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Who will the Flyers protect in the 2021 Expansion Draft?

By Drew Wheeler

July 28, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, CANADA; Jakub Voracek #93 of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates a goal by teammate Sean Couturier #14 during the first period of the exhibition game against the Pittsburgh Penguins prior to the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on July 28, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. Mandatory Credit: Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via USA TODAY Sports
July 28, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, CANADA; Jakub Voracek #93 of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates a goal by teammate Sean Couturier #14 during the first period of the exhibition game against the Pittsburgh Penguins prior to the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on July 28, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. Mandatory Credit: Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via USA TODAY Sports /
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At the beginning of the season, the Flyers’ offensive depth (on paper) made it really difficult to figure out who they would most likely protect. As the season went on, it became clear that the Flyers might not even have 7 forwards worth protecting. So who will be staying?

1) Claude Giroux

Giroux continues to be one of the Flyers’ best players even at age 33. Even without the NMC, Giroux would have been protected.

2) Kevin Hayes

Hayes has had a rough season, but again who hasn’t. I expect the Hayes of 2019 to come back next season. Again, he is automatically protected by the NMC.

3) Sean Couturier

Couturier has been one of the most underrated players in the NHL this season. Missing games early due to injury certainly didn’t help, but he is still scoring at just under a PPG rate! Last season’s Selke Trophy winner and the Flyers best player is an automatic protect.

4) Scott Laughton

At the NHL trade deadline, no one knew if Laughton was going to be shipped out for picks, or signed to a long-term deal. With Chuck Fletcher locking Laughton for up for 5 years, they are committed to having him on this team long term. That contract extension was the sign of automatic protection in the expansion draft.

5) Travis Konecny

Konecny hasn’t played as badly this season and people would tell you. He’s still on a reasonable deal for a player of his type; the Flyers won’t give up on the young scrappy wing.

6) Oskar Lindblom

Lindblom is just about finished his first season since coming back from cancer. He obviously has performed at a low level given what he had gone through but was still able to be somewhat productive. A full offseason and recovery should help him get closer to the player we saw last season.

7) Nolan Patrick

Yes, I can see the face you are making right now but hear me out. Patrick is an RFA so if Seattle were to take him, they would have his signing rights meaning if a team wanted to gamble on him (depending on how much they sign him for) Seattle would get either a pick or just match the salary and gamble on him playing well. It would be in the Flyers’ best interest to protect him to:

1) have a better chance of getting rid of a bloated contract

2) have the Flyers keep Patrick’s RFA rights for the draft pick, or the sudden turn around in his game.

NOTABLE UNPROTECTED

  1. James van Riemsdyk
  2. Jake Voracek

Both of these players are top 3 in points for the Flyers. Both of these players, however, have massive contracts that need to be gotten rid of. If either of these players get taken, don’t be shocked if Fletcher goes for a big name this offseason… *cough cough* Dougie Hamiltion *cough cough*

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