Bill Meltzer: Seven Flyers Prospects Named to WJSS

I really liked that the Flyers traded pick number 32 to Edmonton. Now this is a really good team and should have another run at a cup but they would have to win it just to keep that pick in the same pick value. Odds are that the Flyers just moved up that pick a few slots by moving back a year. Plus the Flyers, as well as other teams, stated that the 2025 draft is a deeper draft, especially at center.

I think it hurt this draft but was better for the franchise moving forward. They have a lot of, most likely, top 50 picks on the board. At this point, it looks like 6 picks in the top 50.

I really liked that the Flyers traded pick number 32 to Edmonton. Now this is a really good team and should have another run at a cup but they would have to win it just to keep that pick in the same pick value. Odds are that the Flyers just moved up that pick a few slots by moving back a year. Plus the Flyers, as well as other teams, stated that the 2025 draft is a deeper draft, especially at center.

I think it hurt this draft but was better for the franchise moving forward. They have a lot of, most likely, top 50 picks on the board. At this point, it looks like 6 picks in the top 50.
- peesinwind

The Flyers just drafted 3 centers with the 1st 4 picks of the last draft in a deep defensive (weak center) draft including 1st and 2nd rounds. Only one of which is projected to have a chance of playing in the top 2 lines.

What makes you think they will draft a center in the next draft and that the player will be a potential top line player? They now may have "to many centers" to draft a center. Also, if they don't think Jett is their future 1C going forward they know they screwed up with that pick as they passed on projected 1D to draft him a 2c/3c.

The trade to EDM is really a lateral trade unless EDM does surprisingly bad or the Flyers can package it to get a 1C or 1D, which if the Flyers finish around where they finished this time is unlikely. It's also very possible that whoever they identify will not be a projected top line player as in this draft. What they did lose by trading that pick is the player drafted next year will be +1 year from helping the club.

https://www.nytimes.com/a...-draft-picks-grades-2024/

As far as the quantity argument you made? If you look at their top 50 picks last draft outside of Jett, big physical skaters who like to hit people with absolutely no outstanding qualities with only a chance to play in the bottom of the lineup. Even Jett has many of the grinder qualities.

Would 4 more bottom 6/3rd pair grinders next year help the cause in Philly or do they need more talent? Having picks and using them well are 2 different things.

Flyers aren't trying to draft the next Crosby, Bedard, Hedman, Makar, Hughes. They want as many Scott Laughton's and Nick Seeler's as you can fit onto one roster.

The Flyers just drafted 3 centers with the 1st 4 picks of the last draft in a deep defensive (weak center) draft including 1st and 2nd rounds. Only one of which is projected to have a chance of playing in the top 2 lines.

What makes you think they will draft a center in the next draft and that the player will be a potential top line player? They now may have "to many centers" to draft a center. Also, if they don't think Jett is their future 1C going forward they know they screwed up with that pick as they passed on projected 1D to draft him a 2c/3c.

The trade to EDM is really a lateral trade unless EDM does surprisingly bad or the Flyers can package it to get a 1C or 1D, which if the Flyers finish around where they finished this time is unlikely. It's also very possible that whoever they identify will not be a projected top line player as in this draft. What they did lose by trading that pick is the player drafted next year will be +1 year from helping the club.

https://www.nytimes.com/a...-draft-picks-grades-2024/

As far as the quantity argument you made? If you look at their top 50 picks last draft outside of Jett, big physical skaters who like to hit people with absolutely no outstanding qualities with only a chance to play in the bottom of the lineup. Even Jett has many of the grinder qualities.

Would 4 more bottom 6/3rd pair grinders next year help the cause in Philly or do they need more talent? Having picks and using them well are 2 different things.

Flyers aren't trying to draft the next Crosby, Bedard, Hedman, Makar, Hughes. They want as many Scott Laughton's and Nick Seeler's as you can fit onto one roster.
- Flyers_01

Great post, thank you.

