When Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Stevens was asked what he likes about 23-year-old defenceman Braden Coburn he answered “everything.” That sums it up perfectly.
According to Stevens, Coburn is the Flyers fastest skater both moving and accelerating from a stop, he’s one of their best passers and has perfected his one-timer that once was more of a noise maker on the glass than a scoring threat. His work on the accuracy of that shot has earned him time on the power play. The injury to Mike Richards allowed Coburn more ice time, but an opportunity was all Coburn needed.
Coburn, who is in the top 25 in defenceman scoring this season, was drafted eighth overall in 2003 by the Atlanta Thrashers. He played 38 games with the Thrashers but failed to score a goal and managed only five points. The Thrashers were going for their first playoff appearance last season so you can’t blame GM Don Waddell for thinking about the present instead of the future. The Thrashers sent Coburn to Philadelphia for Alexei Zhitnik. In hindsight it’s an easy trade to criticize. Coburn has produced more than twice as many goals and nearly double the points as Zhitnik since the move, plus he’s 13 years younger.
The Flyers had their worst season in franchise history last year so when Coburn arrived , the Flyers told him to just play and not worry about making mistakes. Coburn also credits his success this season to the veteran timing and calmness of both Kimo Timonen and Derian Hatcher.
Stevens wouldn’t come out and say Coburn will be a number one defenceman. He did admit Coburn is a definite top-four guy who can skate, produce an impressive plus-minus, play against the opposition’s top line and still put up offensive numbers; pretty good credentials for a 23-year-old, 6-foot-5 defenceman who is still improving. The Flyers gave Coburn the opportunity, and now he’s a big reason why the Flyers have an opportunity to make the playoffs.