The New New Unending Flyers thread

[xogfog]

I still would see if you could trade up for Misa. Misa is ready to play in the NHL right now. I would like to see Misa with Foerster and Michkov, and Zegras with Konecny and Tippett.

[VoteForKalas]

I think it is worth a shot by the Flyers.

Zegras is a RFA after next season and UFA in 2028 while Poehling is a UFA after next season. They posted similar points scored last season (32 for Zegras, 31 for Poehling).

Both former 1st round picks as well who have underperformed to some degree; Zegras more than Poehling, but Zegras has the higher ceiling potential.

Losing Poehling and a 2nd & 4th does not keep me up at night. If Zegras produces, it will be considered a good trade for the Flyers.

[Docs]

I'm surprised the Ducks didn't get their own second round pick back, the one that moved was later in the second. This almost makes the Cutter deal for Drysdale & Zegras.

[andyb]

Seems like a good move to me. Acquiring an underperforming asset with upside for a second round pick when you have lots of other better picks (and a replaceable depth forward) is how to improve relatively quickly. If he does not work out you can trade him or not try to extend him.

[flyers19rw]

Anaheim now has Carlsson, Mactavish, Strome and Poehling at center with Kreider on the side to fill in if need be. They didn't have a place for Zegras. Add to that Q as their new coach. Can't see him wanting to deal with Zegras.

[zambonir]

Aren't Zegras and Drysdale close too? Seems like he was a human Flyers trade rumor ever since then.

I don't think that stops them from taking a center at the top but it gives them choices, and they didn't lose one of the other firsts (in either a trade or to prepare for an offer sheet).

[phillychuck]

Zegras’s only really concerning downside is his injury history...sometimes players are just injury-prone. Hope those injuries (broken ankle, MCL) were just flukes.

[andyb]

Zegras’s only really concerning downside is his injury history...sometimes players are just injury-prone. Hope those injuries (broken ankle, MCL) were just flukes.

But he's 24 and you are not signing him to an 8-year-deal (yet). To get a long term deal he'll need to alleviate some of those concerns. But they hardly gave up anything for him now.

[Docs]

Can the mayor of Philadelphia and the governor of Utah pull off a double league swap?

Flyers get 4th overall
Mammoths get sixth overall
Sixers get fifth overall
Jazz get third overall

[zambonir]

I think the mayor of Salt Lake City could still handle it despite the team names.

[Austinfan]

Looking at the consensus draft board, they'll take Martone or a center at #6, and probably 2 more centers b/c they'll be the BPA when they pick later. Danny may trade up a few slots if he loves one of the later centers.

This draft is where the Flyer need and the board coincide, the deepest position is center by a wide margin.
There will also be a number of goalies in the 2nd and early 3rd rd.

[zambonir]

They could still take a D with one of the other two picks. They could also make another trade (goalie?).

Athletic actually has them taking G Prokhorov in the first now (not updated as they still have 45). Though Fiddler has often gone to them in mocks.

[Austinfan]

Not sure any goalie is worth a 1st in this draft, but there will be a bunch available in the 2nd rd.
And they might take another at #68 to build organizational depth.

Defense is weak in this draft, given their depth on D (8 on the NHL roster with Andrae and Risto returning), plus Grans, McDonald, Samson and Bonk, with Gill a year away from going pro, can't see them reaching for a D-man if they don't think he's top 4 material.

Wings they don't need, would have to be clear top 6 prospect b/c down the road, Zegras, Couts and Cates could all move to LW, and Foerster and Tippett shift over to RW. With Grebenkin and Barkey they have solid depth and guys like Bump, Gaucher, Dorwart, Wisdom fill out the bottom six down the road.

[Docs]

Rangers opted to give up their 2025 pick (12th overall) and keep their 2026 pick. The 2025 pick was top 13 protected, but they are giving it away anyway. Interesting decision, if they think they will be worse next year, want the option to win the lottery or want a tradable asset at the deadline. For the latter, I would have thought that a prospect taken 12th would be more valuable at the trade deadline than a potential pick in the 20s so maybe they just want a chance at McKenna. Pens have 11 & 12 now.

[Florida_Sunshine]

Is there a dman that is a difference maker that we could take in the first round? I am thinking our third pick.

[Austinfan]

No. It's a weak D-man draft. Some decent players but no one worth reaching for/trading up to get.

[Florida_Sunshine]

It will be interesting to see how our pipeline is rated after this draft.

I also don't see Zegras as our 1C. I don't think we have a 1C in the pipeline either so we better use pick 6 on a center and not a winger.

[zambonir]

It's not even certain Zegras sticks at C (or on the team, worst-case). But he and Couts are probably the top two Cs this season, and 1 vs. 2 just becomes a matter of who plays with Michkov and PP TOI. Of course it's equally unknown if anyone they take at 6 will end up as more than a 2C.

If Martone goes in the Top 5 I think that makes it pretty easy/certain that they take a C (but which one?). If he's there they're probably tempted. Obviously would also still be best/easier if they could trade up to between 10 and 13 which probably leaves them a decent center option or Eklund (Athletic has McQueen at 10 and Eklund at 13 right now.

Also I think the Athletic mislabelled Prokhorov as a G when I read it yesterday. Confused him with Frolov maybe. They like him or Nesbit (a C) at 22 over Fiddler (who I've seen in a lot of mocks for Flyers).

[Docs]

I don't think there's a difference maker with the 31st pick unless someone greatly outperforms their projection. The second best defensive prospect in the draft, Jackson Smith, is projected as a top 4 defender, which is solid NHL player but not a difference maker. There are a few defenders to keep an eye on, especially if they slide. Whoever the Flyers end up with at the end of the first, you hope their development takes a big jump after the draft.

[Florida_Sunshine]

It would be nice if we could also add Prokhorov or Nesbit later in the first round.