The upcoming NHL Draft has Philadelphia Flyers fans pumped and ready to go, for good reason, as the team holds the 26th pick of the 2020 NHL Draft. This has the billing to be one of the most anticipated drafts in recent memory for the organization, especially with the World is right now during the Coronavirus Pandemic. What will the newly crowned General Manager in Chuck Fletcher do with the 26th pick (At the moment)?
The Flyers have built themselves into contenders for years to come thanks in large part to former General Manager Ron Hextall, and now Chuck Fletcher. Moreover, the Flyers faithful hope to rejoice with a parade down Broad Street in a few years. 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!.” Without further delay here is my seven round Flyers Mock draft.
Round 1: (Pick 26) C, Jacob Perreault
For the second straight year, the Flyers draft a stud with their first pick. Perreault is exactly the type of young prospect Fletcher is looking to add right now. He’s 17-years-young, and Perreault just has a natural ability to put the puck in the back of the net. All in all, Perreault is at least two years away from cracking the AHL at the very least. Perreault’s skating, and the way he finishes plays are just too hard for the orange and black to pass up.
Perreault is a skating machine, and is a true sniper that the Flyers need at this time. For the 2019-20 season, while playing for the Sarnia Sting, he amassed 39 goals, and 31 assists for a total of 70 points in 57 games played. This really has placed him on the map as a player to be reckoned with, and on the cusp of the NHL at just the age of 17.
Moreover, if a person has watched Perreault play for Sarnia this past season, then one would notice his smooth silky hands. He is a natural goal scorer and an aggressive two-way winger that seems to play with an edge. Perreault’s best attribute for the orange and black is the way he finishes plays, and gets into those dirty areas to pot a gola, as well. He takes the puck up the ice and simply puts the biscuit in the basket. Perreault has evolved into a solid two-way player at his young age, and he reminds me of Simon Gagne with the way he can finish plays. Flyers fans know all too well how Gagne’s career eventually ended up with the orange and black, “I think it would be special to be drafted by the Flyers,” Perreault told us a few months ago, “Growing up I’ve always been a big Giroux fan, and I think it would be neat to be drafted by them.”
This pick yet again shows the NHL that Flyers will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come, as Perreault restocks the Flyers cupboard sniper wise. The proud orange-clad Philly fans will have plenty to cheer about when they announce Perreault’s name with the 26th pick virtually, and there will be plenty of Let’s Go Flyers chants to along with the cheering, as well.
Round 2: (Pick 57), RHD, Ruben Rafkin
This pick is a valuable strong pick in the Second Round. The Flyers could always use a good reliable Right-Handed Defenseman that possesses skill, and Rafkin definitely provides that. Rafkin can pick his shot at any portion of the net, and nail it there.
Rafkin stands at 6’0″, and is a 190 pound, high-octane-Defenseman. He’s a big skilled defenseman that plays a consistent game. Rafkin can transition with the best of them, and is one of the smoothest skaters this draft offers. He plays in all situations, and the Liiga league he will play in this Fall is comparable to the SHL league.
“I would love to get drafted by the Flyers,” Rafkin said, “When I was 14, I was in Jersey when the Eagles won the Superbowl. Joel Farabee has given me a tour, and we became friends,” Rafkin stated to me in March.
The young prospect in Rafkin torched the OHL in 2019-20. For the season, he tallied 4 goals, and 27 assists for 31 points in 59 games played. He is flashy with his skating ability, and Rafkin does a good job with transitioning out of the Defensive zone.
We were also fortunate to have Rafkin on our podcast “Gettin Gritty Wit It” get to know more about him:
Round 4: (Pick 119) C, Jack Finley
Finley is a sturdy powerful Forward, and is willing to take a beating on his way to the net. He picks his spot in the front of the net, and places his stick in the right position to tip pucks home. This is a type of player that was on Fletcher’s radar last draft. He has raw skill, and has an immature frame right now. However, he has just has knack for the net, and has keen hockey sense.
