VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JUNE 22: Chuck Fletcher of the Philadelphia Flyers attends the 2019 NHL Draft at the Rogers Arena on June 22, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Photo Credit: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
Will the real Philadelphia Flyers please stand up?! The Flyers protection list for the upcoming expansion draft has FINALLY been made public. Without further delay, here it is below:
FORWARDS (7)– Sean Couturier, Claude Giroux, Kevin Hayes, Scott Laughton, Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Oskar Lindblom, Travis Konecny
DEFENSEMEN (3)– Ivan Provorov, Ryan Ellis, Travis Sanheim
GOALTENDER (1)– Carter Hart
The 22-year old in Hart was a no brainer, that’s a fact. He has a lot of upside and he should have a successful rebound season in 2021-22. Even though Hart was a no brainer in terms of a selection. This sholuld hopefully give him confidence that the organization believes in him.
Sean Couturier, Claude Giroux, and Kevin Hayes of course were slam dunk protections, and both Giroux and Hayes had to be protected because of their No Movement Clauses (I don’t believe either player would have waived it for the purposes of being exposed).
Scott Laughton was another slam dunk protection. Laughton produces as he registered nine goals, and 11 assists for a total of 20 points in 53 games played this past season, but he produces other ways as he does a little bit of everything and does it well. He will play both center and wing, the power play, and the penalty kill. These versatile forwards are ideal for any organization, and as one of these players leave it seems an organization always has trouble replacing them.
With yesterday’s trade involving Nolan Patrick and Philippe Myers. Ryan Ellis was protected, of course, but the trade of Patrick also allowed the Flyers to protect NAK with the Flyers trying to flush out a high priced like JvR, as he usually pots 20-25 goals per season during a normal season. Yes, goal scorers are streaky, however, it becomes quite clear that Fletcher has a plan and he’s sticking to it.
The Flyers likeliest candidates to be taken by the Kraken are Shayne Gostisbehere (Ghost), Jakub, Voracek, JvR, Robert Hägg, or Justin Braun. Hägg and Braun would be cheap additions for Rob Francis and the Kraken, so these are viable options, but JvR can score and he provides a net front presence on the power play. Of all of these players, Ghost will be the one selected by the Kraken as he can quarterback the power play unit.
What will happen is anyone’s guess, a lot of speculation has come out that the Flyers may already have a deal in place with the Kraken to select Voracek. These next few days are critical for the Flyers with the expansion draft already in full speed, and the upcoming NHL Draft looming on Friday July 23. There is little rest this week for their top brass, and the fans of course.