Flyers aren't trying to draft the next Crosby, Bedard, Hedman, Makar, Hughes. They want as many Scott Laughton's and Nick Seeler's as you can fit onto one roster.
- Flyers_01

I've posted this before. Most teams want a skilled team with the right mix of grinders, checkers and role players for support. The Flyers want a team of grinders, checkers and role players, who have character and play the right way. To build the culture. With just a sprinkling of skill. Who might possibly be the influence behind that? The guy who played a journeyman checking 4th line center 19 minutes in a must win game as the teams #1 center. While benching much better players with more skill. The guy who starts 2 defenseman in OT?

Do you think Kolosov is a goner, Bill?

I am fine with the Edmonton trade in general. My only real issue is that it seems that the Flyers think they will be able to move up next draft. History shows that moving up and into the top 5 almost never happens. If they do not have a pick in the top five then the odds of landing a #1C or #1D drastically diminish.

It is a good thing to have six picks in the top 50. The Flyers need talent basically everywhere. They will not get the top level talent though. Hopefully they find another Giroux in the 20's. I would not bet on that though.

I really liked that the Flyers traded pick number 32 to Edmonton. Now this is a really good team and should have another run at a cup but they would have to win it just to keep that pick in the same pick value. Odds are that the Flyers just moved up that pick a few slots by moving back a year. Plus the Flyers, as well as other teams, stated that the 2025 draft is a deeper draft, especially at center.

I think it hurt this draft but was better for the franchise moving forward. They have a lot of, most likely, top 50 picks on the board. At this point, it looks like 6 picks in the top 50.
- peesinwind

could be wrong last time flyers had that many was 1990. 7 in the top 50. 8 in the top 52

The Flyers just drafted 3 centers with the 1st 4 picks of the last draft in a deep defensive (weak center) draft including 1st and 2nd rounds. Only one of which is projected to have a chance of playing in the top 2 lines.

What makes you think they will draft a center in the next draft and that the player will be a potential top line player? They now may have "to many centers" to draft a center. Also, if they don't think Jett is their future 1C going forward they know they screwed up with that pick as they passed on projected 1D to draft him a 2c/3c.

The trade to EDM is really a lateral trade unless EDM does surprisingly bad or the Flyers can package it to get a 1C or 1D, which if the Flyers finish around where they finished this time is unlikely. It's also very possible that whoever they identify will not be a projected top line player as in this draft. What they did lose by trading that pick is the player drafted next year will be +1 year from helping the club.

https://www.nytimes.com/a...-draft-picks-grades-2024/

As far as the quantity argument you made? If you look at their top 50 picks last draft outside of Jett, big physical skaters who like to hit people with absolutely no outstanding qualities with only a chance to play in the bottom of the lineup. Even Jett has many of the grinder qualities.

Would 4 more bottom 6/3rd pair grinders next year help the cause in Philly or do they need more talent? Having picks and using them well are 2 different things.

Flyers aren't trying to draft the next Crosby, Bedard, Hedman, Makar, Hughes. They want as many Scott Laughton's and Nick Seeler's as you can fit onto one roster.
- Flyers_01

I have no idea what they are going to draft next year. They don’t even know. Brier did say that it was a deep draft especially at center compared to most drafts.

Maybe they viewed Zeev as not a top pair prospect and viewed Luchanko as a 1C/2C talent. Maybe. I don’t know.

I’m saying that I liked the trade. It can’t be any worse than a lateral move and most likely will be a higher pick (based on odds). As well as what is regarded a deeper draft.

They did pick up a couple of long shot/grinder type centers outside the 1st round. At this point Luchanko and Gill are the two with the highest upside in my opinion from last years draft.

I like the fact that they have a lot of capital. And I agree with you that they need quality at this point. They have said that publicly that they need more skill in the system and the line up. Michkov is one that Danny said brought a type of skill that they needed in the system. They need more.

