After two and a half lengthy months with out Philadelphia Flyers hockey, fairly presumably probably the most thrilling day of the season is upon us. It’s draft day, and the Orange and Black maintain the twelfth total decide in an unbelievable 2024 class.
What can we count on from the Flyers and common supervisor (GM) Danny Briere tonight? Do they make a splash, or do they stand pat? Let’s speculate earlier than the massive night time arrives.
Don’t Be Shocked to See a Commerce-up
He hadn’t actually proven indicators of it earlier than, given the truth that he hasn’t made a commerce because the deadline, however Briere has been in some severe commerce rumors main as much as the draft. His reported aggressiveness says so much about how he views this class: it’s pivotal for the Flyers’ future success.
With the Flyers needing expertise to encompass Matvei Michkov with each subsequent season and for the long-term future, there was, in idea, strain for them to maneuver up from their twelfth decide. Pierre LeBrun of TSN confirmed that on June 27 with a fairly noteworthy report.
“The Flyers made a reasonably aggressive pitch to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday, providing a swap of first-round picks, additionally a roster participant, plus maybe subsequent 12 months’s first-round decide, all aside of a bundle to attempt to get the fourth-overall decide from the Blue Jackets. I consider the reply was no, however that doesn’t imply you may’t attempt once more,” LeBrun stated.
On the morning of draft day, Elliotte Friedman of 32 Ideas: The Podcast weighed in on the matter. “Columbus wished one thing massive. The [12th overall pick], which must be included as a result of that’s Philly’s present decide, Philly has the thirty second decide, and doubtlessly [the Flyers’ 2025 first-round pick from the Colorado Avalanche],” he stated. “What I heard is that was an excessive amount of for Philly, however the two groups had been anticipated to talk once more at the moment, Friday,” Friedman adopted with, but additionally stating that he thinks different groups are inquiring concerning the Blue Jackets’ decide.
Whereas this commerce didn’t undergo, it’s evident that there was some curiosity in transferring up on the Flyers’ aspect to maybe land a high-end expertise like winger Ivan Demidov, heart Cayden Lindstrom, and even defenseman Zeev Buium. The place they sit at twelfth total must be ok to take a star-level prospect, however getting that subsequent tier of participant could possibly be precious for them.
Even when a giant deal doesn’t happen, we all know that Briere wasn’t content material simply sitting round. He understands the significance of this draft class greater than anybody and is keen to be as aggressive as attainable to make issues occur. Maybe he won’t go for the fourth-overall decide, however he may look to maneuver up some place else.
Flyers Take the Greatest Participant Obtainable
The Flyers have a positional want all through their offensive lineup, and that’s very true now that Michkov is in Philadelphia. All of the speak has been about forwards, however they very properly may take a defenseman if top-of-the-line of the category finally ends up slipping. Whether or not it’s a ahead or a defenseman, don’t be stunned to see the Flyers take, objectively, the perfect participant on the draft board.
Whereas the Flyers don’t have as massive of a necessity on protection as they do on offense, if gamers like Zayne Parekh and Sam Dickinson fall to them at their twelfth decide, don’t count on them to look the opposite approach. The truth that they’re in a rebuild has not modified, which means that they may use expertise anyplace within the lineup.
Briere has brazenly acknowledged that he has a best-player-available philosophy, so he’ll doubtless keep true to that. He did that previously with Michkov at seventh total in 2023, so it wouldn’t be shocking to see him do it once more.
There was hypothesis contradicting that sentiment, because the Flyers reportedly like Stian Solberg. However, actually, that simply looks as if a basic Briere smoke display to cover what he’s truly pondering. With the twelfth decide, Solberg wouldn’t be the perfect participant out there, so the Orange and Black gained’t take him there—that’s actually all it boils all the way down to. Irrespective of the place, Philadelphia very doubtless shouldn’t be going to achieve for a participant they like.
Flyers Might Purchase a Second Early First-Spherical Choose
If it’s not a trade-up that the Flyers want they usually wish to handle a number of positions with star prospects, then buying and selling for an extra early first-round decide looks as if an excellent plan. Since Philadelphia is in a rebuild, there is likely to be a want to ship off a few of their veterans to get some extra motion on this loaded class—there’s an opportunity that it’d work.
That is purely hypothesis, however gamers like Travis Konecny, Joel Farabee, and Scott Laughton don’t appear to suit the Flyers’ rebuilding timeline in addition to a star prospect from this class. Philadelphia, attempting to be as aggressive as attainable sooner or later, understands how good this draft class is. What additionally they perceive is that, somewhat bit below a decade from now, Michkov will doubtless be in his prime—Konecny, Farabee, and Laughton won’t. Including as many younger gamers as attainable makes an excessive amount of sense for the Flyers to not do, so they may half methods with certainly one of their extra skilled property to do it.
Associated: Flyers Can not Give Travis Konecny a Lengthy-Time period Extension
As for what decide the Flyers can be buying, anyplace from seventh to 14th is sensible. The perfect gamers of the category ought to nonetheless be on the board in that vary, and it offers the Orange and Black an opportunity to discover their choices. It will definitely be very best if the Flyers may get a serious prospect on prime of their twelfth total decide, that approach Michkov may have all the expertise on the planet round him for when the crew is definitely able to compete for a championship. There can be much less strain to accumulate a top-notch prospect sooner or later if that had been the case, so getting all of it out of the way in which now may save the crew quite a lot of stress.
Flyers Don’t Stand Pat at thirty second Total
If the Flyers aren’t utterly content material sitting at twelfth total, then they most likely aren’t at thirty second total, both. There are some good, ignored children who may slip by way of the cracks and discover their strategy to the Orange and Black. On the similar time, although, they could possibly be lacking out on some items within the 20s which may not be out there to them with out a commerce. Igor Chernyshov, Michael Hage, Teddy Stiga, and Solberg may all be gamers who aren’t accessible for Philadelphia by the point they’re picked thirty second.
If the Flyers like these 4 gamers—which they most likely do in some capability—then they’d wish to make a transfer to get them. As a substitute of letting different groups management their destiny, they may wish to take management of their very own. A trade-up could possibly be so as even by the point the largest names are all gone, and it won’t price so much to do.
How necessary this draft class is for the Flyers can’t be understated. It may change the outlook of their rebuild in a really optimistic course if they’re energetic sufficient. Might they be massive winners of the draft in back-to-back years?
