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Chuck Fletcher: The Hits and Misses

By Scott Cole

SECAUCUS, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 06: General managerChuck Fletcher of the Philadelphia Flyers (R) is interviewed by Jamie Hersch of the NHL Network (L) during the first round of the 2020 National Hockey League (NHL) Draft at the NHL Network Studio on October 06, 2020 in Secaucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
SECAUCUS, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 06: General managerChuck Fletcher of the Philadelphia Flyers (R) is interviewed by Jamie Hersch of the NHL Network (L) during the first round of the 2020 National Hockey League (NHL) Draft at the NHL Network Studio on October 06, 2020 in Secaucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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Tony DeAngelo, Philadelphia Flyers (Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports)
Tony DeAngelo, Philadelphia Flyers (Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports) /

Signings

Travis Sanheim was re-signed for eight years at  $6,250,000 a year. Rasmus Ristolainen was given a five year deal worth just over $5 million. Joel Farabee has a six year contract that also pays him $5 million. And after trading for him, Tony DeAngelo was given a two year contract for $5 million

It’s not that these deals are bad or good. It’s too early to tell. Sanheim has been benched this year and has taken a step back. So has Farabee. Ristolainen has actually played well after getting publicly chewed out by Coach Tortorella. If he continues to play at this level, then the extension won’t be as badly viewed. DeAngelo has played very well at times, but also played really poorly. If he can continue to do the things that work well (like help power the power play), he may end up being a bright part of the future.

Trades

The big one here is the trade that sent Claude Giroux, Connor Bunnaman, German Rubstov and a  2024 fifth rounder pick to Florida for Owen Tippett, a 2024 first rounder, and a 2023 third rounder. Losing Bunnaman and Rubstov were no big deal. Florida lost a lot with this one as Giroux left for Ottawa in the offseason. Rumors swirled that Colorado offered a better package.

So far, it looks as if it is a good trade. Tippett is having a good year with 18 goals and 16 assists. He is trending nicely as a good, young forward. If he keeps going in this direction, it could be a steal.

The other big one is trading Carolina the 2024 second round and fourth round picks as well as a 2023 third rounder for Tony DeAngelo and a 2022 seventh round pick. As, stated before when DeAngelo is good, he’s great. When he’s sloppy, it’s terrible. But for right now, he can be a good role model for players like Cam York to show what they can do.

The Draft Picks

It’s too early to say right now. Since the 2019 draft, Fletcher has made 24 draft picks. Only five have played in the NHL: York, Bobby Brink, Ronnie Attard, Desnoyers, and Tyson Foerster. There are less than 100 games played for all five players combined.

York looks like he could be the real deal. Brink showed he had some skills last year, but got hurt in the offseason. Attard has had some time up with the Flyers while Desnoyers and Foerster are recent call ups. There are rumors that last year’s first round pick Cutter Gauthier might join the club next year. There are also hopes that Emil Andrae and Zayde Wisdom might not be far behind.

But it is still too early to say. Unlike Hextall, he hasn’t had a long list of busts. Maybe five years from now, we can say that he drafted better than he traded/signed. We’ll see.

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