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

Conor Geekie will be the pick if they keep it or trade down imo.

Bill you get any sense they are looking to trade the pick for immediate help?

Conor Geekie will be the pick if they keep it or trade down imo.

Bill you get any sense they are looking to trade the pick for immediate help?
- hello it's me 2050

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).

Not one mention of his failed captaincy of the Flyers

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).
- bmeltzer

Would be par for the course with the direction they are going and who it appears they will be hiring.

My wild prediction is the flyers end up with 3 - 1st rd picks on draft day.

Congrats to Al and Bill. Always enjoyed their coverage and their insights. Well deserved. Still have to read Bill Clement's book.

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

Because that is more relevant to Eric Lindros than to Desjardins, who accepted the role for awhile but didn't particularly relish it unlike Keith Primeau.

Because that is more relevant to Eric Lindros than to Desjardins, who accepted the role for awhile but didn't particularly relish it unlike Keith Primeau.
- bmeltzer

What is Eric up to these days Bill? Involved in hockey at all?

I'm ok with the Flyers trading down if they feel they can still get a decent forward with an additional asset. I'm just worried they just end up settling and taking Jiricek at 5 because they are suppose to. That pick will come back and bite them in the hinnie.

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.

I'm ok with the Flyers trading down if they feel they can still get a decent forward with an additional asset. I'm just worried they just end up settling and taking Jiricek at 5 because they are suppose to. That pick will come back and bite them in the hinnie.
- Glak18

Why would drafting Jiricek come back to bite the Flyers? Everything I read in the article Bill referenced and other sites tell me he may be the most NHL ready defenseman in the draft?

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

Like how he traded a first for an NHL player to help in the now a few years ago

Go look at the reports on rosen now qnd there were a few players taken in that range after that have had monster years. But, hey, we have Risto

...Flyers may select a defenseman at No. 5 or try to trade down a few spots to pick up an extra pick while still potentially grabbing a forward they like. Trading up does not seem likely.
- bmeltzer

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.

Why would drafting Jiricek come back to bite the Flyers? Everything I read in the article Bill referenced and other sites tell me he may be the most NHL ready defenseman in the draft?
- jd250

He may become a nice top 4 guy down the road, but I don't think he has the upside for a top pairing guy, I just don't see an NHL offensive game (booming shot or not). Don't care what draft it is, strong or weak or in between, if you're taking a defenseman top 5 it better be a decent top pairing guy.

Bill, how do you personally feel about Gauthier's 2nd half rise and do you see him as a legit option at 5 for us? I noticed in Pronman's article some said he could be a top 3 pick. Would he be a risky pick for us at 5?

Like how he traded a first for an NHL player to help in the now a few years ago

Go look at the reports on rosen now qnd their were a few players taken in that range after that have had monster years. But, hey, we have Risto
- THE BLACK HAND

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.

He may become a nice top 4 guy down the road, but I don't think he has the upside for a top pairing guy, I just don't see an NHL offensive game (booming shot or not). Don't care what draft it is, strong or weak or in between, if you're taking a defenseman top 5 it better be a decent top pairing guy.
- Glak18

I don't know if he's gonna score a bunch of points or not, but he's absolutely aces in transition, is a really strong decision maker and he's already dominant defensively. Big and physical, too, which the fans will appreciate.

I haven't heard anybody saying his upside spread centers on 2nd-pair. He's a pretty solid top-pair projection. Less variance than Nemec.

He may become a nice top 4 guy down the road, but I don't think he has the upside for a top pairing guy, I just don't see an NHL offensive game (booming shot or not). Don't care what draft it is, strong or weak or in between, if you're taking a defenseman top 5 it better be a decent top pairing guy.
- Glak18

I agree, however one scout compared him to Moritz Seider who was drafted 6th by Detroit. I would not be sad about getting a defenseman of that caliber.

Bill, how do you personally feel about Gauthier's 2nd half rise and do you see him as a legit option at 5 for us? I noticed in Pronman's article some said he could be a top 3 pick. Would he be a risky pick for us at 5?
- arichardson22

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.

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

This should be a no brainer, let’s cross our fingers

I don't know if he's gonna score a bunch of points or not, but he's absolutely aces in transition, is a really strong decision maker and he's already dominant defensively. Big and physical, too, which the fans will appreciate.

I haven't heard anybody saying his upside spread centers on 2nd-pair. He's a pretty solid top-pair projection. Less variance than Nemec.
- Tomahawk

The one bad thing I read about Jiricek was from one of the scouts questioning his hockey IQ, but after watching Risto this past season, how bad can he be?

The one bad thing I read about Jiricek was from one of the scouts questioning his hockey IQ, but after watching Risto this past season, how bad can he be?
- jd250

Nothing wrong w/ Jiricek's IQ.

The knock on him is his janky skating stride, although he's not really slow.

He's kinda like Risto, if Risto had a brain.

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

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.

Nothing wrong w/ Jiricek's IQ.

The knock on him is his janky skating stride, although he's not really slow.

He's kinda like Risto, if Risto had a brain.
- Tomahawk

Oh .. I would take that :-)

I don't know if he's gonna score a bunch of points or not, but he's absolutely aces in transition, is a really strong decision maker and he's already dominant defensively. Big and physical, too, which the fans will appreciate.

I haven't heard anybody saying his upside spread centers on 2nd-pair. He's a pretty solid top-pair projection. Less variance than Nemec.
- Tomahawk

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.