I’m hopeful that they can use all this capital to upgrade the high level skill. 6 picks in the top 50 (if that’s how it plays out) gives them a lot of capital.

I've posted this before. Most teams want a skilled team with the right mix of grinders, checkers and role players for support. The Flyers want a team of grinders, checkers and role players, who have character and play the right way. To build the culture. With just a sprinkling of skill. Who might possibly be the influence behind that? The guy who played a journeyman checking 4th line center 19 minutes in a must win game as the teams #1 center. While benching much better players with more skill. The guy who starts 2 defenseman in OT?
- MJL

I agree that they need more skilled players. Size and physicality is great as long as they have skill.

I am fine with the Edmonton trade in general. My only real issue is that it seems that the Flyers think they will be able to move up next draft. History shows that moving up and into the top 5 almost never happens. If they do not have a pick in the top five then the odds of landing a #1C or #1D drastically diminish.

It is a good thing to have six picks in the top 50. The Flyers need talent basically everywhere. They will not get the top level talent though. Hopefully they find another Giroux in the 20's. I would not bet on that though.
- mickel25

Fair post. It will be hard to move up. It is believed by the public that this draft may have multiple top line forwards and a couple defensemen. They may just need a top ten pick to have a crack at it. That will be hard also unless they can finish in that area.

The Flyers just drafted 3 centers with the 1st 4 picks of the last draft in a deep defensive (weak center) draft including 1st and 2nd rounds. Only one of which is projected to have a chance of playing in the top 2 lines. ***** Briere was left with almost 0 org depth at this position. Not sure what the issue is here. If they drafted no centers you would be complaining they did not draft any centers...

What makes you think they will draft a center in the next draft and that the player will be a potential top line player? They now may have "to many centers" to draft a center. Also, if they don't think Jett is their future 1C going forward they know they screwed up with that pick as they passed on projected 1D to draft him a 2c/3c.
***** Why would they not think Jett can be a "#1" center? Their scouts have seen him play. Have you? Has anyone here actually seen him play in person? Anyone? Why are dmen taken after him projected 1 D, but Jett is not a 1C? This is agenda driven nonsense based on nothing.

The trade to EDM is really a lateral trade unless EDM does surprisingly bad or the Flyers can package it to get a 1C or 1D, which if the Flyers finish around where they finished this time is unlikely. It's also very possible that whoever they identify will not be a projected top line player as in this draft. What they did lose by trading that pick is the player drafted next year will be +1 year from helping the club.
***** Conversely, next yrs draft is already rated better and most likely that pick will be closer to the 20s than the Edm 2024 finish. Also, they will be trading 1 or more of those 6 top 45 or so picks and that draft pick prob has more nhl asset value than whatever player they would have drafted at 32 this yr. This is an example of the kind of decision you make when you rebuild. If you as a fan really want a rebuild you must be prepared to wait on assets used.

https://www.nytimes.com/a...-draft-picks-grades-2024/

As far as the quantity argument you made? If you look at their top 50 picks last draft outside of Jett, big physical skaters who like to hit people with absolutely no outstanding qualities with only a chance to play in the bottom of the lineup. Even Jett has many of the grinder qualities. ***** Playmaking and outstanding PP player are grinder qualities? Blazing speed and good in front of the next are grinder qualities? It's not 100% he will be a 1C, but the kid is almost a full yr younger than most. You almost have to wait until the conclusion of this upcoming year and then base his 24/25 play against others drafted around him and their play in 23/24. The Flyers took a risk that his play will continue to improve and the 25 Jett will prob slot in the top 7 or 8 in that 24 draft class. Thats the kind of a risk you take in a rebuild.

Would 4 more bottom 6/3rd pair grinders next year help the cause in Philly or do they need more talent? Having picks and using them well are 2 different things.

