 team, Ginning was Adam Boqvist's (8th overall - Chicago) steady partner, seeing regular ice time against other teams' top lines.
* Ginning has one season remaining on his contract with Linköpings HC.
NHL Draft Black Book
"Despite being a bigger kid, Ginning has good four-way mobility and is capable of using strong edges to pivot when necessary, this also allows him to prevent players from cutting around him most of the time and close his gaps quickly. He plays with a good pace is his own-end and he competes aggressively, not letting up or giving opponents much breathing room."
Bill Meltzer
"He is a big-framed defensive defenseman who is advanced in his game without the puck. Plays a physical game, and is strong along the boards and in front of the net. Not a bad skater, but can use a little more quickness. Makes a decent first pass, but has room to improve his game with the puck on his stick."
Dobber Prospects
"Ginning is a big defenseman known more for his ability to keep the puck out of his own net rather than filling his opponents. This is Ginning's second season of SHL action having suited up for 12 games in 2016-17."
Flyers Scout: Joakim Grundberg on Adam Ginning
"He's a big guy. Good reach, more of a defensive guy, good with the puck though. Really competitive, plays hard. We like him a lot."

112TH OVERALL
JOHN ST. IVANY (D)
* A puck-moving defenseman with good size, St. Ivany is committed to Yale University beginning in the 2018-19 season.
* An alternate captain and all-situations player in the USHL for Sioux Falls this season. He has two full seasons of USHL experience under his belt as he heads to collegiate hockey.
* St. Ivany went unselected in the NHL Draft last year but saw his stock rise this past season.
McKeen's Draft Guide
"Showed a huge improvement in his ability to drive results."
Bill Meltzer
" St. Ivany is a smart player, on and off the ice, with good puck skills. Has to work on his footwork and overall quickness. Good frame, and his skating should improve as he builds lower-body strength. He also has an occasional physical dimension to his game but ice vision and passing ability are his bread-and-butter skills."
Flyers Scout: Nick Pryor on John St. Ivany
"Jack is a really efficient two-way defenseman. He went through the draft last year and I thought he came a long way this year. His mobility is good, his first pass is good, his transition game is good. We're excited about him and excited about his future."

127TH OVERALL
WYATTE WYLIE (D)
TEAM/LEAGUE: Everett Silvertips- WHL
VITALS: 6'1" | 192 lbs
BORN: Nov. 22, 1999 | Everett, WA
* A righthanded two-way defenseman, Wylie has played both left defense and right defense but is more comfortable on his strong (right) side).
* A teammate of top Flyers goaltending prospect Carter Hart and Riley Sutter (son of former Flyers captain Ron Sutter) on the Everett Silvertips. The team reached the WHL Finals this season, with Wylie posting a +12 rating in 22 games.
* A fluid skater, Wylie is more of a puck-mover than an offensive defenseman. On the other side of the puck, he was part of the Everett penalty kill.
* He recorded 31 points (6g-25a) and was a +12 in 72 games for Everett... He also added eight points (2g-6a) as well as a +12 rating in 22 games.
* A fluid skater, Wylie is more of a puck-mover than an offensive defenseman. On the other side of the puck, he was part of the Everett penalty kill.

Grant McCagg (former Montreal Canadiens' scout)
"Teams are always looking for the late risers in the draft, the prospects who show the most improvement as the season transpires, and particularly when they rise up in the playoffs. Wylie was a stalwart defensively on Everett's run to the WHL finals, showcasing his elite mobility, poise and smarts"
Bill Meltzer
"A poised, good skating defenseman who was a valuable part of Everett's run to the WHL finals. He plays well in a structured, almost NHL-like system in Everett that takes time and space away from opposing attackers. Has a heavy shot and can pinch on occasion but not someone likely to play power play as a pro. Could be a penalty kill rotation guy."
Flyers Scout: Mark Greig on Wyatte Wylie:
"One of the things that's intriguing is that he's a right-hand shot and you look at trying to link your defense up where they're playing on their forehands. [He was] raised in Everett in a minor hockey system, so I think there's some growth left going forward as far as playing at a higher level that's maybe a little bit untapped. His makeup is he's a solid, steady guy. He's a pretty good defender with a nice compete level and he has the ability to make the simple play going forward, so there's nothing really flashy but he's a pretty effective guy."

