Flyers General Manager Chuck Fletcher speaks during the end of the season press conference at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees Township, N.J. on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. The Flyers, 25-46-11 overall, finished last in the Metropolitan division and missed out on the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
Photo Credit: Delco Times
The upcoming NHL Draft has Flyers fans pumped and ready to go and for good reason, as the team has been linked to almost every big name for trade purposes.
Will some of these picks help the Flyers get back to relevancy here in the near future? People can already hear the voice of the iconic Gene Hart saying, “Ladies and Gentlemen, the Flyers are going to win the Stanley Cup! The Flyers win the Stanley Cup! The Flyers win the Stanley Cup! The Flyers have won the Stanley Cup!.” This draft can be one key to the Flyers immediate success. Without further delay here is my seven round Flyers Mock draft. Let’s go Flyers duh-duh-duh-da-duh.
Round 1: (Pick 5) RHD, David Jiříček
This pick makes even more sense with the uncertainty to Ryan Ellis. The Flyers draft a stud with their first pick, finally the Flyers have drafted a cornerstone player. Jiříček is a 6’3, RHD, with a booming shot. The Flyers crave his lethal heavy, accurate shot from the point. For once the Flyers have free stocked the Flyers farm system at the very least with a positional need.
Jiříček had a coming out party for HC Škoda Plzeň for the 2021-22 season. For the season, he amassed five goals, and six assists for a total of 11 points in 26 games played.
A minor knee injury prevented Jiříček from seeing more games last season, but he really showcased his skills in limited action. However, there are reasons he was shooting up the draft board. He prove to the world that knee injury was nothing major, as he put forth a magnificent World’s.
If a person has watched Jiříček play for HC Škoda Plzeň this past year, then one would notice he is a good skater even with his size. That’s what sets him apart from the rest of the pack. He’s a very good distributor with the puck, and he closes gaps well. Jiříček thrives in transition, a good comparable would be that of Ryan Suter.
This pick yet again shows the NHL that Flyers are trying to right the ship, as Jiříček restocks the Flyers cupboard on the right-hand side defensively. The proud orange clad Philly fans will have plenty to cheer about when they announce Jiříček’s name with the 5th overall pick, and there will be plenty of Let’s Go Flyers chants from the proud faithful inside of their homes.
Round 2: (36) RW, Jack Devine (Via trade with the Arizona Coyotes)
The Arizona Coyotes have a plethora of second round picks, and Fletcher takes advantage to move into the second round. He has has a rich trading history with the Coyotes to make this work.
Devine is a sturdy power Winger, and is willing to take a beating on his way to the net. The majority of the time, however, he takes two or three defenders with him to the net, thus creating space for his teammates to pot the easy goal. Is very creative with the puck, and in his first season for the University of Denver he was more of a playmaker with netting three goals in 36 games played. More over, he did register 16 assists, as well, to pair with his three goals for a total of 19 points in just his freshman season.
The Flyers could benefit from a fearless player that is willing to sacrifice his body for a dirty goal, and one that has a high motor. Devine is an excellent skater, and if one saw Devine play this past season for the University of Denver, then they would have noticed his good pair of hands. Devine has excellent vision of the ice, and has a lethal wrist shot to pair with his good vision of the ice. He spoke to Philadelphia scouts at the Combine, and it pays off with this selection by the orange and black.
Round 3 (69) & Round 4 (101): Traded to Arizona to move up for Devine
Round 5: (Pick 133) C, Fabian Wagner
This dazzling playmaker in a 18-year-old in Wagner was asked to take on a bigger role for Linköping HC J20, and he had a career season to boot by tallying 12 goals and 26 assists in 43 games played. The Flyers need size down the middle, and Wagner provides that as he stands at 6’0 and weighs 180 pounds.
Wagner just knows where to be and when, and he is excellent in the corners. He can pick a players pocket and lead the rush up the ice with ease. Wagner, a native of Sweden, is excellent around the net. He has a great rest shot, and he will be a stable force on the power play for the Flyers in the future.
Round 6: (Pick 165) RW, Cole Knuble
Cole Knuble, is the son the former Flyer Mike Knuble. For the season, he registered 20 goals, and 29 assists for a total of 49 points in 62 games played for the Fargo Force in the USHL. Knuble needed a good draft season, and he provided that for the competition ahead.
At age 18, Knuble stands at 5’10, and weighs 174 pounds. He is a good reliable penalty killer, that thrives with short-handed goals. Knuble, believe it or not us good as springing his teammates with breakout passes, and he usually places himself in the right positions for a nice easy wrist shot on net. All in all this would be a high valued pick for the Flyers late in the draft.
Round 7: (Pick 197) RHD, Ruben Rafkin
After going undrafted for the past two drafts, Rafkin, a native of Turku, Finland finally gets drafted by the orange and black. He is a Right-Handed defenseman, and that seems to be a point of interest/emphasis by the Flyers in this draft.
This young 20-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.
You’ve been telling the Flyers for 2 yrs to draft Rafkin let’s hope they finally listen and do it
Great article! I’m excited for the draft