Now deep into the draft, the Philadelphia Flyers will have to take a good hard look at the players who are left in order to find a hidden gem amongst the masses, throughout this mock draft journey so far. This writer has had the Flyers selecting a certain type of player that they were lacking this season; One that plays the game how it should be played: Hard, physical, and defensively responsible.
To date, this writer has offered up three players who would do just that:
With the first round pick- https://flyersnittygritty.com/with-our-first-round-selection-the-philadelphia-flyers-would-like-to-select-zachary-lheureux-from-the-halifax-mooseheads/
While the Flyers’ draft position has changed drastically for the better (considering their disappointing season since I started down this journey of predicting their draft picks) some of the above-mentioned predictions may need to be revised at a later date. But here is who I think the Flyers will currently take with their fourth-round pick.
Up to now, this writer has had the Flyers taking all offensive minded players, while the team may be in desperate need of some defensive help next season, the Flyers have a multitude of defensive prospects coming up the pike already. For example, Cameron York and Egor Zamula both shined in their NHL auditions during the last few games of the regular season.
With that being said, here is a defenseman who (if still available at the time they select) Philadelphia will not be able to pass up. His name is Ty Gallagher. A 6’0, 190-pound RIGHT-HAND SHOT DEFENSEMEN from Clarkston, Michigan who is now committed to playing for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame next season after yet another successful season playing for the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP) where he had an incredible 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 points this year playing for the red, white, and blue. If that wasn’t enough Ty also got to represent his country in the recent World Junior Championships-18 division where he was able to score three goals in five games while playing against some of the best prospects the world has to offer; A feat that helped Gallagher catapult himself to the pinnacle of the all-time list of leaders in goals by (USNTDP) defenseman. With 24 on his career, that total was good enough to beat out players like the familiar Cameron York who amassed 22, Bode Wilde who totaled 20, and American-born defensemen Will Butcher and Justin Faulk who netted 19 goals apiece during their time playing for team USA.
So, some of you may be asking why, if this kid is that good, is he going to still be on the board this late? To which this writer would ask you to then look at the players Gallagher has playing with him on their defensive blueline: Boston College commit Aidan Hreschuck; Sean Behrens, who is committed to the University of Denver next season; projected 1st round pick Luke Hughes, who is committed to the University of Michigan next season; and the giant Roman Schmidt who is set to play for Boston University next season.
Buried within the depths of the United States’ blueline, Ty struggled to achieve the minutes he needed to improve upon his weaknesses this year, and while he was still obviously able to excel offensively with his heavy shot (which he was able to rip amazing one-timers into the back of the net with ease), Gallagher still needs time to improve upon his overall consistency and outlet passing accuracy. Don’t fear though: It is quite normal for a prospect to still need time to develop, especially when being drafted in the middle or late rounds.
Moreover, with Ty heading to the previously mentioned South Bend area next season where he will receive all the tutelage he needs from their highly decorated head coach Jeff Jackson who is a 2-time National Champion, 2-time NCAA coach of the year, 8-time conference champion, and who has 7 career Frozen Four appearances to his credit as well.
That is why the Flyers would be wise to select this still raw but incredibly talented defenseman. Who, if he continues to work hard and pairs that howitzer of a shot with that defensively responsible game he exhibited while playing for team USA, there’s no doubt that Gallagher could develop into a solid top-four defenseman in the NHL someday; and thus be considered one of the steals of this year’s draft.