143RD OVERALL
SAMUEL ERSSON (G)
TEAM/LEAGUE: Brynäs IF Gävle J20 - SuperElit (Swedish Jnrs).
VITALS: 6'2" | 180 lbs
BORN: Oct. 20, 1999 | Falun, Sweden
* A product of the same Swedish club from whom the Flyers previously drafted current prospect Felix Sandström and past prospect Joacim Eriksson, the left-catching Ersson was the backup goalie for Team Sweden at the 2017 Under-18 World Championships. As a late-birthday player, he was ineligible for the tournament this year.
* Ersson was a workhorse for the Brynäs J20 team this season, appearing in 40 games, and posting a .920 save percentage. Also had a cup of coffee with the men's team while Sandström was out with an injury.
NHL Draft Black Book
"Ersson is a modern-day butterfly goalie, who possesses a calm demeanour and fluid movement. His fluidity allowed him to come out of his reverse V-H or drop into it before most short-side shot attempts could get through. His ability to transition from a butterfly to a standing position and visa-versa is impressive. Furthermore, his butterfly is technically refined and this allows him to seal it shut on most shot attempts, as well as being able to absorb rebounds at a high-rate. It works in combination with his plus puck-tracking skills, giving him the ability to square up and stop the initial shot. It's rare to see Ersson have to scramble since he doesn't over-commit on most shot attempts and his rebound control reduces his need to make recovery saves."
Bill Meltzer
"The Brynäs system has typically done a good job at developing young goalies. Ersson fits their usual mold; a good natural athlete with an economy of motion in the net. He will play against pros next season, albeit at the minor league level, on loan to Västerås IK. It will be a good test for him."
Joakim Grundstrom on Samuel Ersson:
"Good size, really good feet, very competitive. You see a lot of upside there, he's in a good spot in Sweden too and we're excited about getting him."

174th OVERALL
GAVIN HAIN (C)
TEAM/LEAGUE: USNTDP - USHL
VITALS: 5'11" | 195 lbs
BORN: Apr. 3, 2000 | Grand Rapids, MN
* A thick-framed, two-way forward, Hain was a teammate of Joel Farabee on the USNTDP this season and a member of Team USA at the Under-18 World Championships.
* Committed to the University of North Dakota, beginning in the 2018-19 season.
* Hain is known as a high-energy, hard-working player. He scored 15 goals this season in a bottom-six role for the USNTDP squad.

NHL Draft Black Book
"Hain is a tenacious player with a thick frame that has a decent amount of skill who adapted well to his forechecking role. He's got a thick and powerful build which allows him to generate power in his stride which gives him a solid top-gear, though his stride is a bit short and his acceleration is below-average. His frame complimented a high-octane motor that he used to create havoc when he was on top of his game. He's consistent at aggressively tracking loose pucks and battling along the boards in an attempt to regain possession and is good at angling his body away from his opponents in order to protect the puck. Furthermore, he likes to enter high-traffic areas regularly where he cuts to the front of the net and look for soft-ice."
Bill Meltzer
"He got off to a slow start this season for the USNTDP, by his own admission, but came along as the season moved along. Hain always keeps his feet moving and doesn't give up on plays."

205TH OVERALL
Marcus Westfalt (C/LW)
TEAM/LEAGUE: Brynäs IF Gävle - USHL
VITALS: 6'3" | 203 lbs
BORN: March. 12, 2000 | Stockholm, Sweden
* Westfalt is a big, strong center who dressed in 31 SHL games this season for the Brynäs IF men's team as well as appearing for Team Sweden in the Under-18 World Championships (two goals in seven games).
\A teammate of fellow Flyers draftee Samuel Ersson this season in the BIF system.
\ Westfalt is known as a defensively sound center, who plays a North American style game.
NHL Draft Black Book
"He can be useful in different ways for a team due to his versatility and smarts. He can play on both special team units. On the PK, he's useful because of his smarts and effectiveness when killing time on the clock. He can hold onto the puck for a long time, and with his long stick, he's good at blocking passing lanes. On the power play, he's been used often by Sweden in international competition as the guy in front of the net. He's big and strong; he's tough to move from the front of the net and doesn't have bad hands to score some goals here and there. ."
Bill Meltzer
"Has shown some promise as a penalty killer and defensively sound center, who plays a basic north-south style game. Strong on the boards and willing to go to the net and can score in tight. He battles and competes. He will have to improve his skating and work on his puck skills. The work ethic is there. Hard-working kid."