Schenn and Richards

Of all the offseason maneuvering the Flyers did this season, the Richards trade makes me the most nervous.  This is because Richards is the largest piece actually removed from the roster in all the moves.

Schenn is a very, very highly rated prospect, and scouts have actually compared him to Mike Richards as a player.  In trying to forecast what to expect to Schenn this season, I think it makes sense to compare the players side at the same points in their career.

Mike Richards
-drafted 24th in 2003 (one of the best draft classes ever)
-highly successful junior career on a very good junior team (reg season--292pts in 233 games, playoffs--56 pts in 41 games)
-10 points in 12 career WJC games, including captaining one of the best WJC teams ever and playing on the third line (no doubt Crosby was the #1 center on that team)
-at age 20, joined AHL season late, and had 15 points in 14 playoffs games as Phantoms and won the AHL cup
-34 points in 79 games as 21 year old rookie as number 3 center

Brayden Schenn
-drafted 5th in 2009 draft
-315 points in 224 junior games (51 points in 42 playoff games)
-26 points in 13 WJC games
-at age 20, joined AHL season late, and scored 11 points in 12 games (playoffs plus reg season games)
-as a 21 year old rookie in the number 3 center slot....???

The resumes are pretty comparable.  Schenn was drafted higher, though the 2003 draft was incredibly deep--Richards wouldn't drop so low in other years.  Comparable junior and AHL records too, but Schenn is coming off an incredible WJC performance.

From the little I seen of Schenn, he looks a little slipperier and quicker on the puck, though I couldn't comment how his defensive and checking games compares to Richards.

You never quite know what you are going to get from a rookie, but it may be wise to expect comparable production from Schenn this year as Richards produced in his rookie season.  Hopefully he'll do even better.  How Schenn does long term however, and if he makes Flyers fans forget Mike Richards, will likely be the legacy of this crazy offseason for the Flyers