Menu

Matt's Flyers Web 
-Home Page
-Flyers Stats
-Flyers Schedule
-Playoff Schedule
-Flyers History
-Flyers Roster
-Flyers Management
-Press Box

NHL Links
-NHL Scoreboard
-Rumor Central
-NHL Standings
-Power Poll

Flyers Links
-Flyers Team Report
-Official Home Page
-Flyers History
-Flyers Tickets
-CoreStates Center
-Flyers Shop
-Other Flyers Links

Interactive
-Flyers Quiz
-Message Board
-Chat Room
-Playoff Prediction
-Flyers Highlight Reel

Camden Post 
June 25, 2001
Sporting News

WOYWITKA BELIEVES HE CAN BE A STAR IN THE NHL
By Chuck Gormley

The Flyers were so confident they would get a quality defenseman with their first pick in the entry draft, they traded down four spots and still got one.

Sitting at the 23rd spot overall, the Flyers saw that four defensemen on their list -- Jeff Woywitka, Tim Gleason, Mark Popovic and Lukas Krajicek -- still were available. So, general manager Bob Clarke swapped his team's pick to the Ottawa Senators for the 27th pick in the draft and a second-rounder in next year's draft.

When they picked, the Flyers nabbed defensive defenseman Woywitka, a 6-2, 210-pounder from Vermillion, Alberta, whom they had rated 12th in the draft.

Woywitka was a member of the Memorial Cup champion Red Deer Rebels and was coached by Brent Sutter, who played under Flyers scout John Chapman as a teenager in Lethbridge, Alberta.

"He's a big strong guy who can handle the puck," Chapman said.

Woywitka took issue with an unidentified scout who said in a published report that he would never be a star in the NHL but would be a serviceable defenseman for the next 10 years.

"No, I feel I can be a big star in the NHL," said Woywitka. "You just have to commit yourself on and off the ice, and if I do that I think I can be a big force in the NHL."

Woywitka, who turns 18 on Sept. 1, compares himself to Flyers defenseman Dan McGillis, one of the NHL's heaviest hitters. In 72 games with the Rebels last season, Woywitka had seven goals, 28 assists and 113 penalty minutes. The Flyers will invite him to training camp, then send him back to Red Deer for another season.

"We'd like to see him play with a little more edge and a little more bite on a more consistent level," Chapman said."

The Flyers traded their second-round pick (56th overall) to the Florida Panthers in exchange for the rights to 32-year-old Czech center Jiri Dopita, a close friend of Flyers goaltender Roman Cechmanek.

"Since we lost (Eric) Lindros, we've had a need for a big centerman," Clarke said. "Dopita's big and talented. In the last 10 years, he's been the best forward in Europe."

NHL teams have tried for years to lure Dopita away from the Czech Republic. He has been drafted three times -- by the Boston Bruins in 1992, the New York Islanders in 1998 and the Florida Panthers in 1999. Last year he declined a contract offer from the Panthers.

Dopita was considered the inspirational leader and best offensive player of the Czech teams that won the Olympic gold medal in 1998 and three world championships since then.

The Flyers have been assured Dopita will sign a three-year contract and, for now, he is being slotted as their first- or second-line center, possibly playing alongside John LeClair.

With their third and final pick on Day 1, the Flyers selected playmaking center Patrick Sharp, 19, of the University of Vermont. Sharp, a 6-foot, 188-pounder from Thunder Bay, Ontario, was rated 72nd among North Americans. In 30 games for Vermont, he recorded 11 goals and 13 assists, along with 34 penalty minutes.

He's expected to need at least another year in juniors before he gets a shot with the Flyers.

Two of the most intriguing players drafted by the Flyers on Day 2 are center Andrei Razin (sixth round) and defenseman Thierry Douville (seventh round). Razin is 27 and led the Russian Elite League in assists (31) and points (47) last season. If the Flyers can sign him, he could step into the lineup this season. Douville, 18, is a 6-4, 212-pound defenseman who led Baie-Comeau of the Quebec league with 408 penalty minutes.

FREE-AGENT ANALYSIS

Now that the Flyers have the rights to Dopita, they might pull out of the running for free-agent center Jeremy Roenick, who has listed the Flyers, Stars, Red Wings and Kings as his top choices.

Clarke said he still plans to be active in the free-agent market, and if he is unable to trade Lindros for a defenseman before July 1, look for him to go after a defenseman.