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Is The 13th Pick Goalie Poison For the Flyers?

By Walt Gebelein

EDMONTON, AB - DECEMBER 30: Yegor Afanasiev #23 of Russia scores a goal against goaltender Jesper Wallstedt #1 of Sweden during the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship at Rogers Place on December 30, 2020 in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)
EDMONTON, AB - DECEMBER 30: Yegor Afanasiev #23 of Russia scores a goal against goaltender Jesper Wallstedt #1 of Sweden during the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship at Rogers Place on December 30, 2020 in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images) /
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Carter Hart, Philadelphia Flyers (Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports)
Carter Hart, Philadelphia Flyers (Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports) /

Imagine the blowback created in the media-sphere if the Flyers lose a top forward in the expansion draft. Days later, the Flyers are on the clock with the 13th pick in the NHL entry Draft with a bevy of forwards still available for selection.

If Wallstedt is available, should the team take him?  Wallstedt is a consensus top 10 talent in this draft.  He is likely only three years away from the NHL and seems to be a lock to be at least a quality NHL starter. There would be some undeniable value in such a pick.  But is it enough to open the can of worms of a media contrived goalie controversy?

It gets even more interesting if Wallstedt is selected in the top ten as expected, and the Flyers are left with a large pool of players where they can’t distinguish a clear favorite. Would it make sense, failing a trade of their pick, to draft Cossa knowing that at least three teams would love to be able to draft him? Granted this is riskier, with Cossa having more down side exposure, but the pay back could be sweet as you dangle young Cossa in front of his suitors. The Flyers could get as much as this year’s, and next year’s first round pick from a team who is interested.

In either scenario where the Flyers select a goaltender in the first round, the media frenzy created would be so rabid that sports talk hosts would eat their own faces. We would be entreated to stories on how the Flyers have given up on Carter Hart, or the pick was to send a message. Best yet, the whimsical fantasies outlining how Hart will be fending off the rookie from taking his job in camp.  My head hurts already.

The reality is Carter Hart will likely take no message from the team selecting a goalie in the first round. If Hart is concerned about losing his role as a starter, it will be from players higher up on the depth chart not from a draft pick who won’t see NHL ice until 2024 at the earliest. While the hockey reality is one thing, the Philadelphia media reality will be something completely different.

The sports media sharks will think they smell blood in the water and start a frenzy. That frenzy will grow to an anthem of the upcoming season and serve only to further pressurize the Hart situation, which may not help the young goalie. While it is unlikely Hart will crack to the point where he busts out sit ups in an impromptu drive way press conference, it could create another obstacle to Hart having a strong season. The goalie controversy is not new, it is practically a Flyers’ tradition. In this case it could be kicked off for all the right reasons, but it won’t make it any less painful.

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