Flyers aren't trying to draft the next Crosby, Bedard, Hedman, Makar, Hughes. They want as many Scott Laughton's and Nick Seeler's as you can fit onto one roster. ***** I hate to state the obvious, but they did draft the biggest player out of Russia since OV. How does that point not force you to hedge this paragraph with at least a modicum of objectivity and credibility? If you want to argue they should have taken the dman at 12, I think thats a sound argument, but discrediting the player they drafted at 13 is a bit shortsighted at this point simply because you never saw him play. Ever... his age and his skillset are forecastable as a 1C

I have no idea what they are going to draft next year. They don’t even know. Brier did say that it was a deep draft especially at center compared to most drafts.

Maybe they viewed Zeev as not a top pair prospect and viewed Luchanko as a 1C/2C talent. Maybe. I don’t know.

I’m saying that I liked the trade. It can’t be any worse than a lateral move and most likely will be a higher pick (based on odds). As well as what is regarded a deeper draft.

They did pick up a couple of long shot/grinder type centers outside the 1st round. At this point Luchanko and Gill are the two with the highest upside in my opinion from last years draft.

I like the fact that they have a lot of capital. And I agree with you that they need quality at this point. They have said that publicly that they need more skill in the system and the line up. Michkov is one that Danny said brought a type of skill that they needed in the system. They need more.

I’m hopeful that they can use all this capital to upgrade the high level skill. 6 picks in the top 50 (if that’s how it plays out) gives them a lot of capital.
- peesinwind

the thing that rubs me is when you use a 2nd rd pick on a guy who tops out at best as a 3rd lien center.

just seems the flyers are adverse to skill overall.

could be wrong last time flyers had that many was 1990. 7 in the top 50. 8 in the top 52
- hello it's me 2050

Looked up that draft since you mentioned it. Man, only 21 franchises then. I’ve forgotten what it was like to have any of the big 4 with so few teams. Anyway…

1st Round -
Mike Ricci (4th)

2nd Round -
Chris Simon (25)
Mikael Renberg (40)
Terran Sandwith (42)

3rd Round -

Kimbi Daniels (44)
Bill Armstrong (46)
Chris Therrien (47)

Al Kinisky was 52nd.

4 solid NHL hits. Ofc some dude named Jagr was the 5th overall selection, but hey, Ricci was a coveted piece by the Nords in the Lindros deal, so travel the butterfly effect if you want, but no need really.

https://x.com/avappleyard...5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=

make it happen danny boy.

Looked up that draft since you mentioned it. Man, only 21 franchises then. I’ve forgotten what it was like to have any of the big 4 with so few teams. Anyway…

1st Round -
Mike Ricci (4th)

2nd Round -
Chris Simon (25)
Mikael Renberg (40)
Terran Sandwith (42)

3rd Round -

Kimbi Daniels (44)
Bill Armstrong (46)
Chris Therrien (47)

Al Kinisky was 52nd.

4 solid NHL hits. Ofc some dude named Jagr was the 5th overall selection, but hey, Ricci was a coveted piece by the Nords in the Lindros deal, so travel the butterfly effect if you want, but no need really.
- Hesh_

I remember the hype around the flyers having that many picks. lots of excitement. on paper it looked good for the flyers. 4 very good nhl players out of that group

Danny Briere may say the flyers need skill but when skill is there for them to draft they opt for more of a middling player. I hope I’m wrong and Lichenko becomes a very good player.
The flyers constantly try and be the smart guys in the room. Either their scouts are biased, get bonus money for their picks becoming NHL players or they just suck.

The draft two for one thing isn’t always the best play.
Is the sum of Brink and Cam York greater than Caufield? The Jury is still out.
Will Bonk be a 3/4 Dman at worst or Possibly a 2 provides the flyers get a bonafide 1 guy? With some of the pretty good offensive players still on the board and Bonk is a 5/6 guy then that’s a bad pick imo.
The flyers should have taken Buium then if they really liked Luchenko they had to find a way to move their other first round pick with an asset or another pick or two.
Perhaps trading one of their already smaller dmen.

