Bill Meltzer: Fletcher and Flahr Talk Draft

So basically

Ellis is done
They might or might not trade 5OA
Farabee is doubtful for the opener

They could have saved everyone a lot of time and just issued a one paragraph press release.

So Joel Farabee, a professional athlete, was warming up with light bench presses and injured his neck bad enough for surgery?

Not buying that it isn't connected to anything else.

Don't sleep on Frank Nazar. Possibly the Barzal of this draft.

Don't sleep on Frank Nazar. Possibly the Barzal of this draft.
- Tomahawk

He is in the step up/trade down section of the Draft preview. Quite possibly the best pure speedster in this year's Draft.

Grant looooooves Noah Östlund to the point that he ranked him 2nd in the Draft class! I think that's excessive but Östlund looked phenomenal at the U18s, both offensively and as an all-around player.

Bill do you see any scenario where the Flyers trade a roster player, and maybe some of their lessor prospects to get another pick in the 1st round or early 2nd round of this year's draft?

He is in the step up/trade down section of the Draft preview. Quite possibly the best pure speedster in this year's Draft.

Grant looooooves Noah Östlund to the point that he ranked him 2nd in the Draft class! I think that's excessive but Östlund looked phenomenal at the U18s, both offensively and as an all-around player.
- bmeltzer

Aside from speed, Nazar just does a lot of things that are translatable to the next level. Like he's super deceptive, quickly reads defenders body/skate position and attacks them where they're most prone. Competitive on pucks, really good moving thru the NZ, good on and off puck in the ozone. He's really hard to cover because he's so smart and manipulates defenders so easily.

Östlund is another good one. That entire line was bananas at the U18.

Aside from speed, Nazar just does a lot of things that are translatable to the next level. Like he's super deceptive, quickly reads defenders body/skate position and attacks them where they're most prone. Competitive on pucks, really good moving thru the NZ, good on and off puck in the ozone. He's really hard to cover because he's so smart and manipulates defenders so easily.

Östlund is another good one. That entire line was bananas at the U18.
- Tomahawk

Savoie and Nazar both in orange and black....

I like Isaac Howard and the Rutger back half of the 1st rd.

Would Devin Kaplan be of interest to the FLyers in the 3rd

Savoie and Nazar both in orange and black....

I like Isaac Howard and the Rutger back half of the 1st rd.

Would Devin Kaplan be of interest to the FLyers in the 3rd
- hello it's me 2050

I like Jonathan Lekkerimaki.

Question for Bill:

Do you know if the team does end of season scans on players like Farabee who have had injury issues? An MRI of his shoulder/back would have shown if there were any disc issues going into the offseason.

Bill, I thought that the report was that Joel had disc replacement surgery, like Eichel, not the fusion.

“Joel Farabee's neck injury that led to cervical disc fusion surgery“

Bill, I thought that the report was that Joel had disc replacement surgery, like Eichel, not the fusion.
- NC Flyers Fan

so a light bench press leads to neck surgery.......

Cutter Gaither at 5

There isn’t a mock in the world that has him going top 12. Would be such a Flyers move.

There is no way you justify that pick over the other names available, whether you’re going BPA or by need.

Cutter Gaither at 5

There isn’t a mock in the world that has him going top 12. Would be such a Flyers move.

There is no way you justify that pick over the other names available, whether you’re going BPA or by need.
- hereticpride

Huh, every mock i have seen he is top ten, usually between 5-8

Cutter Gaither at 5

There isn’t a mock in the world that has him going top 12. Would be such a Flyers move.

There is no way you justify that pick over the other names available, whether you’re going BPA or by need.
- hereticpride

Geekie is more flyer esque

so a light bench press leads to neck surgery.......
- hello it's me 2050

from what I've read it seems like most disk damage (degenerative disk disease), like his, is caused by repeated injuries. The disk wall is torn by an injury . It heals but but does not as strong as before it was damaged. After repeated injury and healing the disk wall is weakend to the point that fluid leaks out of the center of the disk. The disk no longer acts as a good shock absorber and you get pain. He obviously had two injuries near that area last season. I imagine it was just a matter of time before he started having pain.

Cutter Gaither at 5

There isn’t a mock in the world that has him going top 12. Would be such a Flyers move.

There is no way you justify that pick over the other names available, whether you’re going BPA or by need.
- hereticpride

Is that a fact? McKenzie ranks him 5th. Button has him 7th. And the buzz from NHL scouts I know is that the Flyers trade down from 5th, he'll more likely than not be off the board. Which is fine if their BPA is someone else.

Cutter Gaither at 5

There isn’t a mock in the world that has him going top 12. Would be such a Flyers move.

There is no way you justify that pick over the other names available, whether you’re going BPA or by need.
- hereticpride

ug it really hurts that they don't have a 2nd and they're already taking about reach picks

Is that a fact? McKenzie ranks him 5th. Button has him 7th. And the buzz from NHL scouts I know is that the Flyers trade down from 5th, he'll more likely than not be off the board. Which is fine if their BPA is someone else.
- bmeltzer

If the trade down who is the more likely team they trade with in your opinion?

“Joel Farabee's neck injury that led to cervical disc fusion surgery“

Bill, I thought that the report was that Joel had disc replacement surgery, like Eichel, not the fusion.
- NC Flyers Fan

Yes, replacement. The Eichel surgery.

from what I've read it seems like most disk damage (degenerative disk disease), like his, is caused by repeated injuries. The disk wall is torn by an injury . It heals but but does not as strong as before it was damaged. After repeated injury and healing the disk wall is weakend to the point that fluid leaks out of the center of the disk. The disk no longer acts as a good shock absorber and you get pain. He obviously had two injuries near that area last season. I imagine it was just a matter of time before he started having pain.
- Dkos

Another Ronald medical reject......

Bill do you see any scenario where the Flyers trade a roster player, and maybe some of their lessor prospects to get another pick in the 1st round or early 2nd round of this year's draft?
- jd250

Not impossible but this is a pretty meh draft.

Geekie is more flyer esque
- hello it's me 2050

Not at 5.

ug it really hurts that they don't have a 2nd and they're already taking about reach picks
- 2Real

He isn't a reach. People who have been NHL hockey ops executives (such as Button), have deep leaguewide connections and get inside info on proprietary rankings (McKenzie) and have been employed as amateur scouts (among whom I have multiple contacts) also put him in that range.

Doesn't mean the Flyers definitely take him. But he's not a reach.

Bill,

What's the read on Brad Lambert. In the past he was talked about as maybe just up there at the top with Wright. Did he struggle that bad? He seems like he has all the tools.