Where Are They Now- 2013 Flyers Draft Picks

With the NHL draft hoping to occur in about a month, it’s time to begin flashing back to the Flyers’ draft classes in the past two decades. In the latest installment of Philly Sports Network’s “where are they now” draft series, we take a look at the 2013 NHL draft.

Flashing back to 2012-2013, the NHL season was shortened due to the lockout. The season was cut to 48 games, stretching from January 19, 2013 to the regular season’s end on April 28, 2013. Owners may have made out well and got their split of 50% of the league’s revenue, but the lockout was far from beneficial for the Flyers. Under Peter Laviolette, Philadelphia finished 23-22-3 (48 points), and sat in fourth out of five in the Atlantic Division. Despite being the 9th highest scoring team in the league, the Flyers sat in 22nd defensively, holding them away from the playoffs.

After the shortened season, Philadelphia sat with pick #11 in the 2013 NHL draft.

First Round

Sam Morin- #11 Overall

Almost every Flyers’ fan knows Sam Morin and this poor kid’s story.

Standing at a towering 6’7, 203 pounds, Samuel Morin is a force to be reckoned with on the blue line. After their defense and goaltending kept them out of the playoffs in 2013, the Flyers knew they needed to stock their defensive prospect pool. Morin would provide just what the Flyers needed. Not only did Morin accumulate nearly a 0.75 point per game average in the Q, he racked up back-to-back seasons with over 115 penalty minutes. The big man knew how to use his size to his advantage, and would drop the gloves when he needed to. His speed and hockey IQ allowed him to contribute offensively, yet was a dominating defensive brute.

Since being drafted, Morin earned a quick ELC to join the Phantoms, and picked up nine NHL games as well. He produced well in the AHL, however, he has torn his ACL twice in a 19 month span. There are lingering questions about his career right now, but Morin has “vowed to make a comeback.”

As of now, Morin is still recovering from his ACL tear back in November of 2019. The big man will look to make a return to the ice this offseason, and hopes that he can eventually make it back to the big leagues.

Second Round

Robert Hagg- #41 overall

Again continuing to stockpile defensive prospects, General Manager Paul Holmgren selected another bruising defenseman in Robert Hagg at #41 overall.

The Swedish product played a very sound game as a prospect, very similar to his NHL style. He does not have many dominating aspects of his game aside from his hitting, but is incredibly well rounded in his own zone. Hagg keeps things simple, but can sometimes miss assignments in his own zone. He was, and still is, a dominating penalty killer, and he makes a sound breakout pass. The Swede is essentially all you would want out of a bottom d-pair guy, which is exactly the mold he fits for the Flyers now.

It’s pretty obvious where Hagg is now, as he’s out on the ice playing for the Flyers on a nightly basis. He sits among the top of the league for hits since coming into the league, and blocks shots like he’s eating them for breakfast. His textbook defensive efforts have even earned him the status of leader of the #BobbyHaggHive.

Third Round

Tyrell Goulbourne- #72 overall

With their third pick, the Flyers decided to switch things up. At #72 overall, Holmgren took Tyrell Goulbourne, a winger out of Canada.

Prior to signing his entry-level contract, Goulbourne spent his entire amateur career in the WHL. As a member of Kelowna Rockets, the left winger produced a point about every other night. In his two seasons after being drafted, he put up 39 total goals, earning him a spot on Lehigh Valley’s roster.

Goulbourne skated for Flyers’ AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley in 2015-16, appearing in 73 of 76 games as a rookie. Playing the typical hard-to-play-against style that fits the philosophy of the Philadelphia organization, he provided energy and spark to the lower lines. He started 2016 off with the Reading Royals, eventually finding himself on the Flyers’ roster for nine games that same season.

The Flyers decided not to re-sign Goulbourne following the 2019 season. He signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Vegas Golden Knights. There, he has played the entire 2019-2020 season with their AHL affiliate Chicago Wolves, where he has three points in 52 games played.

Fourth Round

The Flyers did not have a 2013 fourth round pick. This pick was packaged in a deal with Tampa for Pavel Kubina in February 2012.

Fifth Round

Terrance Amorosa- #132 overall

The Flyers went back to addressing their blue line in the fifth round. Also being drafted by the Sioux City Musketeers in the 2013 USHL entry draft, Terrance Amorosa was drafted by Philadelphia with the #132 overall pick.

The 6’2, 205 pound blue liner would play one season with Sioux City. He did not produce at all, so he decided to go to college. Amorosa would then go play four years with Clarkson University, picking up 64 points (115 games). Following college, he would join the Tulsa Oilers in 2018 on a one year deal. Heading into 2019, he would sign another ECHL deal to play with the Kansas City Mavericks. In this past season, Amorosa had 18 points in 48 games.

Sixth Round

Merrick Madsen- #162 overall

With their fifth selection in the draft, Holmgren turned to goaltender. With pick #162, the Flyers drafted Merrick Madsen (Proctor Academy (High-NH)).

Similar to Amorosa, Madsen would be selected in the 2013 USHL entry draft as well. He would go onto play with the Minot Minotaurs of the NAHL, with a mere 2.75 GAA in 27 games.

Following that season, he would join his collegiate team and head up to Harvard. In four seasons with the Crimson, Madsen put up lock down numbers, not having a GAA higher than 2.27 after his first season. Madsen earned first-team awards in the Ivy League in his final season as a college athlete.

The Flyers traded his rights to the Coyotes in 2017. Following college, Madsen would join Arizona’s AHL affiliate, and float back and forth from there and their ECHL affiliate. As of now, he’s made six starts for the ECHL Rapid City Rush, where he has a 4.75 GAA.

Seventh Round

David Drake- #192 overall

Philadelphia would end this draft the same way they started it:

By drafting a tall and physical defender.

Standing at 6’6, Drake plays a very at-home style of defense. The big man did not produce many points as an amateur prospect, and still does not as an AHL-er. Drake was drafted #8 overall in the 2013 NAHL draft as well. However, he would stay with the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL for the 2013-2014 season.

Following that year, Drake committed to the University of Connecticut, where he played all four seasons. He earned the “A” on his jersey for his final two seasons. He earned a call up to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms for the remainder of their 2017-2018 campaign once his college season ended.

The blue liner would go on to play his first full professional season with the Reading Royals in 2018-2019. Heading into the 2019 season, the Phantoms would sign him to a one-year extension. Drake finished the 2019-2020 season playing 54 games in Reading (14 points) and one game for the Phantoms.