Of their drafting historical past, the Philadelphia Flyers have typically been pressured to get inventive with them having made the playoffs all however eight occasions from their inaugural 1967-68 season by means of their 2011-12 marketing campaign. In doing so, they’ve hit on loads of gamers.
Sadly, a few of these hits discovered their stride with different organizations. Which Flyer draft picks had been at their greatest after departing from the franchise?
Scott Mellanby (1984)
Gritty ahead Scott Mellanby was a power in his taking part in days. In that manner, he’s the proper Flyer. Within the 1984 NHL Draft, the Flyers naturally took an opportunity on the bodily but expert winger with the twenty seventh total decide.
Mellanby was already a Flyer by his age-19 season, albeit taking part in simply two video games. The Nineteen Eighties had been recognized for their high-octane offenses, however he didn’t essentially profit from this. He spent 5 extra seasons in Philadephia, accumulating 197 factors and 694 penalty minutes in 355 whole video games. That’s respectable manufacturing, however it did make him expendable.
Following the 1990-91 season, Mellanby was traded to the Edmonton Oilers in a package deal that returned Jari Kurri. However he was then flipped in a package deal that introduced Steve Duchesne to Philadelphia. It took a pair extra seasons, however Mellanby lastly discovered his stride with the Florida Panthers within the mid-Nineties.
Although scoring within the mid-Nineties was a lot decrease than what it was when Mellanby entered the league, he had his greatest season in 1995-96 scoring-wise. His 70 factors tied him for forty sixth within the NHL, whereas his 32 targets tied him for thirty fourth. He led Florida in targets and factors, receiving some Hart Trophy consideration within the course of. He wasn’t spectacular within the postseason, with simply 9 factors in 22 video games, however he was a giant purpose why his Panthers made the Stanley Cup Remaining.
From that time ahead, Mellanby was a strong top-six participant for the Panthers and St. Louis Blues. In his profession, he scored 364 targets and 476 assists for 840 factors in 1431 video games. In hindsight, the Flyers in all probability want they hung onto him for a bit longer.
Chris Simon (1990)
A number of seasons after choosing Mellanby within the second spherical, the Flyers took one other gritty ahead in Chris Simon with the twenty fifth total decide within the 1990 NHL Draft. Simon took his physicality to a different degree, placing up 413 penalty minutes in simply 146 profession Ontario Hockey League (OHL) contests.
Simon by no means obtained to play for the Flyers, as he was a part of the blockbuster Eric Lindros commerce that introduced “The Subsequent One” to Philadelphia. The generational ahead was seen as a participant who may carry all the pieces Simon had bodily and rather more offensively, so the teenager served as a throw-in for the deal.
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Simon didn’t actually discover his stride till the mid-Nineties, having a few strong seasons points-wise and piling up the penalty minutes. He ultimately discovered his method to the Washington Capitals, and that’s the place his profession took a step in the precise route. He grew to become an necessary top-nine ahead for them, coming into his prime within the 1999-00 season. He put up a career-high 29 targets and 49 factors, capturing 14.4 p.c on the season. Consequently, he acquired a third-place vote for the Hart Trophy and completed thirteenth total when it comes to voting.
Simon by no means fairly made it again to the success that he discovered that season, however he did handle to stay round till the 2007-08 season. In the long run, he had a good NHL profession with just below 800 video games performed.
Peter Forsberg (1991)
Swedish phenom Peter Forsberg was one of many Flyers’ greatest prospects ever. Drafted with the sixth total decide within the 1991 NHL Draft, the Flyers had themselves a possible gem. In what’s the modern-day Swedish Hockey League (SHL), he was already used to taking part in with grown adults in his draft 12 months — he scored a masterful 17 factors in simply 23 video games as an adolescent.
Like Simon, Forsberg was within the deal that despatched Lindros to Philadelphia earlier than he even performed a sport. Nevertheless, this Swedish sensation was the centerpiece of mentioned deal. After getting traded from the Flyers, Forsberg had an incredible profession that surpassed his hype. He led the league in factors and received the Hart Trophy in 2002-03, received two Stanley Cups, and was a point-per-game participant in all however two of his 13 seasons within the NHL.
Forsberg returned to the Flyers after signing a two-year contract with them earlier than the 2005-06 NHL season. He scored 115 factors in simply 100 video games in that span, nonetheless exhibiting he was a famous person expertise, even in his 30s. By the top of his profession, he put up 885 factors in simply 708 video games within the NHL.
Although Forsberg is the one Hockey Corridor of Fame participant on this checklist, he has performed within the least quantity of NHL video games of any skater featured. His in depth damage historical past plagued what may have been one of many best careers ever. He nonetheless had a sensational impression, however it may have been rather more.
Vaclav Prospal (1993)
Vaclav “Vinny” Prospal was a mid-round steal for the Flyers. Within the 1993 NHL Draft, they snagged him with the 71st total decide. He instantly began within the American Hockey League (AHL) and have become an important younger producer. By his 1996-97 season, he was tied for third within the AHL with 95 factors in simply 63 video games as a 22-year-old. The Flyers acknowledged that it was time to attempt him out within the NHL, however his leash was quick.
