Every prospect is risky, even Wright.

#5 is not the time to play it safe and take a guy with a high floor. Swing for the mothe(frank)ing fences.
- Tomahawk

The more i read on Gauthier the more I see he could have a higher ceiling then some of the guys going between 4-10. I wouldn't mind taking a swing for a higher ceiling guy with a safe floor like him. We are thing at center prospect wise too

The more i read on Gauthier the more I see he could have a higher ceiling then some of the guys going between 4-10. I wouldn't mind taking a swing for a higher ceiling guy with a safe floor like him. We are thing at center prospect wise too
- arichardson22

There are centers the Flyers should consider before Gauthier (who might end up more as a winger anyway).

But he is the kind of toolsy guy that the Flyers love to take with their high picks.

I tend to agree with you, just take the best player you can get. Whomever they draft at 5 is going to be a good player that can help this team, even if they are not a superstar. The bigger problem for the Flyers is not their drafting, its being able to develop the player after.
- jd250

that is not true at all. You hope that is the outcome.

Not one mention of his failed captaincy of the Flyers
- penguininnevada

Do you find it concerning Anthony Davis hasn't shot a basketball since May 5th?

Pretty rare these days to see anybody trading up/down within the first 5+ picks.

Imagine the absolute mayhem if the best player in the draft turns out to be another Makar at #5 while the Flyers trade down a couple of spots and end up with a Cody Glass or Lias Andersson, lol.

They need to just sit tight at #5, take whoever their scouts have as BAP, and not try to be too cute.
- Tomahawk

Which is what they should do.

The guy i like to read about is Jonathan Lekkerimaki. Kid seems to have legit NHL shot, pure sniper but plays a 2 way game too.

Love to hear Bills thoughts on him as a lot of mocks seem to have him around the 7-12 range. Would he be a stretch at 5?

Thanks for sharing the scouting report Bill! Its really fascinating to see how split people are at all levels of the top 10 in this draft. Makes me wonder if the Flyers would prefer to trade the pick out right as part of a package for an NHL player that can help them now. It seems to me this is the draft to make such a move given the uncertainty of the top players. Another option is Fletcher can trade down a few spots, but I would only do this if he can pick up a 2023 2nd round pick also. But doing the trade down to me is a sign of a less aggressive approach to this rebuild.
- jd250

After all the posts and going on and on and on about having to have top 5 picks to get elite talent. Now you're advocating trading the pick. You made numerous claims that if Fletcher makes moves for now instead of drafting high, you'll be done with him. Now you seem to be giving a seal of approval for such a move.

I actually think the opposite, I think the modern day Flyer fans will absolutely hate everything about his game...even if he becomes the most dominate shutdown guy of all time. He could be a nice scapegoat for the future.
- Glak18

What kind of fan hates a dominant shutdown guy?

Who are the prospects you are referring to? Rosen is not jumping out to me as having a great year in Sweden, but I do know of one Bruins prospect drafted at 21, Fabian Lysell, who had some baggage which is why he fell. But Lysell had a very strong season in the WHL and is probably the Bruins top prospect now.
- jd250

Rosen just signed with the Sabres as a 19 year old and the plan is for him to jump right into the AHL. I'll throw out Wyatt Johnston who was drafted by the Stars at 23 who just completed a 124 point season in the OHL (who actually feels like a Fletcher-esque pick). How about Cossa and Wallstedt two of the best goalie prospects in the league, Cossa just won the WHL title with Edmonton. Or Xavier Bourgeault, who's getting some looks as a possible trade piece for the Oilers to improve. Plenty of great prospects that were out there but all we ended up with is an overpaid defenseman.

Rosen just signed with the Sabres as a 19 year old and the plan is for him to jump right into the AHL. I'll throw out Wyatt Johnston who was drafted by the Stars at 23 who just completed a 124 point season in the OHL (who actually feels like a Fletcher-esque pick). How about Cossa and Wallstedt two of the best goalie prospects in the league, Cossa just won the WHL title with Edmonton. Or Xavier Bourgeault, who's getting some looks as a possible trade piece for the Oilers to improve. Plenty of great prospects that were out there but all we ended up with is an overpaid defenseman.
- TobyFlenderson

But he plays pseudo flyers hockey

Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Clement & Morganti, Draft, Desjardins, TIFH
- bmeltzer

What I wouldn’t give to see Desjardins, LeClair, Gagne, Recchi, Brind’Amour, Primeau, Roenick and Lindros play again.

So many look down on Provorov on this board and as stated by Bill about Desjardins, he wasn’t a Norris caliber defenseman in his time but wouldn’t we be happy if Provorov reach Desjardins level of play? I would. He might already there but the problem is Desjardins only had two regular partners his entire career. Why can’t we find this and get this for Provorov before stating he couldn’t possibly be a number 1 defenseman for this team?

Wonder if CC has any regrets about not picking Colorado...or the other florida team.

I think it's possible, although Brent Flahr would have a fit about trading 1st round pick in B2B years (like most on that side of hockey ops, he's all about keeping picks).

When the 14th overall (and a 2023 2nd) got the Flyers a UFA stud like Risto, just think what the 5th overall could bring back.

