Philadelphia Flyers: 2012 Draft surrounded with big trades

While neither took place during the event, the 2012 Draft was still surrounded by two big Flyers trades.

The Flyers would draft the most players they have since 2007. Seven players joined the Flyers organization during the event. But it was two trades, one before and one after the draft, that may have highlighted the entire event.

They can thank the Columbus Blue Jackets for two of the picks they had. The Flyers would trade a young Sergei Bobrovsky to Columbus, receiving three draft picks in return.

Two of those picks would be used during the 2012 Draft, a second and fourth rounder. They also received a fourth round pick in 2013.

Just hours after the final name was called, Toronto and Philadelphia struck a deal. James van Riemsdyk was sent to the Leafs while Luke Schenn would join his brother in Philly.

It is not looked upon fondly as time as gone on. At the time, Schenn was a player that former GM Paul Holmgren has wanted for awhile. The deal was original discussed months before the draft, but had been put on the back burner.

It came up again after the draft and that’s when both teams pulled the trigger. The Flyers also drafted four defensemen, the most since 2002. They had a depleted blue line and needed to bring in more to bolster it.

Schenn was a part of that, but there’s no doubt they drafted that way for a reason as well.