Photo Credit: Twitter/WHL
As the injuries and losses keep accumulating for the Philadelphia Flyers, there is still one positive thing that will come from their unwatchable play: a better draft pick. Granted, over the years the Flyers’ organization has not always made out so well when given the opportunity to draft inside the top 15 with selections like draft-bust Nolan Patrick, (being taken second overall in 2017), the often-injured blueliner Samuel Morin (eleventh overall in 2013), or when they picked the leisurely-skating James van Riemsdyk (second overall back in 2007). But they have managed to hit on some as well, like when they took Joel Farabee (the 14th overall selection in 2018), Ivan Provorov (the seventh in 2015), Sean Couturier (the eighth pick in 2011), and Jeff Carter (the 11th in 2003).
It appears that this will be yet another year that did not go the Flyers’ way- with the team presently on an extensive losing streak and only having accrued 20 points to their credit on the season thus far. The organization is currently set to pick inside the top ten once again in this upcoming draft. So, in order to not repeat their past failures, let’s take an early look at a couple of this summer’s top prospects who might be available when Philadelphia is to make their selection and who play a position of need for the Flyers. We all know that the team has a few glaring holes where they need help, but perhaps the one which looks to the most imminent is at center. The lack of depth at this position in the pipeline led management to have to go out and sign 34-year-old Derick Brassard and 37-year-old Nate Thompson in free agency this year. This was an effort to fill out the roster due to Kevin Hayes’ latest injury and Morgan Frost’s development not being quite being where they thought it might be at the end of training camp.
Therefore, that is what position we will focus on for the purpose of this article. If the team remains in a downward spiral one name that is certainly enticing is Conor Geekie of the Winnipeg Ice. This 6’4 205-pound center looks to be a special one because, while he may have the body of a stereotypical power forward, he possesses the offensive skill set of a more nimble finessed player. It’s quite rare that a player ever comes along blessed with both these attributes, but Conor most certainly is. Some scouts like Geekie because he is only 17 years old and he already possesses an NHL frame. Others are blown away by his incredible hands, vision, and shooting ability. While some may say that Conor could stand to work on his skating, this writer would suggest that isn’t the case: as you can clearly see from the video provided below, it is there when he needs it. Rather, Conor just chooses to use his intimidating size to slow down the play so that he can analyze what is going on in front of him before choosing his next course of action.
Some may say that his numbers this season (8 goals and 23 assists for 31 points and a +23 average in 25 games played) are inflated due to him playing on a stacked ice team who are 22-2-1 on the season thus far. But this writer would prefer to look at the glass
as half full: on any given night Geekie can steal the show and fill up his own highlight reels all by himself. His numbers confirm this. They are right up there with his teammates Matthew Savoie (who is projected to go in the top five this summer), the Wild’s Carson Lambos, and Flyers’ star prospect Connor McClennon. While there might be others out there to be had (like Logan Cooley and Matthew Savoie) this is dependent on how far the Flyers continue to slide. Besides both are undersized and- much like Morgan Frost did- might take a few years to develop into an NHL player. Geekie already has the size and skill needed to step up into the NHL as early as next season for Philadelphia if necessary.
On the other hand, if the Flyers can get some players back off the injured reserve list and find a way to win some games, they could look to draft a center named Rutger McGroarty who currently plays for the United States Development Program Under 18 Team. This 6’1 205 pounder is currently projected in most early mock drafts to be taken somewhere around 10-15th overall but I assure you that, by the end of the season, his stock may rise.
Rutger is an elite goal scorer who can also set up teammates as well, which he tends to do by utilizing his phenomenal puck handling skills. To prove this, McGroarty was chosen to come join the US Development Program after he posted an astounding 82 goals and 78 assists for 160 points in just 63 games played for the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies 15U AAA team. That means he averaged an incredible 2.5 points per game (PPG) that season and was a +90 to boot.
This season, while playing in 16 games so far for US U18 team, he has 11 goals and 14 assists for 25 points. That averages out to a 1.5 PPG average where he has also been able to maintain a +22 rating. In addition, when playing against teams from the United States Hockey League (USHL) this year he has scored 2 goals and 2 assists for 4 points in 5 games. This kind of play has obviously been noticed by college scouts and originally resulted in McGroarty committing to Notre Dame, but he has recently decided to flip to Michigan where he is expected to be part of their 2023 crop of freshman.
Wherever the Flyers end up selecting in the first round is now up to them. Their inability to battle through adversity which stemmed from multiple teammates sustaining injuries has already resulted in two of their coaches getting fired. Will there be more moves still to come if their losing ways continue? Time will tell, but one thing is for certain: either one of these players mentioned in this article would be a great consolation prize for a season that has taken a turn for the worse.
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