Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Wisdom, Smith, Kaplan, Clarke and More

Had no idea Allison was that injury prone, tough run here for these prospects.

Seems like half the players mentioned were first rounders. Well, at least these kids have youth on their side and can bounce back.

Strange how when Flyers prospects don’t pan out it more often than not is due to “miserable luck”. They never seem to make bad picks.

Strange how when Flyers prospect don’t pan out it more often than not is due to “miserable luck”. They never seem to make bad picks.
- Djapana

Rubstov comes to mind

Rubstov comes to mind
- ClaudeFather

From the blog

"German Rubtsov, the Flyers' 2016 first round pick, had season-ending shoulder surgery in 2018-19 for an injury suffered midway through the first period in the season's 14th game. He reinjured his shoulder early the next season, missing a little over a month. He's never really gotten his overall game together ever since, although he's returned to North America for the the 2021-22 season after spending last year in the KHL."

The curse of Willy Penn keeps on giving.

The pick was interesting and one of debate since the whole Russian team was caught cheating. Had a good world juniors but those injuries seemed to stop his development.

German that is. Quote didn’t work.

Rubtsov, Leberge, Ginning, Patrick, Frost, Rattcliffe, O’Brien. That’s seven first or second round picks from 2016-18 that should be helping the parent club about now. To date they have produced zilch. Maybe some bad luck, maybe some very mediocre drafting by Hextall.

From the blog

"German Rubtsov, the Flyers' 2016 first round pick, had season-ending shoulder surgery in 2018-19 for an injury suffered midway through the first period in the season's 14th game. He reinjured his shoulder early the next season, missing a little over a month. He's never really gotten his overall game together ever since, although he's returned to North America for the the 2021-22 season after spending last year in the KHL."
- MJL

Yes, thank you. I was more alluding to he was a bad pick tho. Bad sarcasm I guess haha

Rubtsov, Leberge, Ginning, Patrick, Frost, Rattcliffe, O’Brien. That’s seven first or second round picks from 2016-18 that should be helping the parent club about now. To date they have produced zilch. Maybe some bad luck, maybe some very mediocre drafting by Hextall.
- Djapana

That hit on laberge was disgusting , flying blind side elbow .

That hit on laberge was disgusting , flying blind side elbow .
- ClaudeFather

Meh, if Hexy drafted better he wouldn't have gotten hurt.

Meh, if Hexy drafted better he wouldn't have gotten hurt.


- MBFlyerfan

His foresight wAs pathetic lol

Yes, thank you. I was more alluding to he was a bad pick tho. Bad sarcasm I guess haha
- ClaudeFather

It was clear. Not just the flyers though. Seems like all Philly teams haven’t been drafting well. Always sucks when a first rounder doesn’t pan out. But we have also found some great later first round picks throughout the years.

In case you all didn't see this video, it really allows a glimpse of the great facilities the Flyers have for their players. This is Cam Atkinson's introduction to the city, its a great short video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ij8A27m-ujk

Shoulder and knee injuries are the worst. We've seen so many players have their careers ended because of shoulder injuries; I keep thinking of Tim Kerr as an example. We'll see how Frost recovers, but man, this is unbelievable how many Flyers younger players are getting hurt badly like this. I really feel bad for them and this organization.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that all these players getting injuries between ages of 18-20. The human body really isn’t meant to take the punishment that hockey players do. At the speed of game now and fact 18-20 years typically aren’t physically developed as grown men it’s no surprise these injuries are more common now

Bill, you didn’t mention where or when Wisdoms injury occurred. I know he was playing in the Showcase last week in Calgary. So am I right in assuming this is where it happened?