Rosen just signed with the Sabres as a 19 year old and the plan is for him to jump right into the AHL. I'll throw out Wyatt Johnston who was drafted by the Stars at 23 who just completed a 124 point season in the OHL (who actually feels like a Fletcher-esque pick). How about Cossa and Wallstedt two of the best goalie prospects in the league, Cossa just won the WHL title with Edmonton. Or Xavier Bourgeault, who's getting some looks as a possible trade piece for the Oilers to improve. Plenty of great prospects that were out there but all we ended up with is an overpaid defenseman.
- TobyFlenderson

And the kid the Rangers selected

And the kid the Rangers selected
- THE BLACK HAND

Definitely a few I missed. Othmann looks good, Lucius looks good too and he seems like another patented Fletcher pick with the Minnesota connection and everything, already signed with the Jets.

Seems like there was a lot of value through the second half of the first round.

that is not true at all. You hope that is the outcome.
- hello it's me 2050

What I meant is that if the Flyers pick at 5 they will get a highly skilled player with high upside. Whether they can develop that player's full potential has historically been an issue for this organization.

After all the posts and going on and on and on about having to have top 5 picks to get elite talent. Now you're advocating trading the pick. You made numerous claims that if Fletcher makes moves for now instead of drafting high, you'll be done with him. Now you seem to be giving a seal of approval for such a move.
- MJL

I am not advocating for anything. I am simply stating the real possibility that given the uncertainty of players potentially picked in the top 10, Fletcher might trade down a few spots to pick up a 2nd round pick as he did in 2019 when he drafted York at 14 and Brink in the early 2nd round. I further expounded that if Fletcher decided to do this it might be better to get a 2nd rounder in 2023 which is considered a much deeper draft class. I would prefer the Flyers pick in the top 5 of course, in fact I previously advocated Fletcher move up aggressively to get the player his team targets, but I am not part of the Flyers scouting team, so they might determine picking 5th or picking 9th doesn't matter all that much in this particular draft.

Rosen just signed with the Sabres as a 19 year old and the plan is for him to jump right into the AHL. I'll throw out Wyatt Johnston who was drafted by the Stars at 23 who just completed a 124 point season in the OHL (who actually feels like a Fletcher-esque pick). How about Cossa and Wallstedt two of the best goalie prospects in the league, Cossa just won the WHL title with Edmonton. Or Xavier Bourgeault, who's getting some looks as a possible trade piece for the Oilers to improve. Plenty of great prospects that were out there but all we ended up with is an overpaid defenseman.
- TobyFlenderson

The Flyers have a lot of young players that play in the AHL, and so far have done squat in the NHL, so the fact that the Sabres signed Rosen and he may play for the their AHL team is not that exciting. Also I didn't see the Flyers drafting a goalie even if they kept the 14th pick given they have Hart and several other goalies in their system already. As far as Risto, look at the bright side, at least he took a pay cut :-)

The Flyers have a lot of young players that play in the AHL, and so far have done squat in the NHL, so the fact that the Sabres signed Rosen and he may play for the their AHL team is not that exciting. Also I didn't see the Flyers drafting a goalie even if they kept the 14th pick given they have Hart and several other goalies in their system already. As far as Risto, look at the bright side, at least he took a pay cut :-)
- jd250

I don't care if Rosen will be in the AHL, NHL or SHL next year he is by far a better asset than Risto is. Leave out the goalies, I'd rather have (in no particular order) Johnston, L'Heureux, Svechkov, Othmann, Lucius, Bolduc, Samoskevich, Lambos over Ristolainen. This is without mentioning they also don't have a 2023 2nd rounder, another asset probably more valuable than Ristolainen at this point. But sure, he's no longer $5.4 million anchor only a $5.1 million anchor.

The Flyers have a lot of young players that play in the AHL, and so far have done squat in the NHL, so the fact that the Sabres signed Rosen and he may play for the their AHL team is not that exciting. Also I didn't see the Flyers drafting a goalie even if they kept the 14th pick given they have Hart and several other goalies in their system already. As far as Risto, look at the bright side, at least he took a pay cut :-)
- jd250

Cant wait to see what Chariot, Manson , and like get in free agency. What are the odds it is less term and money than RR

Cant wait to see what Chariot, Manson , and like get in free agency. What are the odds it is less term and money than RR
- hello it's me 2050

who cares, you really need more ammo to crap on RR. Crapping on him every day pretty much the last 6 months hasnt been enough?

You guys are nuts

who cares, you really need more ammo to crap on RR. Crapping on him every day pretty much the last 6 months hasnt been enough?

You guys are nuts
- bradster

eat a snickers bar holmes. It is "crapping" on the GM not RR by the way

What kind of fan hates a dominant shutdown guy?
- Scoob

One that prefers a dominate offensive defenseman?

eat a snickers bar holmes. It is "crapping" on the GM not RR by the way
- hello it's me 2050

oh thats ok then, that hasnt happened here lately

oh thats ok then, that hasnt happened here lately
- bradster

As they say it is what it is.....Wonder why the Flyers didn't interview Lappy for the hesd coach spot.