General Manager Chuck Fletcher and the Philadelphia Flyers have picked three defensemen with their first four selections at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
After choosing Cam York in the first round and Ronald Attard in the third, the Philadelphia Flyers have chosen yet another defenseman in the 2019 NHL Draft, selecting left hand shooting Mason Millman with the 103rd pick. Millman stands at 6’1, weighs 176-pounds, and is one of the younger prospects this class has to offer as he turns 18 years of age on July 18th.
The London, Ontario native had a solid rookie season in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) last year, scoring 25 points (3 Goals, 22 Assists) in 66 games with the Saginaw Spirit, which ranked 12th on the team overall and second amongst defenseman behind New York Islanders prospect Bode Wilde. Millman was adequate for the Spirit in their OHL playoff run, as well, scoring five points (2 Goals, 3 Assists) in 12 games for the club before they were eliminated by fellow Flyers prospect Isaac Ratcliffe and the Guelph Storm in the third round of the postseason on their way to the league championship.
I personally don’t know much about Millman, as he’s one of the few prospects I didn’t do my due diligence on, so I’ll let Domonic Tiano of OHLWriters.me fill you in on what he brings to the Philadelphia organization:
"Millman is a puck move defenceman with very good skating abilities and excellent lateral movement. In the offensive zone he makes quick, decisive decisions with a knack for pinching at the right time to keep plays alive. He sees the ice extremely well and can deliver tape-to-tape passes. He can quarterback the powerplay and shows great abilities there walking the line and playing patiently waiting for lanes to open. However, his shot from the point is weak and doesn’t always get it through. It needs some work and some of that may come as he adds some strength. His low shots on goal total (86) may speak to a lack of confidence in his shot as well. Millman finished seventh among draft eligible players in scoring. Millman’s ability to use his hockey smarts defensively is a big help. He understands his first responsibility as a defender is to look after his own zone, and he usually finds himself in the right position to defend. His skating, especially his lateral movement allows him to angle off opponents extremely well. He keeps his gaps close and has a decent reach, but would like to see a more active stick. I would also like to see him take the body more. He has the size, but the frame isn’t quite there yet.- Domonic Tiano"
The Flyers have been keen on guys that play smart while on the ice, and I’m perfectly fine with them opting for players who know where to be at all times. I also like the fact that they’ve gone with another d-man that can move the puck with excellent skating ability to boot. Millman seems to be an under-the-radar pick that could pay dividends for the team in the future.
Fletcher is clearly loading up on defense with this particular draft, and I can’t blame him in doing so. You can never have too much depth, in my opinion.