The Flyers could benefit from a fearless player that is willing to sacrifice his body for a dirty goal. If one saw this 6’5″, 207 pound player in Finley play this past season for the Spokane Chiefs, then they would have noticed his good pair of hands. Finley has a lethal wrist shot, to go with his good vision of the ice, as well. For the season, he registered 19 goals, and 38 assists for a total of 57 points in 61 games played. He was just simply dominant from the first puck drop to start the season.
In addition, Finley can board battle with the best of them, and that is an area of need for the orange and black. If Finley puts in the work like he says he will watch out this kid can be a stud.
Round 5: (Pick 150) G, Garin Bjorklund
Bjorklund is a steadfast goaltender, as he stands at 6’2 and weighs 170 pounds. He appeared in 28 games for Medicine Hat (WHL), while posting a 20-5-1 record, while registering a 2.91 GAA, and a .897 Save Percentage.
The young prospect in Bjorklund looked far more composed in net from the start of the year in 2019-20. Bjorklund made himself big in the net, and has the ability to cut off the angles well. He can improve his rebound control, but he has the ability to steal a game, especially with his glove. Bjorklund has the ability to be a draft day steal for the orange and black. The Flyers have no need to rush his development with the likes of young promising netminders in Felix Sandstrom, Kirill Ustimenko, Ivan Fedotov, and Samuel Ersson waiting in the wings.
Round 6: (Pick 181) RHD, Landon Kosior
Talk about a guy that was under the radar in the WHL, heading into the 2019-20 season. Kosior needed a big year in a big way, and boy did he ever deliver in just his freshman season for the Prince Albert Raiders.
The 5’11, 190 pound 17-year-old, in Kosior is an offensively skilled player that makes everyone on the ice better. Kosior has great vision of the ice, and has the ability to skate with the best of them. He is gifted defensively, especially with gap control and cutting off angles, but Kosior is confident enough to lead the play up the ice, as well. Kosior doesn’t shy away from physicality to join the rush, as he can transition out of the defensive zone with the best of them, but he is not the flashiest player in doing such.
Kosior changes gears quickly and will outmaneuver defensemen and forwards alike. For the 2019-20 season, he potted 5 goals, and 18 assists for a total of 23 points in 64 games played in his freshman season for the Prince Albert Raiders. The young prospect told us a few months ago, “I would say that I am a solid, smooth skating two-way puck moving defenceman with high hockey IQ who can make a great first pass and can also run a power play. I also consider myself a hard worker. Some characteristics I bring to the table are smooth skating, good passing, high hockey IQ and hard working both on the ice and off the ice.”
We were fortunate enough to have Landon on our podcast last month. Check it out below, along with a video:
Round 7: (Pick 194) LW, Pier-Olivier Roy
The Flyers usually have been trading a seventh round draft pick at the draft with the Montreal Canadiens for the past few years. However, this year is different, and the Flyers will try drafting, hopefully, a hidden gem in Pier-Olivier Roy.
For the 2019-20 season, Roy registered 11 goals, and 23 assists for a total of 34 points in 48 games played for Gatineau Olympiques. Roy is shorter, as he stands at just 5’9 and weighs 168 pounds. However, Roy can skate, but he needs to finish more. He is more of a playmaker, and his size may or may not hold him back from a successful NHL career. But, if Roy puts all his tools together he has the billing to be a draft day steal for the orange and black.
Round 7: (Pick 212) RW/LW, Albin Persson
Persson is a 6’6, 198-pound lumberjack that plays for the Linkoping HC J20. He shoots left, plays Right-Wing, but he could play both Left and Right Wings. While playing for Linkoping he has really become a force to be reckoned with, as he tallied a whopping eight goals in the Super Elite League.
The Linkoping product, Persson is a skilled Right-Winger that makes players better. He can forecheck with the best of them, and Persson creates a ton of turnovers in the process. He has soft hands, and Persson did get more physical this past season. Persson skates well for a big man, has an effective stick, and bop and weave in between defenders.
For the 2019-20 season, Persson registered 8 goals, and 12 assists for a total of 20 points in 41 games played. Persson really is a solid two-way player, but he just has to stay healthy. Injuries really prevented him from getting higher in the ranks for the draft. However, Persson never gives up on a play, and has a heart of Gold.
