Monday, May 12

5:52 p.m.
Flyers defenseman Braydon Coburn was examined today by Dr. Steven Goldman at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital. The following is a statement from Flyers General Manager Paul Holmgren:

"Everything checked out okay. The only issue now is the swelling around his eye. That is the concern we have right now moving forward. Everything in and around his eye is fine. That's good news.

"He will still be listed as doubtful for the game tomorrow."

2:17 p.m.
Flyers General Manager Paul Holmgren updated the condition of defenseman Braydon Coburn on Monday from the Virtua Center Flyers Skate Zone. Coburn left Sunday's Game 2 in Pittsburgh with a facial injury less than two minutes into the contest, and did not return. He was hit with a deflected puck.

"We're still waiting to hear word on how his eye actually is. Right now, it's swollen shut, there are no fractures and he's doing better," said Holmgren. "We have no reason to think that there's anything wrong with the eye itself.

"Last night our doctors who were at the game thought he was fine, but we just wanted him to get checked out by an actual ophthalmologist. Assuming there are no issues there, we'll just wait for the swelling to go down.

"I would say for the game tomorrow, he's probably doubtful."

Holmgren explained that Coburn did not feel well on the flight back to Philadelphia late last night, but that there is no reason to believe the defenseman suffered anything further.

"He had no loss of consciousness. At the time he was cognizant and aware when [Flyers trainer Jim McCrossin] got to him. He did have some issues on the plane last night but I think everybody thinks it was due to loss of blood. He lost a lot of blood from that injury."

"Everything checks out, we're just waiting to hear from the ophthalmologist on the actual eye itself, whether there's any issues there. We don't suspect there is, we just want to get it checked out."

Bill Fleischman | philadelphiaflyers.com
Apr 7, 2008, 10:40 AM EDT

Braydon Coburn's play this season has been one of the bright spots in the Flyers' resurgence. General manager Paul Holmgren isn't a gloater, and as far as we know he doesn't talk to himself. But he wouldn't be faulted if, in a private moment, he said to himself, "Homer, you did a good job with that deal."

In February 2007 Holmgren traded short-time Flyers defenseman Alexei Zhitnik to Atlanta for Coburn. The Flyers liked Coburn's size, offensive skills and potential.

The first time a young player is traded is usually a jolt, but Coburn, now 23, quickly adapted to wearing the orange and black.

"I felt I was really part of the team right away," he said after a recent practice at the Virtua Center Flyers Skate Zone, in Voorhees, New Jersey

That the Flyers had the worst record in the NHL last season didn't discourage Coburn.

"There wasn't any pressure on us," he said. "We were building toward this season. The optimism carried into this year."

Coburn was paired much of this season with veteran Derian Hatcher. When Hatcher sustained a broken leg blocking a shot in Boston in mid-March, Coburn and Kimmo Timonen, another experienced NHL rear guard, became partners.

"Hatcher deserves a lot of credit for bringing the kid along as fast as he has," said Flyers assistant coach Terry Murray, a former NHL defenseman. "There's so much potential inside that (6-5, 220-pound) body. We'll get it out. He's started to show us what he has. He has great size and speed to play the game at a high tempo.

"He defends very well with his long reach (and) he closes on the puck quickly. Joining the attack is becoming a part of his game."

* * *

Defensemen often take longer to develop at the NHL level. But Coburn isn't surprised that he is a valuable defenseman on an NHL playoff team.

"I always felt I could play at this level," he said. "When I was traded, it was a fresh start in Philadelphia. It gave my confidence a boost because they played me a lot. I'm trying to get better, figuring out my strengths and the areas that I need to work on."

Coburn's nine goals were the most among Flyers defensemen at the conclusion of the regular season. All-Star Kimmo Timonen had eight. His +17 rating was the best on the team this season. Coburn stays after practices to work on his shot.

Growing up, Coburn's favorite NHL players were defensemen: Paul Coffey, Ray Bourque and Chris Pronger. Coburn has always been a blueliner.

Braydon Coburn%u2026sounds like someone from a Main Line family. Alas, Coburn grew up in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan, a farming community of about 1,500 in the southwest area of the Western Canada province.

"It's near Swift Current," Coburn said, smiling. Hockey fans have heard of Swift Current, but most of us south of the Canadian-United States border still need to check a map for Swift Current's location.

Coburn attended Athol Murray College of Notre Dame, a prep school in Wilcox, Saskatchewan. "That's even smaller than Shaunavon," Coburn said. The school, named after an influential priest there, is well known for its hockey team, the Notre Dame Hounds. Other alumni that went on to success in the NHL include Rod Brind'Amour, Vincent Lecavalier, Curtis Joseph, Brad Richards and Wendel Clark.

The school's motto, "luctor et emergo," (struggle and emerge) could be the Flyers' theme for this comeback season.

