Flyers 2021 Draft Options: Fyodor Svechkov
The Philadelphia Flyers currently own the 14th overall pick (but really the 13th) in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft., which will be held virtually on Friday, July 23, and Saturday, July 24.
This year’s draft promises to be unique for general manager Chuck Fletcher in many ways, largely due to chaotic NHL scheduling necessitated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the top prospects played shortened seasons, or in case of the Ontario Hockey League, no season at all.
The dominos will begin to fall leading up to the Seattle Kraken Expansion Draft, scheduled for Wednesday, July 21.
Fyodor Svechkov, Center, Lada Togliatti (VHL)
The Flyers will certainly address the need for organizational depth at the center position in one way or another this offseason following the departure of former second-overall pick Nolan Patrick.
The strengths of 18-year-old Russian center Fyodor Svechkov would fit the Flyers’ needs. The Hockey Writers prospect profiles referred to him as the best Russian forward in the draft, noting that he is “best suited to play on a third line once he makes the move to North America.” He made a name for himself at the World Junior Championships with Team Russia this winter.
Svechkov was chosen by the Flyers in a mock draft performed by The Athletic over the weekend. Representative Charlie O’Connor pointed to the strength of Svechkov’s 200-foot game as an attribute that is commonly prioritized by Philadelphia’s scouting department. Sean Couturier and Scott Laughton, two centers with reputable defensive strengths, were both taken in the first round by the Flyers.
Although Svechkov is thought to be a late first-round talent by some experts, the unpredictability of the upcoming draft will likely skew the accuracy of a lot of mocks. The Flyers could target Mason McTavish or Cole Sillinger, but expect Svechkov to be on their radar as a backup option if both centers are off the board at 14.
The Flyers developed an archaic trend of avoiding Russian talent in the draft prior to 2015, when they broke the norm by selecting defenseman Ivan Provorov seventh overall. They selected another Russian, German Rubtsov, in the first round in 2016.