Dave Isaac

@davegisaac

For years and years, the Flyers have traded away prospects and draft picks in hopes of acquiring a stud defensemen.

They figure at least one out of the four top-blueliner prospects they are grooming could be the next big thing.

At the draft last month, general manager Ron Hextall said he had a vision for first-round picks Samuel Morin and Travis Sanheim joining 2012 third-round pick Shayne Gostisbehere and 2013 second-round pick Robert Hagg as key cogs in the Flyers' defense one day.

With all four in town for development camp this week, there's a glimpse of that vision, but it's still got a ways to go.

"I don't think you can project it," said Kjell Samuelsson, co-director of player development. "For example, Sam made very good steps this year and even this summer he's been getting stronger. ... All four of them have very good upside. You can't put a timetable on it. They develop at their own speed."

Most will play at different levels this season.

• Morin, the 2013 first-round pick, will likely return to Rimouski Océanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for a fourth season, where he'll be the captain of his team.

• Sanheim, chosen 17th overall a couple weeks ago, will likely return to the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League.

• Gostisbehere and Hagg will probably play their first full seasons in the American Hockey League with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

"I know they're in the system and they're talented guys," Sanheim said after his first day of pro camp. "They're trying to work on their game as well just to get to that next level. It's looking like we're gonna have a pretty good group of D coming up here in the system. It should be fun in a couple years."

At least a couple, according to Samuelsson.

"You can't go from the Western Hockey League and be a star in the NHL," he said. "It's step-by-step-by-step-by-step. Sometimes you take a step up and maybe get knocked down again. It's development."

The players are all at different points in their young careers, but Hagg has allowed himself to think of what might be one day.

"In three or four years, maybe all of us are up at the NHL level," the 19-year-old Swede said. "It would be as fun as can be. It would be really fun if me, Ghost, Morin and Sanheim could be a top four in the Flyers in four years."

Again, might want to pump the brakes.

By letting these four prospects breathe and not rush them, the Flyers are seemingly taking things at the right pace. But Hagg also thinks it's a burden the players deserve.

"You should have pressure on you because you're a high pick and you're treated well," he said. "They treat you very well and you should be successful. You owe them back success."

Who will have the most success remains to be seen. Gostisbehere, who led Union College to a national title, might be the most NHL ready of the group, but even he realizes making the Flyers' roster in September is a lofty goal.

"Everyone, going into training camp, that's their goal," said Gostisbehere, who was a plus-7 in the championship game, in which his Dutchmen outscored Minnesota 7-4. "If that's not in my future for right now, that's fine. I'll be in the (AHL) and it will be fun."

The wildcard in the group might be Morin, who was drafted at 6-foot-6 and 203 pounds and reported for his physical Wednesday at 6-7 and 224 pounds. The Quebec native plays with an edge as evidenced by his 121 penalty minutes, which ranked 20th in the league last season. Although his game is still raw, he believes it's realistic he gets a shot with the Flyers this season.

"I think so," he said. "When I work hard, if I have a good camp, we'll see. I live in the present. Right now I'm in development camp after my Team Canada camp, after my Rimouski camp. It's a long summer, a lot of camp. For sure, I think I'll have my chance."

Meanwhile, the Flyers are trying to be patient and preach the same upon the prospects. The team hasn't homegrown a defenseman that stayed in their system since Chris Therien, who was drafted in 1990.

"I don't think it's pressure (on the organization)," Samuelsson said. "We have to develop our own players. Period. Everybody else does it. We have to do it, too."

Reach Dave Isaac at disaac@courierpostonline.com. Follow him on Twitter @davegisaac

DEVELOPMENT CAMP

• Where: Voorhees Skate Zone

• When: Today—July 15

• Time: 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m. (forwards), 10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. (defense), 3:15 p.m.-4:30 p.m. (all)