Philadelphia Flyers: 5 Worst Draft Picks of the Last Decade

Chosen in the back end of the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft, only some of the most dedicated Philadelphia Flyers fans have heard of or remember German Rubtsov. Rubtsov left the Flyers organization having only played four games, and did not score or assist in those four games. Rubtsov also wasn’t much better in the AHL, scoring just 30 points in 98 games with Lehigh Valley and the Charlotte Checkers. Rubtsov ended up in Charlotte by way of the Flyers trading for Owen Tippett; he was packaged with Claude Giroux and Connor Bunnaman to the Florida Panthers. A few months later, Rubtsov was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Panthers and subsequently returned home to Russia, where he is currently playing in their second division.

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Only one player chosen in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft has appeared in fewer games than German Rubtsov: Lucas Johansen of the Washington Capitals. Johansen is the younger brother of newly-minted Colorado Avalanche Ryan Johansen. Lucas was drafted with pick 28, and had an assist in his NHL debut that came in 2021-22. Johansen played in two games for the Capitals this season, and recently won the Calder Cup with the Hershey Bears. At the very least, he is still contributing to the organization that drafted him in some capacity.

In drafting German Rubtsov, the Philadelphia Flyers passed on other centers, such as Tage Thompson, Trent Frederic, and Sam Steel. Thompson is obviously the big fish, but Frederic and Steel have become everyday NHLers too. Frederic in particular could develop into a great role player for a team that needs it. Rubtsov on the other hand is on his last legs in professional hockey.