In another development, sources said the Flyers are trying to acquire the rights to San Jose goalie Evgeni Nabokov. Nabokov, who will turn 35 on July 25, is one of the league's most respected goalies, but he can become an unrestricted free agent Friday.
Holmgren had several talks with San Jose general manager Doug Wilson. They will continue Saturday during the second day of the draft.
Nabokov went 44-16-10 with a 2.43 goals-against average and .922 save percentage this season. In his 10-year career, the 6-foot, 200-pounder is 293-178-37 with a 2.39 GAA and .912 save percentage.
Nabokov earned $6 million last season. Because he will be 35, the cap hit will not be as severe next season.
This marked the second consecutive year in which the Flyers did not have a No. 1 selection.
They weren't complaining.
Their No. 1 picks in the last two drafts, of course, were dealt to Anaheim as part of last summer's mega-deal for Chris Pronger, who led the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Finals.
"We took a chance to make a run at it, and we'd do it again if we had to," Chris Pryor, the team's director of hockey operations, said before Friday's opening round of the draft here. "We all saw what Chris Pronger brought to the organization."
As expected, left winger Taylor Hall was selected No. 1 overall by Edmonton. Boston, with the pick it acquired in the deal that sent Phil Kessel to Toronto, chose center Tyler Seguin at No. 2. Seguin has been compared to Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos.
Eleven Americans were drafted, a first-round record.
The Flyers will have to wait until Saturday's 89th overall pick, deep in the third round, before making a selection.
All in the family - not. Defenseman Nick Luukko could be selected in the late rounds Saturday. The Flyers, however, are not in the running.
It has nothing to do with the 18-year-old's talent.
