Flyers Draft Options: Winger Fabian Lysell
By Collin Coyne
As the trade rumors seem to be slowing to a crawl in recent weeks, it is looking increasingly possible that the Flyers end up keeping their first-round pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, at 13th overall.
One such talent that the Flyers have found themselves linked to is Fabien Lysell, the tiny playmaking winger out of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). He was buried on the bottom lines of Luleå HF of the SHL last season, so his numbers don’t exactly jump off the page. He registered only three points in his 26 games and looked every bit as small as his 5-foot-10, 172 pound frame.
The SHL features strong competition from grown men, which will give Lysell an advantage that not many other prospects have in the jump to the professional game in North America. When he took the ice against fellow 18-year-olds, he showed the talent that makes him a projected first-round selection.
As a member of Sweden’s U18 team during the World Championships this spring, Lysell scored nine points in seven games. The Swedes took home the bronze medal. Lysell tied for the team lead in points, and he has routinely scored at an above point per game pace throughout his career when facing opponents within his age own range.
When looking at Lysell in a vacuum, he stands out as one of the premier talents available with an elite skill set that will project very well to the NHL after a bit more seasoning over in Sweden. His incredible speed and skating ability make him an unbelievable threat in the offensive zone, especially on the rush. He is regularly able to undress defenders with quick cuts, or leave them in the dust entirely.
Lysell is an incredible playmaker, with great puck handling prowess, though he often shies away from taking the shot himself. While hardly the “pass happy winger” that Flyers fans are all too familiar with, Lysell certainly prefers to set up the play, which helps hide his below average shot. That good stick work also helps Lysell defensively. He is able to pick pockets and force turnovers, but his small stature sometimes rears its head, most notably in the defensive zone.
While smaller, quicker forwards are definitely becoming more common in today’s game, Lysell can be bullied off the puck fairly easily on both ends of the ice, something that could certainly become an issue at the NHL level. Similarly, his position as a right-wing can be considered less valuable than some centers and defensemen likely to be available in this draft.
He is projected as a top10 pick by many mock drafts, but a possible fall on draft night could make him the best player on the board if he’s available for the Flyers 13th overall.