PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Braydon Coburn will not play against the New Jersey Devils after sustaining a lower-body injury, according to Flyers general manager Ron Hextall.

The 29-year-old defenseman had not missed a game since March 30, 2013, when he was out 15 games with a separated left shoulder.

PHILADELPHIA -- The New Jersey Devils will begin the season with a significantly different look on defense Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center.

The departures of Anton Volchenkov (Nashville Predators) and Mark Fayne (Edmonton Oilers) opened the door for four players age 23 or younger to make the roster: Jon Merrill (22), Eric Gelinas (23), Adam Larsson (21) and Damon Severson (20).

Those four will join veterans Andy Greene, Marek Zidlicky and captain Bryce Salvador. It appears Larsson will be the odd-man out against the Flyers, but coach Peter DeBoer said after the morning skate no lineup is set in stone game-to-game.

The biggest surprise is Severson, a second-round pick (No. 60) in the 2012 NHL Draft. He'll be paired with Greene in the opener.

"We wanted to give him a partner that could help him, and there's no better guy than Andy to help a young guy along," DeBoer said. "[Greene] is so smart and communicates on the ice and is a perfect partner for a young guy playing his first game."

Muskegon Lumberjacks left wing Tom Marchin, a C-rated skater on NHL Central Scouting's preliminary players to watch list for September, will play at Brown University in 2015-16.

Marchin, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound power forward from Algonac, Mich., is in his first season with the Lumberjacks. He has two goals, four points and a plus-6 rating in five United States Hockey League games.

"I've always wanted to go to an Ivy League school and that's why I prided myself in getting good grades during high school to go to an institution like this with the academics that they have to offer," Marchin told the USHL website. "Their hockey program continues to be on the upswing, and the coaching staff is a bunch of great guys that are genuinely interested in me, which I like a lot."

There's no doubt Boston University center Jack Eichel and Erie Otters center Connor McDavid will be engaged in an anything-you-can-do-I-can-do-better competition all season long leading up to the 2015 NHL Draft.

Both players are considered to be top-two picks in the draft and each received an A rating on NHL Central Scouting's preliminary players to watch list for September.

In Erie's four straight victories to open the season, McDavid had five goals, 12 points and a plus-7 rating. He was named the first star of the game Saturday when he had two goals and four points in a 7-3 victory against the Sarnia Sting. As first star he was honored with wearing the Super Player of the Game suit.

Defenseman Zachary Werensky, an A-rated prospect on NHL Central Scouting's preliminary players to watch list for the 2015 NHL Draft, will become the youngest player to play at the University of Michigan in the Red Berenson era on Saturday when the Wolverines visit Ferris State at Ewigleben Arena in Big Rapids, Mich.

Werenski, 17, accelerated his studies in high school in order to graduate after three years and join Berenson as a true freshman this season. The 6-foot-2, 214-pound left-handed shot will join a pretty formidable defensive corps that includes NHL draftees Michael Downing (Florida Panthers), Brennan Serville (Winnipeg Jets) and Nolan De Jong (Minnesota Wild).

Berenson enters his 31st season behind the bench at Michigan.

Each Thursday, NHL.com will highlight three prospects to watch for the 2015 NHL Draft. This week, the focus is on three players who competed in the 2014 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game in Buffalo on Sept. 25.

The 2014 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game on Sept. 25 provided a positive glimpse of what the future holds for American-born players eligible for the 2015 NHL Draft.

"I think it was a great showcase," winning coach Mike Grier said at the end of the game. "You see the talent that is out there and you can put it up there against any country in the world. You see kids from California, Georgia, Texas … kids from all over the place. The game is growing and the fact NHL Network was here to telecast the game shows you how big it is so we're right there with being able to compete with any other country for sure."

Erie Otters center Connor McDavid isn't the only top prospect from the team eligible for the 2015 NHL Draft and exciting scouts this season.

Dylan Strome, the brother of New York Islanders forward Ryan Strome, is off to a great start in Erie. The 6-foot-3, 187-pound left-shot center was named the player of the week in Ontario Hockey League after leading the league with 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in three straight road wins to open 2014-15.

BUFFALO -- Defenseman Caleb Jones has a message for every NHL scout in attendance at the third annual CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game at First Niagara Center on Thursday (7 p.m. ET, NHL Network).

"I want to prove that Caleb Jones is a good player," he said. "I'm not just here because of [my brother] Seth Jones, and I don't mind saying that. I'm going to try to prove a point here in this game. It was an honor to get to this game and I feel I definitely deserve to be here like everyone else."

Unlike his brother, who was selected in the first round (No. 4) by the Nashville Predators at the 2013 NHL Draft, Caleb Jones enters the All-American Prospects Game as a C-rated skater on NHL Central Scouting's preliminary players to watch list for September. When Seth played in the AAPG two seasons ago, he was an A rated player.

BUFFALO -- Mike Grier wasn't happy when informed that opposing coach Ed Olcyzk was seen spying on his practice in preparation for the third annual CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game at First Niagara Center on Thursday (7 p.m. ET, NHL Network).

For Grier, it's a homecoming of sorts since he played three-plus seasons as a right wing for the Buffalo Sabres. He's not only excited to have an opportunity to coach 21 of the top American-born prospects eligible for the 2015 NHL Draft, but to be back behind the Sabres bench.

"[Olcyzk] has got to ask for permission to come out and scout things," Grier said with a big smile.

BUFFALO -- University of Michigan defenseman Zachary Werenski is one of three college freshmen competing in the CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game hoping to hear his name called in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft on June 26.

The 6-foot-1, 201-pound left-handed shot joins center Jack Eichel (Boston University) and defenseman Noah Hanifin (Boston College) as legitimate first-year collegians with plenty to offer NHL scouts. Werenski will play for Team Mike Grier, alongside Eichel. Hanifin will play for Team Ed Olczyk.