* * *

When Coburn moved to Portland, Oregon to play junior hockey it was his first experience in a city. He enjoyed Portland, where he played four seasons in the Western Hockey League. During the 2004-05 season, he scored four goals (three power play) vs. Seattle, becoming the seventh WHL defenseman to collect four goals in a game. Coburn was the Winter Hawks' captain from 2003 to 2005.
Coburn answers questions from the media in the Flyers' locker room after a recent solid performance. (Getty Images)

Moving to Portland was an adjustment for Coburn.

"Portland's a great city," he said. "The people are friendly. I felt right at home. In Saskatchewan, it's either dry or windy and cold. It rains a lot in Portland, but after it rains the air smells real fresh."

From the time he began playing hockey, Coburn has benefited from good coaching. His stepfather, Todd, coached him. Then Laurie Ryan and Terry O'Malley were his coaches at the Athol Murray College of Notre Dame. Mike Williamson was his coach in Portland.

Coburn's family includes his mother, Gwen; brother Tyson, a mechanic; brother Greg, who plays for the Yorkton Terrriers of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League; and 16-year-old twins, Stefan and Chelsey.

Away from hockey, Coburn enjoys reading. Tony Dungy's Quiet Strength is a recent favorite.

"I go through different stages," he said. "For a while I was reading crime novels, like James Patterson's. Then I was into biographies. My mom is a great source (for reading). But sometimes her ideas are sort of weird, like books on psychics. I'll pass on those."

Heading into the playoffs, the Flyers appeared to have cured their late-season stretch of third-period meltdowns.

"Sometimes it's a combination of bad luck," Coburn said. "Other times, it's not getting back on your heels. Don't let up. It's a cliché to say it, but it's a 60-minute hockey game. If you have the lead, it's that much more important to play the system."

While the Flyers journey to qualify for the playoffs was stressful, Coburn enjoyed it because all the games were meaningful.

"Every game is important, every game is like a playoff game," he said.

Now that the Flyers have qualified for the playoffs, Coburn and his teammates will find the intensity is even greater.

Please note that the views expressed in this column are not necessarily the views expressed by the Philadelphia Flyers Hockey Club.

____________________________________________________

Bill Fleischman is a veteran Philadelphia Daily News sports writer. He was the Flyers' beat reporter for the Daily News in the 1970s, and continued to cover games in later years. A former president of the Professional Hockey Writers and the Philadelphia Sports Writers Associations, Fleischman is co-author of "Bernie, Bernie," the autobiography of Bernie Parent. Fleischman also is co-author of "The Unauthorized NASCAR Fan Guide." Since 1981, he has been an adjunct professor in the University of Delaware journalism program.

He is a graduate of Germantown High School and Gettysburg College.

Braydon Coburn and Riley Cote share the Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Trophy as the Flyer who has most improved from the previous season, as voted by his teammates 04/06/08

Braydon Coburn Post Game Interview Video 03/23/08

Read Adam Kimelman's story on defenseman Braydon Coburn 03/04/08

Braydon Coburn took part in the skate and may be back for the weekend 02/15/08

Coburn skated with the team on Thursday morning for the first time since the injury 02/14/08

Braydon Coburn will be out of action for approximately two weeks 02/09/08

more about the injury 02/09/08

Bad News: Braydon Coburn suffered a significant lower body injury 02/09/08

Coburn Impressing 01/30/08

Braydon Coburn on FlyerCast - December 3, 2007

Flyers Sign Braydon Coburn to Contract Extension 11/28/07

Father/Son Road Trip hosted by Marty Biron 11/27-28/07 on Flyers TV

Braydon Coburn on FlyerCast - November 19, 2007

Flyers in Whistler - Day 1, Part 2 on Flyers TV

Flyers in Whistler - Day 1, Part 1 on Flyers TV

Flyers' Coburn Learning on the Job 03/28/07

Flyers Acquire Defenseman Braydon Coburn from Atlanta 02/24/07

03/23/2008 (NYI @ PHI) PPG, 09:36 in 2nd

03/11/2008 (PHI @ TOR) PPG, 19:05 in 2nd

03/02/2008 (PHI @ NYR) PPG, 08:14 in 1st

03/01/2008 (PHI @ NYI) PPG, 14:24 in 2nd

02/17/2008 (MTL @ PHI) 00:34 in 2nd

01/29/2008 (LAK @ PHI) 00:57 in 2nd

01/20/2008 (OTT @ PHI) 01:37 in 1st

12/11/2007 (PIT @ PHI) PPG, 06:09 in 3rd

12/05/2007 (PHI @ MIN) 04:01 in 3rd

03/31/2007 (NYR @ PHI) PPG, 13:18 in 2nd

03/28/2007 (CAR @ PHI) 05:07 in 3rd

03/04/2007 (PHI @ PIT) 13:40 in 1st

Speedy Coburn steady on the blue line
Adam Kimelman | NHL.com staff writer
Mar 3, 2008, 11:28 AM EST

Braydon Coburn was traveling along the usual development road map for young defensemen.