Rubtsov, Leberge, Ginning, Patrick, Frost, Rattcliffe, O’Brien. That’s seven first or second round picks from 2016-18 that should be helping the parent club about now. To date they have produced zilch. Maybe some bad luck, maybe some very mediocre drafting by Hextall.
- Djapana

The percentage of players selected in the 2nd round making it as established NHL players is pretty low. Hextall oversaw 5 drafts as Flyers GM if I'm not mistaken. From those drafts, he supplied 7 bonafide NHL players with the possibility of a couple more being impact players in Frost and Allison. Along with a number of players that are capable of being NHL call ups. As well as a few where the jury is still out in O'Brien.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that all these players getting injuries between ages of 18-20. The human body really isn’t meant to take the punishment that hockey players do. At the speed of game now and fact 18-20 years typically aren’t physically developed as grown men it’s no surprise these injuries are more common now
- Stayin alive

However there are a lot of exceptions right? I mean, Makar, Patrick, Farabee, Stutzle just to name a few off the top of my head. Its not so much age, its really about whether you are physically developed enough to play at a professional level. This is why you have to look at a young player on a case by case basis and not rush them through their development too quickly. Its not so much about ability or mentality, its more about being physically able to compete with big, strong and fast players.

The percentage of players selected in the 2nd round making it as established NHL players is pretty low. Hextall oversaw 5 drafts as Flyers GM if I'm not mistaken. From those drafts, he supplied 7 bonafide NHL players with the possibility of a couple more being impact players in Frost and Allison. Along with a number of players that are capable of being NHL call ups. As well as a few where the jury is still out in O'Brien.
-MJL

In The Inquirer’s latest list of the Flyers’ best prospects, six of the top 12 were drafted by Fletcher and his sidekick, assistant general manager Brent Flahr, who heads the team’s draft board, which is pretty good for just over 2 years. However when you dig in deeper, 4 out of the top 6 prospects were drafted or signed by Hextall, including Egor Zamula who I believe will be a top 4 defenseman very soon for the Flyers, possibly give Fletcher flexibility to trade Sanheim by next year if Sanheim wants too much money. So as much flack as I give Hextall, especially near the end of his Flyers term, he made some good picks with Zamula, Farabee and O'Brien.

In The Inquirer’s latest list of the Flyers’ best prospects, six of the top 12 were drafted by Fletcher and his sidekick, assistant general manager Brent Flahr, who heads the team’s draft board, which is pretty good for just over 2 years. However when you dig in deeper, 4 out of the top 6 prospects were drafted or signed by Hextall, including Egor Zamula who I believe will be a top 4 defenseman very soon for the Flyers, possibly give Fletcher flexibility to trade Sanheim by next year if Sanheim wants too much money. So as much flack as I give Hextall, especially near the end of his Flyers term, he made some good picks with Zamula, Farabee and O'Brien.
- jd250

Did they list how many Hextall picks were already playing for the Flyers?

In The Inquirer’s latest list of the Flyers’ best prospects, six of the top 12 were drafted by Fletcher and his sidekick, assistant general manager Brent Flahr, who heads the team’s draft board, which is pretty good for just over 2 years. However when you dig in deeper, 4 out of the top 6 prospects were drafted or signed by Hextall, including Egor Zamula who I believe will be a top 4 defenseman very soon for the Flyers, possibly give Fletcher flexibility to trade Sanheim by next year if Sanheim wants too much money. So as much flack as I give Hextall, especially near the end of his Flyers term, he made some good picks with Zamula, Farabee and O'Brien.
- jd250

Looking at the Flyers best prospect list is not a comparable way of comparing the two GM's if that was your intent. I would hope the Flyers learned a lesson last year in rushing and elevating players too soon. I don't know what you mean by very soon for Zamula but I would bet he's at least 2 years away from being capable of assuming a top 4 spot in the NHL if not more.

Looking at the Flyers best prospect list is not a comparable way of comparing the two GM's if that was your intent. I would hope the Flyers learned a lesson last year in rushing and elevating players too soon. I don't know what you mean by very soon for Zamula but I would bet he's at least 2 years away from being capable of assuming a top 4 spot in the NHL if not more.
- MJL

who did they rush?

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that all these players getting injuries between ages of 18-20. The human body really isn’t meant to take the punishment that hockey players do. At the speed of game now and fact 18-20 years typically aren’t physically developed as grown men it’s no surprise these injuries are more common now
- Stayin alive

Actually this is a good point a lot of these kids aren't physically developed yet and they are taking hits from professionals who know how to hit. Guy who stand at 6'3 220 lbs.
Wisdom was far from a little guy though while Frost needs the muscles.