There’s probably a joke opportunity about Winnipeg trying to win the Raffl, but we’re not going to go there.
Instead, we’ll simply pass along word that, per Austrian news outlet Kurier, Thomas Raffl -- the older brother of Flyers forward Michael Raffl -- has received an offer to attend Jets training camp on a professional tryout.
Raffl, 29, was never drafted by an NHL club and has spent his entire career playing in Europe -- he did, however, have a two-year stint playing Canadian junior hockey, with WHL clubs Kelowna and Swift Current.
Since then, he’s spent time playing in Sweden and his native Austria, most recently with powerhouse EC Red Bull Salzburg. Last year, Raffl scored 53 points in 52 games for Salzburg and three in seven games for Austria (serving as team captain) at the World Hockey Championships.
Listed at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, the elder Raffl has good size -- bigger than his brother, who’s listed at 6-foot, 190 -- and there’s obvious hope he, like his brother, can be another diamond in the rough.
Philly brought over the younger Raffl in ’13-14 and he immediately contributed, with nine goals and 22 points in 68 games.
Last year Raffl scored 21 goals for the Flyers, fourth-most on the team.