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Philadelphia Flyers player to watch: Mike Vecchione

By Patrick Lawson

Apr 10, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Union Dutchmen forward Micke Vecchione (21) celebrates his goal against the Boston College Eagles goalie Thatcher Demko (30) during the third period in the semifinals of the Frozen Four college ice hockey tournament at Wells Fargo Center. Union defeated Boston College, 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Union Dutchmen forward Micke Vecchione (21) celebrates his goal against the Boston College Eagles goalie Thatcher Demko (30) during the third period in the semifinals of the Frozen Four college ice hockey tournament at Wells Fargo Center. Union defeated Boston College, 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
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With the Philadelphia Flyers’ season winding down and the playoffs looking like a pipe dream, we take a look at a player becoming a free agent coming out of college.

Union College forward Mike Vecchione is an NHL free agent as of this past Saturday when Union lost to Minnesota ending their season.

Vecchione is a player the Philadelphia Flyers should sign and could sign with relative ease. The Flyers have the inside track on recruiting Vecchione. If Union College sounds familiar, it is because Philadelphia Flyer defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere was drafted from there.

When Gostisbehere won the NCAA championship with Union, Vecchione was on the team. The two are even close friends.

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Signing Vecchione makes sense for the Philadelphia Flyers. The 24-year-old is a center, but he would improve the bottom six. The Flyers are in desperate need to improve their bottom six in terms of speed and offense.

Vecchione, Union College’s all-time leading scorer, ended his final campaign with 63 points in 38 games. He scored 29 goals, 34 assists and was plus 19.

How He Fits

It may be likely that Pierre-Edouard Bellemare will find himself on the move this summer due to the expansion draft. Bellemare is great in the locker room (thus why he got the A on his sweater) and he is a great 4th liner. Las Vegas may want a player like him for their inaugural season.

If that is the case, Vecchione could slide into that 4th line center role and add a bit of offense to the maligned bottom six. Teams who win in the NHL have four lines that can play.  The Philadelphia Flyers do not have four lines. At best they have a line and a half.

The league is getting faster and more skill based, there isn’t a need for a power forward that plays a rough game. There are some exceptions but the game is focusing more on the finesse type of play.

The Philadelphia Flyers need speed and skill in their bottom six; Mike Vecchione can add to that.

Next: What Was Dave Hakstol Thinking?

Expect GM Ron Hextall and the Philadelphia Flyers to give longer looks to their young forwards for roster spots this offseason. Chris Vandevelde and Matt Read could be gone by next season. Players like Oskar Lindblom, Taylor Leier, Jordan Weal, and Scott Laughton could all be wearing orange and black sweaters by the beginning of next season.

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