Philadelphia Flyers Draft: Top Players Drafted at #7

Jun 27, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; NHL commissioner Gary Bettman addresses the crowd before the 2014 NHL Draft at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia Flyers select at 7th, and later at 29th, overall in today’s draft. This is no news to us fans who have been pouring over information on who we could possibly get, and how good they could be. Also, and more importantly, we want to know how soon until they are in the NHL.

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7th overall is a seemingly high draft slot; but has it really produced elite talent? Yes and no. There have been some amazing players drafted at 7th overall, but not many in recent years. Also, its has been quite some time since someone drafted at #7 was able to make the NHL roster on day-one.

However, it has also been quite some time since there was a loaded draft like this year. Many good players came out of the 2003 draft class, and even then there were a lot of guys that needed some time to make it to their big league club. That’s not to say that guys like McDavid, Eichel, or Strome won’t make it to the big leagues right away, because they probably will. Guys like Marner and Barzal might need some time, though.

Let’s look at some of the top players to be selected at 7th overall, excluding those selected before 1995(more than 20 years ago). This obviously leaves out Hall of Famers like Bernie Federko(1976) and Bill Barber(1972); but we want to see who has been acquired relatively recently in the draft at that position.

Next: #5 Jeff Skinner