He had 15 factors in 18 video games in a brief stint within the NHL in 1996-97 however regressed the next season with simply 18 factors in 41 video games in orange and black, albeit averaging simply 12:05 of ice time. When he was simply 22 years of age, the Flyers noticed him as expendable when a shiny Alexandre Daigle was on the commerce market. The previous first-overall decide may very well be theirs, however it got here at a fairly penny. The identical age as Prospal, the Flyers went all in to accumulate him, with him having proven some flashes previously.
Getting Daigle proved to be the mistaken transfer for the Flyers, as he by no means reached his earlier profession highs of 51 factors in 1993-94 and 1996-97. As for Prospal, he had a protracted, fulfilling profession that noticed him develop into an enormous top-six piece for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Over his 1108-game profession, he had 255 targets and 510 assists for 765 factors. The Flyers undoubtedly missed out on that entrance.
Johan Hedberg (1994)
Goaltender Johan Hedberg wasn’t seen as a lot of something when the Flyers chosen him with the 218th total decide within the 1994 NHL Draft. This was the case to the extent that he didn’t even get an opportunity to play for the staff, bouncing his manner from membership to membership earlier than ultimately getting an opportunity with the Pittsburgh Penguins for the 2000-01 season.
As soon as Hedberg arrived in Pittsburgh, he took his likelihood and shined. He noticed restricted motion in his first season however had a 7-1-1 report in simply 9 video games. That paved the best way for a 66-game season in 2001-02 — he went from undesirable to the one dependable starter on an NHL staff.
Hedberg had combined success within the NHL, the place he routinely hovered simply above and beneath a .900 save proportion (SV%), however was nonetheless utilized by many groups. On the finish of his profession, he performed in 373 video games and received 161 of them. For a goaltender who didn’t play within the NHL till he was 27, he made out okay.
Dainius Zubrus (1996)
Within the 1996 NHL Draft, the Flyers seemed to a Lithuanian stud by the identify of Dainius Zubrus for his or her first-round choice. At 6-foot-5 and weighing in at over 200 kilos, he definitely had the makings of a menace. He shortly discovered himself on the Flyers’ roster in 1996-97, the place they reached the Stanley Cup Remaining. He performed many of the common season and playoffs, getting some motion on the NHL’s grandest stage as an 18-year-old.
Zubrus merely by no means broke out with the Flyers. He had good manufacturing with 33 factors and a plus-29 score in 1997-98 however was on the commerce market when star ahead Mark Recchi grew to become out there.
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Recchi, who recorded a franchise-record 123 factors in 1992-93 in Philadelphia, was essential for the Flyers. They packaged Zubrus and a late-round draft decide to get the star ahead on their roster. Of the strikes thus far, that is one which they don’t have any purpose to remorse. Recchi performed six extra seasons with the Flyers and completed with a Hart Trophy vote in three of these.
That’s to not say Zubrus wasn’t a great participant, both. After getting dealt from the Flyers, he had constantly respectable seasons as a middle-six staple with some ability and defensive upside. He had his greatest offensive season in 2006-07, the place he had 52 factors in 60 video games with the Capitals, netting them a first-round decide from the Buffalo Sabres in change for his transient companies on the commerce deadline.
Zubrus’ profession spanned 1293 video games and netted him 591 factors. The one award consideration he ever obtained was a fourth-place vote for the Selke Trophy in 2002-03, however his longevity was nonetheless admirable.
Justin Williams (2000)
One of many Flyers’ greatest errors in current reminiscence got here once they let go of ahead Justin Williams far too quickly. Taken with the twenty eighth total decide within the 2000 NHL Draft, they noticed one thing out of the Ontario native. As an adolescent, he performed on the Flyers’ 2000-01 squad and appeared in 63 video games. He was a depth ahead, however his 25 factors cemented his standing as an NHL-ready participant.
Williams obtained elevated alternative however didn’t fairly hit it off in Philadelphia. His 26 factors in 47 video games in 2003-04 didn’t reduce it for the Flyers, and he was despatched off to the Carolina Hurricanes in a one-for-one swap for defenseman Danny Markov. Markov was a great participant for the Flyers of their run to the Japanese Convention Remaining that season, however he by no means earned a second contract. As for Williams, he went on to earn a fame as a playoff warrior over his following 15 NHL campaigns.
In 2005-06, Williams lastly grew to become a vital participant in Raleigh. Within the common season, he averaged over 21 minutes of ice time. That led to a 31-goal, 76-point season that helped get the Hurricanes into the postseason. In these playoffs, he registered 18 factors in 25 video games and received his first-ever Stanley Cup as a 24-year-old. Within the two Recreation 7 contests that Carolina had in that playoff, he had two targets and 4 factors whole. That was the start of his “Mr. Recreation 7” monicker.
Williams continued to be an necessary top-six ahead for the Hurricanes, in addition to the Los Angeles Kings later in his profession. In 2011-12, he scored 15 factors in 20 video games to guide the Kings to their first Stanley Cup in franchise historical past. In 2013-14, he received the Conn Smythe Trophy after scoring 25 factors in 26 video games en path to the Kings’ second Stanley Cup in simply three seasons.
