The Flyers have a need in their system for a natural Right-Handed Defenseman, like most teams in the NHL. There is one prospect eligible player in the upcoming NHL Draft that might and should catch the eye of Flyers’ General Manager Chuck Fletcher this go around, and that is none other than Right-Handed Defenseman Ruben Rafkin.
It was a little head scratching that Rafkin did not get selected in the draft this past year, but nonetheless here we are with just Ronnie Attard, Wyatte Wylie, and Jack St. Ivany in the Flyers system as Right-Handed Defensemen. They could always use more righties, as it’s unpredictable who’s game will correlate to the NHL level.
Rafkin was born on January, 8, 2002, in Turku, FIN. This native of Finland found a passion, and a love for the sport of hockey at a very young age, and as a matter of fact I’m sure he started skating when he was just 2-3 years old. His passion for the game found himself playing for the Windsor Spitfires for the 2019-20 season, where he torched the league (4g,27a in 59 games played), but Rafkin wanted to move closer to home, and play for a team he has always loved in TPS. He is currently playing for TPS in the Liiga league, which is a comparable league to the SHL. This young man in Rafkin exits the defensive zone smoothly, and leads the charge up the ice, he’s just an excellent skater.
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How did this young 19-year-old prospect fare this past season, well he killed it as he was one of the top rookie Defensemen in the league. Rafkin led his team over second ranked IFK in game 4, to which Rafkin had a killer assist in game 2 that lead to an eventual 3-2 victory, to which HC TPS made it to the finals but eventually lost to the league’s top team Lukko. He started the season slow with limited playing time, but he got more confident as the season wore on in one of the third or fourth toughest leagues in the world by finishing four goals in 12 assists in 48 games played.
This young 19-year-old prospect in Rafkin is a speedster, physical, and transitions like the breeze of the wind. Moreover, Rafkin doesn’t sit around puck watching, has a killer wrist shot, and a darn good pair of hands. He’s a good Penalty Killer, and has great vision of the ice. Rafkin does not shy away from taking the body, and he closes gaps well. He stands at 6’0, and weighs a tough 190 pounds. Rafkin can hit, and win puck battles along the boards. Most importantly he is very good in his own zone, and is effective with transitioning out of the defensive zone.
He really has opened some eyes, and showcased his skills enough for a selection in at least the third round of the 2021 NHL Draft. He has the size and determination to make it at the Pro level, and there is no way he gets passed up again. He is slated to be drafted as early as the fourth round, according to Dobberprospects. A team can never have enough Right-Handed Defenseman, so let’s make this happen Chuck.
