If the right deal comes along, things could change. But the Flyers are expecting to hang on to the 23rd overall pick.
Teams are in a unique circumstance this year. Scouts have had to focus more on video that in-person assessments with the cancellation of most seasons. That has made for different draft preparations. The Flyers will likely have a plethora of players to choose from late in the first round. And they are likely to make that pick.
General Manager Chuck Fletcher and assistant GM Brent Flahr spoke with reporters on Tuesday about various topics, including the NHL Draft. It is scheduled for October 7th-8th and will be held virtually. The Flyers currently hold seven picks in the draft. One is which is the 23rd overall pick.
As of right now, the team is going into the draft looking to make the pick. If the right deal comes around, they could entertain moving it. Fletcher mentioned he was more likely to move down in the draft than he was to move up. In a deep draft, there could be multiples players that are still around when the Flyers are ready to pick.
And it won’t matter what position, they will be drafting based on the best player available to them. Fletcher will be looking for some help on defense at some point, though. He expressed his need for more defensive depth in the system. Whether or not that comes with the first-round pick will be found on that day.
The Flyers did take three defensemen in their first four picks during the 2019 Draft. So there has been a focus on that area recently. But they should have some solid players available to them no matter the position.
Names expected to be around at that moment include Jacob Perrault, Connor Zary, Lukas Reichel, and Justin Barron. There is another name on the list that would be familiar to someone in the organization. Ridly Greig is the son of Mark Greig, a long-time scout in the organization.
Greig is ranked 24th by both Bob McKenzie and Mckeen’s Hockey. He is 14th on Central Scouting’s North American skaters’ list. So there is a chance he could be available to the Flyers.
There are also some names on the trading block that the Flyers could use to entice another team. One of the bigger names on the market is Patrik Laine. That first-round pick could be in play during a scenario such as that.
But as of right now, the Flyers will be using that pick and should have plenty of talent to choose from when the time comes.