The Flyers just drafted 3 centers with the 1st 4 picks of the last draft in a deep defensive (weak center) draft including 1st and 2nd rounds. Only one of which is projected to have a chance of playing in the top 2 lines. ***** Briere was left with almost 0 org depth at this position. Not sure what the issue is here. If they drafted no centers you would be complaining they did not draft any centers...

What makes you think they will draft a center in the next draft and that the player will be a potential top line player? They now may have "to many centers" to draft a center. Also, if they don't think Jett is their future 1C going forward they know they screwed up with that pick as they passed on projected 1D to draft him a 2c/3c.
***** Why would they not think Jett can be a "#1" center? Their scouts have seen him play. Have you? Has anyone here actually seen him play in person? Anyone? Why are dmen taken after him projected 1 D, but Jett is not a 1C? This is agenda driven nonsense based on nothing.

The trade to EDM is really a lateral trade unless EDM does surprisingly bad or the Flyers can package it to get a 1C or 1D, which if the Flyers finish around where they finished this time is unlikely. It's also very possible that whoever they identify will not be a projected top line player as in this draft. What they did lose by trading that pick is the player drafted next year will be +1 year from helping the club.
***** Conversely, next yrs draft is already rated better and most likely that pick will be closer to the 20s than the Edm 2024 finish. Also, they will be trading 1 or more of those 6 top 45 or so picks and that draft pick prob has more nhl asset value than whatever player they would have drafted at 32 this yr. This is an example of the kind of decision you make when you rebuild. If you as a fan really want a rebuild you must be prepared to wait on assets used.

https://www.nytimes.com/a...-draft-picks-grades-2024/

As far as the quantity argument you made? If you look at their top 50 picks last draft outside of Jett, big physical skaters who like to hit people with absolutely no outstanding qualities with only a chance to play in the bottom of the lineup. Even Jett has many of the grinder qualities. ***** Playmaking and outstanding PP player are grinder qualities? Blazing speed and good in front of the next are grinder qualities? It's not 100% he will be a 1C, but the kid is almost a full yr younger than most. You almost have to wait until the conclusion of this upcoming year and then base his 24/25 play against others drafted around him and their play in 23/24. The Flyers took a risk that his play will continue to improve and the 25 Jett will prob slot in the top 7 or 8 in that 24 draft class. Thats the kind of a risk you take in a rebuild.

Would 4 more bottom 6/3rd pair grinders next year help the cause in Philly or do they need more talent? Having picks and using them well are 2 different things.

Flyers aren't trying to draft the next Crosby, Bedard, Hedman, Makar, Hughes. They want as many Scott Laughton's and Nick Seeler's as you can fit onto one roster. ***** I hate to state the obvious, but they did draft the biggest player out of Russia since OV. How does that point not force you to hedge this paragraph with at least a modicum of objectivity and credibility? If you want to argue they should have taken the dman at 12, I think thats a sound argument, but discrediting the player they drafted at 13 is a bit shortsighted at this point simply because you never saw him play. Ever... his age and his skillset are forecastable as a 1C
- 26912 PP

Good points.

It is hard for me to see trading the #32 pick in last years draft as anything but a good shot at an upgrade. They added upgraded capital in next years draft to better position themselves for making moves/or higher value picks.

Looked up that draft since you mentioned it. Man, only 21 franchises then. I’ve forgotten what it was like to have any of the big 4 with so few teams. Anyway…

1st Round -
Mike Ricci (4th)

2nd Round -
Chris Simon (25)
Mikael Renberg (40)
Terran Sandwith (42)

3rd Round -

Kimbi Daniels (44)
Bill Armstrong (46)
Chris Therrien (47)

Al Kinisky was 52nd.