Chosen by the Atlanta Thrashers with the eighth overall pick in the talent-rich 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Coburn was learning the pro game in measured stints with Atlanta and its AHL affiliate in Chicago.

But that gradual development got thrown into overdrive when the Thrashers sent Coburn to Philadelphia last season for veteran blueliner Alexei Zhitnik.

Coburn went from playing 12 minutes a night with the Thrashers to 20 minutes per game with the Flyers after deal on Feb. 24.

"I was confident that I was going to get a chance in Atlanta," said Coburn. "Before I got traded, I played quite a few (NHL) games that year. I was confident my game was getting better all the time and that I was going to evolve into a good (defenseman), no matter what. I think coming to Philadelphia just sped that up.

"I came here and I got to play right away and that really helped me out a lot. They threw me into the fire a little bit earlier, (but) that helped me a lot."

In 29 games with the Thrashers last season, he had just four assists. But in 20 games with the Flyers, he had three goals and seven points, and was given time on the power play.

Coburn was penciled into the second defense pairing to start this season, and he's second among Flyers defensemen with seven goals, 22 assists and 29 points.

At 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, Coburn looks like the William Penn statue that stands atop Philadelphia's City Hall, but skates like a far smaller player. General Manager Paul Holmgren has referred to Coburn as a greyhound.

A better comparison might be a stallion -- an untamed horse.

"I think the thing with Cobie is, everyone is in agreement that he has to slow down a bit out there," said veteran Derian Hatcher, who has been paired with Coburn for most of this season. "That's what we're trying to work on. He's definitely getting better with that. But once he learns how to use his speed in the right places, there's no saying how good he can be."

Having a veteran like Hatcher as a partner has been invaluable in Coburn's development, providing him a security blanket for the inevitable mistakes a 22-year-old defenseman will make.

"Hatch has played in the League a long time. I've played with him and Gator (Jason Smith), both these guys are veteran guys that have been in the League and they know how to play the game, they're physical guys, they're always in position," Coburn said. "Positionally, they know what they're doing out there. For me, it's easy -- when I need to make a play I always know where they are and I try to work my game to learn from them, to learn about positioning and how they compete every night."

It's been a steady process, one Flyers coach John Stevens - himself a former NHL defenseman - has enjoyed watching.

"He's a bright, young prospect," Stevens said. "The first thing you notice is his skill set. He's big guy, skates extremely well, good passer, good puck skills. He's not a good skater; he's a great skater. A guy that big that skates that well, it's pretty impressive. We work on all parts of his game -- better decisions with the puck, better decisions defending, and the one thing is we don't want him just throwing the puck away. When his feet aren't moving, he neutralizes himself and we want him taking the puck up the ice and being active with the puck and using his skating as an asset. Most times it's been there, but we'd like to see it every night."

Coburn believes what his coaches and the public have seen so far is just the tip of a very large iceberg. The better he feels about himself, the better his play will be.

"I think it's confidence; confidence in myself," Coburn said. "I think I got that from being put in situations where I can play a lot. I feel like the coaches have a lot of confidence in me when they do put me in those spots. I feel my year's been better this year because of the confidence I've built up by knowing I can play in this League and in the confidence the coaches have shown in me."

Find images of Braydon Coburn at JAMD

FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICKS

1 - Marc-Andre Fleury (G)
2 - Eric Staal (C)
3 - Nathan Horton (RW)
4 - Nikolai Zherdev (RW)
5 - Thomas Vanek (LW)
6 - Milan Michalek (LW)
7 - Ryan Suter (D)
8 - Braydon Coburn (D)
9 - Dion Phaneuf (D)
10 - Andrei Kostitsyn (RW)
11 - Jeff Carter (C)
12 - Hugh Jessiman (RW)
13 - Dustin Brown (RW)
14 - Brent Seabrook (D)
15 - Robert Nilsson (RW)
16 - Steve Bernier (RW)
17 - Zach Parise (C)
18 - Eric Fehr (RW)
19 - Ryan Getzlaf (C)
20 - Brent Burns (D)
21 - Mark Stuart (D)
22 - Marc-Antoine Pouliot (C)
23 - Ryan Kesler (C)
24 - Mike Richards (C)
25 - Anthony Stewart (RW)
26 - Brian Boyle (C)
27 - Jeff Tambellini (LW)
28 - Corey Perry (RW)
29 - Patrick Eaves (RW)
30 - Shawn Belle (D)

Wow! 2003 was quite a year for talent!