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With the season now almost over and the Flyers currently sitting in the third position in the NHL Entry Draft, it is time to start getting more familiar with the prospects that could be putting on the orange and black sweater. The draft lottery will be held on May 10. The NHL Entry Draft begins on Thursday, July 7, and ends Friday, July 8. The Flyers currently hold six picks in total. They have a pick in every round except for the second round, which was dealt along with Shayne Gostisbehere to Arizona last summer to clear cap space.
In this piece, we will be looking at the top prospects that could go in the top five. There is no real generational talent in this year’s draft, but there is plenty of talent that will be found throughout the first round. These prospects are ranked based on ability.
- Shane Wright, C
Wright is a two-way talent that has been compared to current players like Jonathan Toews and Patrice Bergeron. He stands 6’1” and weighs in at about 185lbs. Wright plays for the Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL, which is the same team current Flyers’ prospect, Zayde Wisdom, plays on. Wright has played 121 games for Kingston while registering points at a 71-89-160 clip. Of those 71 goals, 18 have come on the powerplay and three have come short-handed. Wright also has only totaled 32 PIM in his two years in the OHL. Finding an NHL-ready center that is effective at both ends of the ice while staying out of the box would definitely help the “aggressive retool” Chuck Fletcher plans to conduct this summer. If the Flyers end up winning the lottery, Shane Wright will be a Flyer. No question about it. Wright is an all-around talent who does everything very well.
- Juraj Slafkovsky, LW
Slafkovsky is an 18-year-old winger from Slovakia. He has an NH; ready body, standing 6’4” and weighing in at about 220lbs. He is the top European forward in the draft and has been effective at using his big frame to create space for himself. While the mold screams “power forward” that could be a lot to handle around the net and a weapon on the powerplay, Slafkovsky possesses great skill that not a lot of players his size have. Defensively, his long reach helps him get in passing lanes and gives him a little more zip on his shot. Slafkovsky also suited up for Slovakia in the Olympics and scored seven goals in seven games. He also took home the tournament’s MVP award. Pretty good for a 17-year-old, at the time. Slafkovsky looks like a top-six winger who could be a force in the NHL for a long time. It’s hard to see him falling out of the top two, but if he does, the Flyers should be all over him if he is available when they pick.
- Simon Nemec, D
Nemec is the best defensive prospect in the draft. He stands at 6’1” and weighs in at 190lbs. Nemec hails from Slovakia as well. Although he is the best defender in the draft, it would not be a shock to see another one be taken ahead of him. It happened in 2019 when Moritz Seider went ahead of Philip Broberg, who slipped to Edmonton at eight. Nemec has experience playing in big spots as he also was on the Olympic team for Slovakia. In his 39 games for HK Nitra, he has one goal and 25 assists. He also added an assist in seven Olympic games. Nemec could be the target here for the Flyers as they seem to like drafting defensemen with two-way abilities. Examples include Ivan Provorov, Travis Sanheim, and more recently, Cam York.
- Logan Cooley, C
Cooley is another can’t-miss center. He, like Wright, is a great two-way option to have down the middle and profiles as a top-six forward with a very good chance at being a mainstay on any team’s top line. This season, with the US Program, Cooley has 63 points in 44 games on 23 goals and 40 assists. He has had a bit of trouble staying out of the box as his PIM total is at 61. For a guy who plays as many minutes as he does and in as many situations, the discipline might just be something a team has to live with. Cooley has also been lauded for his work ethic. Think Joel Farabee here. Farabee’s teammates and coaching staff have always mentioned his ability to work harder than anyone else. On the ice, Cooley’s hockey IQ is another reason why he is such a good two-way player, he makes good reads and can anticipate plays before they happen. One of the only things Cooley absolutely has to do before he reaches the NHL is to add strength. At 5’10” and 174lbs., there are questions about him potentially having durability issues early in his career. There are a few different ways the Flyers could come away with Cooley. The most likely is they stay at three and select him outright, which is very possible considering they need centers. They could also move up to two and take him there. The scenario where he falls out of the top three is unlikely unless Nemec is taken in one of those spots. Flyers fans would love this player.
- Matthew Savoie, C
The final prospect in this top-five ranking is Matthew Savioe. He, like Cooley, needs to add strength. His 5’9” frame might make it a bit harder for him to put on more muscle while keeping his speed. Of the three top centers, Savioe is arguably the best offensively. His creativity is the hallmark of his game. A true playmaker, Savoie has 35 goals and 55 assists in 65 games with the Winnipeg Ice of the WHL this season. Additionally, he is the linemate of current Flyers prospect Connor McClennon. You can read more about their relationship in another piece by FNG’s Lance Green here. Savioe could be the target if the Flyers fall two spots to fifth overall. If they did fall at all in the lottery, it would not be more than two spots. Savioe also does a lot of damage on the powerplay. He scores a lot of goals while his team is a man-up. Savioe plays a similar style as Claude Giroux.