4 solid NHL hits. Ofc some dude named Jagr was the 5th overall selection, but hey, Ricci was a coveted piece by the Nords in the Lindros deal, so travel the butterfly effect if you want, but no need really.
- Hesh_

Jagr told every team not to pick him except Pitt. He wanted to play with Mario

Looked up that draft since you mentioned it. Man, only 21 franchises then. I’ve forgotten what it was like to have any of the big 4 with so few teams. Anyway…

1st Round -
Mike Ricci (4th)

2nd Round -
Chris Simon (25)
Mikael Renberg (40)
Terran Sandwith (42)

3rd Round -

Kimbi Daniels (44)
Bill Armstrong (46)
Chris Therrien (47)

Al Kinisky was 52nd.

4 solid NHL hits. Ofc some dude named Jagr was the 5th overall selection, but hey, Ricci was a coveted piece by the Nords in the Lindros deal, so travel the butterfly effect if you want, but no need really.
- Hesh_

Jagr wasn't playing for anyone but Pitt. He told all the teams before them in the draft that he wasn't coming over if they drafted him.

Leading into the 1990 NHL Draft, which was held in Vancouver, all of the teams with high picks interviewed Jaromir Jagr. He told them he wasn't coming over to North America right away, and planned to stay in the Czech Republic for the time being. That story changed when Jagr spoke to Pittsburgh's brass.Feb 16, 2024

I remember the hype around the flyers having that many picks. lots of excitement. on paper it looked good for the flyers. 4 very good nhl players out of that group
- hello it's me 2050

I do not really trust them to make even one good pick much less six. Hopefully they improve in that area.

Danny Briere may say the flyers need skill but when skill is there for them to draft they opt for more of a middling player. I hope I’m wrong and Lichenko becomes a very good player.
The flyers constantly try and be the smart guys in the room. Either their scouts are biased, get bonus money for their picks becoming NHL players or they just suck.

The draft two for one thing isn’t always the best play.
Is the sum of Brink and Cam York greater than Caufield? The Jury is still out.
Will Bonk be a 3/4 Dman at worst or Possibly a 2 provides the flyers get a bonafide 1 guy? With some of the pretty good offensive players still on the board and Bonk is a 5/6 guy then that’s a bad pick imo.
The flyers should have taken Buium then if they really liked Luchenko they had to find a way to move their other first round pick with an asset or another pick or two.
Perhaps trading one of their already smaller dmen.
- bird_dog_pa

or they are just plain dumb

the thing that rubs me is when you use a 2nd rd pick on a guy who tops out at best as a 3rd lien center.

just seems the flyers are adverse to skill overall.
- hello it's me 2050

Yeah. Can’t argue that. I guess if you can find an NHL player that late, even a 3rd/4th liner you take it and maybe it has value somewhere. I don’t like those kinds of picks inside the first 2 rounds.

Guess they felt differently.

https://x.com/avappleyard/status/1813518491695120538?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1813518491695120538%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=

make it happen danny boy.
- hello it's me 2050

$10m/yr was rumored to be what he was looking for a few months ago.

I would have guessed he would come down a little after a few recent signings, but this could just be his agent starting with a high price to hear how Philly counters.

I bet he’d be over the moon with 9, so they’re playing this knowing the Flyers would want to be near 8, and if nothing can get done, then worst case for him is he leaves this rebuilding team and can strike a deal a year later when the market is reset.

Jagr wasn't playing for anyone but Pitt. He told all the teams before them in the draft that he wasn't coming over if they drafted him.

Leading into the 1990 NHL Draft, which was held in Vancouver, all of the teams with high picks interviewed Jaromir Jagr. He told them he wasn't coming over to North America right away, and planned to stay in the Czech Republic for the time being. That story changed when Jagr spoke to Pittsburgh's brass.Feb 16, 2024
- Flyerz74

Yep, I remember hearing about all that. Ricci was also a really highly touted player anyway, and a center as well.

Fast forward to last year, and a similar situation occurs, this time (maybe) benefiting Philly.

I said “maybe”. Leave me alone. We don’t know yet.