The Flyers have found themselves in the top 10 of the draft and could use this pick to help this roster. There is one really good pick at five the Flyers should do but there are a few other options just in case.
This is also a good piece to move if you are trying to get some high-end proven talent. It all depends on who is available at the time and if Chuck Fletcher and Brent Flahr feel as though they are doing the best move in order to help this team improve for the now and not the tomorrow.
Matthew Savoie
The overall consensus number 5 pick for this year’s NHL draft is Matthew Savoie. He has received some high praise and some really interesting comparisons to current NHL players. Savoie had a great season that really sparked the conversation of him jumping up into the top 5 of the draft. Not only would he be a great addition to this Flyers team, but also a big time scorer for them.
While players coming out of juniors have a harder adjusting to the NHL level, Savoie seems like he may be ready to take it on. Scoring 35 goals and assisting on 55, he tallied a total of 90 points. Bringing speed, puck handling and overall energy to this team, he would be the perfect fit. While the 18-year-old is 5’9″, he might still grow a little more and will for sure put on some muscle.
Speed and ability are the way the NHL is leaning towards now and Savoie has it all. If he is there at number 5, the Flyers would be wrong not to take him. With comparisons to Mat Barzal and Mitch Marner, you could really have a future top line elite talent here.
Conor Geekie
If size and skill is the combination you want, then Seatle Kraken’s prospect Morgan Geekie’s little brother is the way you want to go. Although he isn’t putting up the same numbers as his teammate Savoie, he has still been pretty impressive.
With 12 goals and 28 assists, Geekie has been the perfect number two center for the Ice. Playing him at center will solidify your third line with another big body who has talent and skating ability and would learn a lot from Sean Couturier and Kevin Hayes. If Savoie ends up going before the number 5 pick, this would be my pick for sure.
Logan Cooley
Possibly the best US born player currently for this draft, Cooley is a 5’10” center who has speed and skill. While he still has another season in the NCAA, I think waiting for him will be worth it. Committed to Notre Dame next season, he will most likely be NHL ready after a year or two in the NCAA.
In 51 games for the US National U18 Team, he scored 28 goals and assisted on 48 as well. Cooley is going to be a great player in the NHL because of all of his national team experience. While smaller, he is a natural center and that will be a big part of his eventual development into a professional hockey player.
Conclusion
This team has options but needs to get the right coach to lead this team back into contention. There are some options that will make this team better but getting healthy is the biggest key for player personal. Getting Ryan Ellis and Sean Couturier back will help on the defensive side of the puck but also with being able to move the puck.
Johnny Gaudreau has to be the biggest target on your list this offseason. Not only does he bring the goal scoring ability you need, but he can make this a destination for other free agents to want to play. I also believe he will play 100 times harder because he is home and is happy to be as such.
A back up goalie is also pretty crucial. Going in with an unknown commodity is not the way the Flyers should go. This season could honestly make Carter Hart want to stay in the upcoming years. Especially with Hart only having two years left on his contract, you want to do everything you can to make him want to stay. Hart hasn’t hit his prime yet but if he can get himself back to his 19-20 form, this team can go to the playoffs kicking and screaming thanks to Hart.
This is a very crucial offseason and Chuck Fletcher needs to make the right moves to bring this franchise out of a losing culture and back into an elite one.