Philadelphia Flyers Draft: Keep First Round Picks
The NHL Draft is just a couple short weeks away and there has been a ton of speculation on whether the Flyers should trade one of their first round picks for an immediate impact player. I am here to tell you that trading either of the their first round picks is a bad idea for the long-term success of the Flyers.
Mar 21, 2015; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; The Philadelphia Flyers celebrate a first period goal by forward Claude Giroux (28) against the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
This year’s draft is the deepest NHL Draft in recent memory and it would not be a bad idea for the Flyers to trade down and acquire extra picks: but trading either of their first round picks for a quick fix at winger or defenseman could end up being a nightmare scenario. Below we take a look at a couple reasons why the Flyers need to keep their picks or add more in the upcoming draft.
Championship teams are built through the draft
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There is no doubt that key role players and contributors on Stanley Cup teams are acquired through free agency and trades all the tim; but the core of championship teams are found in the draft.
For example, take a look at the key players currently playing in the Stanley Cup Final. Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Corey Crawford, Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman, and Nikita Kucherov were all acquired through the draft. You can also look at the Kings who have won 2 of the last 3 Stanley Cups. Dustin Brown, Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, and Jonathan Quick were all drafted by the Kings.
The Flyers need to build a championship core and with two first round picks and six picks in the first four rounds, it seems like the perfect opportunity.
Salary Cap Hell
Some of the Flyer contracts such as Vincent Lecavalier, R.J. Umberger, and Andrew MacDonald are absolutely brutal. Philadelphia is about $400,000 over the cap as of now. It is very hard to improve your roster when you cannot sign anybody for any significant amount of money.
Sep 22, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers left wing R.J. Umberger (18) and center Vincent Lecavalier (40) during the second period against the Washington Capitals at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Young players are cheap and you can control them for a longer period of time. The draft is the best way to find top talent that will not have a huge cap hit. You will have to pay stars you draft big money at some point, but at least you get to control their contracts for a few years without having to pay big money.
The 2015 NHL Draft is going to have a huge impact on the future of the Flyers. Ron Hextall needs to hit on a lot of these picks to deliver a bright future. It just does not make sense to trade their first round picks unless someone blows their doors off with a deal. Regardless what the Flyers decide to do with their picks, it is bound to be an exciting couple of days.
Next: Free Agent Target: Chris Stewart