Williams was an iconic playoff contributor, even when he was effectively into his 30s. General, he scored 102 playoff factors in 162 playoff video games. When confronted with a Recreation 7 showdown, he had 15 factors in simply 9 video games. With a report of 8-1 in these video games, he was the go-to performer in clutch conditions. A kind of wins was a three-point efficiency with Philadelphia, so the indicators had been definitely there.
Patrick Sharp (2001)
Winger Patrick Sharp was not at all times seen as a star participant. Chosen with the ninety fifth total decide within the 2001 NHL Draft by Philadelphia, it took a while for him to get some seems within the NHL. For 3 seasons, Sharp solely performed 66 video games with the Orange and Black. With simply 10 targets and 15 factors in these video games, they moved on throughout his age-24 season. They didn’t understand it on the time, however this turned out to be a grave mistake.
Traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in a small package deal, Sharp continued to get higher as time handed. By his 2007-08 marketing campaign as a 26-year-old, he scored a career-high 36 targets for 62 factors. To drive house the truth that the Flyers misplaced the commerce, he completed fourth place in Selke Trophy voting that season.
Sharp continued to be a fruitful top-six scorer in Chicago. He scored 65-75 factors constantly when he was wholesome. In 2009-10, he had 22 factors in 22 playoff video games to guide the Blackhawks to their first Stanley Cup for the reason that early-Sixties. To make issues worse, he completed the job over the Flyers within the Stanley Cup Remaining.
Sharp went on to win two extra championships in Chicago, ending his profession with three Stanley Cups. With 287 targets and 333 assists for 620 factors in 939 video games, it’s unsure if the Flyers would have held again his potential or not if he remained there. Regardless, they undoubtedly want he did.
Dennis Seidenberg (2001)
Very late in the identical draft as Sharp, the Flyers gave German defenseman Dennis Seidenberg a shot with their 172nd decide in that draft. With some skilled expertise already within the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL), he grew to become a fascinating participant for Philadelphia.
It didn’t take an excessive amount of time for the long-shot defender to make the roster, showing in 92 video games for Philadelphia from 2002-06. Although they hit on a participant that was by no means alleged to make the NHL within the first place, he was a depth participant on the time, and the Flyers had a pleasant commerce provide on the desk. A mid-round decide swap and Seidenberg landed them ahead Petr Nedved, a participant with over 700 factors in his profession on the time.
Nedved was on his final legs by the point he arrived in Philadelphia in 2005-06 and performed skilled hockey in Europe not too far after. As for Seidenberg, he made stops across the league as a top-four defenseman. He was at his greatest in 2012-13, taking part in just below 24 minutes every sport and receiving a fourth- and fifth-place vote for the Norris Trophy that season. On a Flyers staff that lacked defensive depth at the moment, he would’ve been helpful to have.
When it comes to video games performed, Seidenberg leads all German defensemen with 859 beneath his belt. With no lively defenseman wherever close to that whole, it may very well be a very long time earlier than that report is damaged.
James van Riemsdyk (2007)
Following a franchise-worst season in 2006-07, the place the Flyers had a calamitous 22-48-12 report, they’d the respect of choosing with the second total decide within the 2007 NHL Draft. With that decide, they took New Jersey native James van Riemsdyk to offer them an offensive spark.
It wasn’t till the 2009-10 season that he first appeared with the Flyers. He had respectable manufacturing with 35 factors in 79 video games, however it was nonetheless not on the degree they’d like out of a top-end draft choice. In these playoffs, van Riemsdyk struggled a bit. He solely had six factors in 21 playoff video games, and the Flyers wanted each little bit of offense in that run. They misplaced within the Stanley Cup Remaining in six video games, needing his spark to happen proper then and there.
After a number of seasons the place van Riemsdyk didn’t stay as much as the expectations of a second-overall decide, the Flyers despatched him to the Toronto Maple Leafs for defenseman Luke Schenn. The Flyers wanted to get stronger on protection, so this was their pure resolution. Straight away, the commerce didn’t look good on their finish.
Within the shortened 2012-13 season, van Riemsdyk had 32 factors in 48 video games. That was his greatest season to that time, and he solely obtained higher. Shifting ahead, he was a dependable scorer of 25 or extra targets each season for the Maple Leafs. He grew to become out there in free company after the 2017-18 season, and the Flyers had been decided to not make the identical mistake twice. Signed to a five-year, $35 million contract, the Flyers paid closely for his or her mistake a number of seasons prior.
Sadly, van Riemsdyk’s manufacturing from Toronto by no means got here to Philadelphia, other than a 48-point 2018-19 season, the place he solely performed 66 video games. In the long run, he by no means amounted to that massive deal he signed. Nonetheless, the over 600 factors to his identify put him amongst some strong gamers in NHL lore.
Whether or not it was by means of regrettable trades or just not giving gamers an opportunity, the Flyers have drafted quite a few gamers who went on to have beneficial roles within the NHL after their time with Philadelphia. After many years price of gamers who made them look silly, hopefully they’ve realized their lesson.
