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You can bet the day the most recent draft ended, Flyers’ Assistant GM Brent Flahr and his staff were already starting to assess the crop of draft hopefuls for 2022. One thing that they were sure to find surprising was the extreme depth in something that the Flyers’ current prospect pool has seemed to lack for quite some time now: Homegrown, right-handed shot (RHS) defenseman. That’s right- never in recent (or distant) memory has there ever been a draft so plentiful of righty blueliners who are projected to go in the top 50 picks.
In fact, out of all the Flyers defensemen already in the team’s system with a contract, only the Flyers’ 2018 5th round pick Wyatte Wylie shoots from his right side. This is significant because it forces many lefties to have to play their unnatural side of the ice which puts them at a disadvantage when trying to play the puck along the boards with the opposition closing down on them.
That’s why, for this reason and many more, you can expect Flahr and his staff to take a good hard look at this impressive list of RHS defensemen in this year’s draft class. With names like David Jiricek, the 6’3 176-pound Czech who is projected to go in the top 5 seeing that he already is able to skate circles around his opponents and also possesses one hell of a one-timer that would rival most any NHL blueliners in the game today. David, who is still just 17-years-old, is so talented that he already is playing in the Czech’s top professional league where, in 34 games for the HC Plzen last season, he was able to record three goals and six assists for nine points while averaging a +13 on the season. Also, last season while playing up in the U20 age group of the World Junior Championships (WJC) for the Czech Republic, Jiricek played in five games where he netted both a goal and an assist totaling two points. While David will most likely be long gone before the revamped Flyers make their selection in next year’s draft, there’s no doubt there will be plenty of teams volleying for his services.
Another draft-eligible RHS defensemen who has already seen time playing in his country’s top professional league is Simon Nemec, who already bares NHL size, standing at 6’1 and 192 pounds at still just 17-years-old. While playing for the HK Nitra last year in Slovakia, Simon totaled two goals and 17 assists for 19 points. With Nemec trying to be the best he can be, he too played up with the U20 team at the WJC amassing four assists in five games played. Not finished there- at the end of last season the young defender was also asked to play for his native country in the World Championships where- once again- he was competing against some of the world’s best, this time even some NHLer’s. But even though he left last year on a high note, his progression hasn’t started to level out just yet. Already this season Nemec has managed to be named the captain of his country’s U18 team at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup where his six points in just five games played was good enough to help earn his team the silver medal, and him the honor of being named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Now, where Jiricek is more of a sniper Nemec is more of a puck distributor who can also fire the puck in there via a strong wrist shot- but it is more likely to go in by redirection or rebound.
Next up: One of the most electrifying prospects to watch on this list. RHS defenseman Seamus Casey; A 5’11 161-pound United States National Development Program player who is virtually a human highlight reel. Already committed to the prestigious University of Michigan program for the 2023- 24 season, this young Floridian already is projecting to be possibly the best players to ever come out of the sunshine state (and yes, I know who that list would include). In 46 games played for the United States U17 team last year, Seamus was able to score eight goals and 28 assists for 36 points and, when playing for team USA against other teams in the United States Hockey League (USHL) this past season, Casey put up two goals and 18 assists for 20 points in 30 GP. Casey possesses a unique ability to draw the opposition towards him. The reason for this is that (like very few can do) Seamus does not slow down when he gets the puck on his stick blade, rather surprisingly enough his speed only increases which leaves opposing players behind him and forces others to have to try and step up and stop this gifted young player. But much like a young Allen Iverson (only this time on skates), Casey’s stick handles and impressive toe drags leave defenders with no other choice but to ice their ankles after the game. However, while his skill set is seemingly off the charts, at times Casey can hold onto the puck a little too long in order to try and make a play happen. Don’t worry though- this is a common occurrence from prospects coming from less-than-prominent hockey markets. They are used to doing it all solo and most times quickly learn to pass the puck a little more as they move up to ranks where their teammates’ talents become more on par with theirs.
The last RHS-defender I will preview here is Tristan Luneau, a 6’2 174 pounder who seemingly does everything exemplary but nothing extraordinary at the same time, which is why this prospect will be overlooked by some while everyone is out to find the next big thing. Usually, those type players excel in one area but lack in others- but not Luneau. Playing in 31 games this year for the Gatineau Olympiques, Luneau’s big shot from the point helped him to score just 18 points, which is far less than some on this list but, unlike most, offense is not the only part to his game. Tristan is not overly focused on the offensive side of the game but he’s not solely a defensive defenseman either. He’s not overly physical but he will hit when he needs to. Which is exactly why he won the Raymond Lagace Trophy of the Quebec Major Junior Leagues (QMJHL) for being the defensive rookie of the year last season. Not making sense? Well, let’s put it this way: There’s simply no holes to Tristan’s game! Luneau plays mistake-free hockey, and isn’t that what you want from your defenders?
Now, I assure you this is but four of my favorites from a seemingly never-ending list of right-hand-shot defenders with top-level talents from this upcoming draft class. Others include Elias Salomonsson, Ryan Chesley, Ty Nelson, Kasper Kulonummi, Noah Warren, and Ludvig Jansson. All of whom could potentially fill the current vacancy in Philadelphia’s depth chart and could be the Flyers’ top prospect selected from the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. But what I want to know is just which one of these players is your favorite?
