We've made it to the NHL Draft, and there have already been plenty of picks trading hands. And with a few hours still to go, it may not be the end of it. With a draft class that many believe is not the strongest, it hasn't been a surprise to see so many teams giving up their picks.
Danny Briere previously shared he didn't feel the Flyers were at the point where they could begin thinking about trading away first-round draft picks.
"I don’t know that we’re quite there yet, but we’re certainly willing to listen to different ideas. I’m not too keen on trading future first-round picks, because you never know where it can go. We're not a Colorado or Carolina at this point, where you know you're going to be finishing and picking late first. I don't think we're quite there yet.
And he's right. While the Flyers have done a good job at restocking the prospect pool over the last few years, they aren't at the point where they can give away those first-round picks. However, they have done it in the last two drafts, trading down to grab Jett Luchanko, and trading up to nab Jack Nesbitt.
So it's not out of the question that the Flyers could make another move with their pick. And according to a draft day drop by Kevin Kurz of The Athletic, the organization has given some thought to trading down a few spots.
"The Flyers are exploring at least one opportunity to move back in the first round in a deal that would net them an extra second-round pick this year, I’m told from a team source. Obviously, these things can always change™, but I believe there’s a much greater chance the Flyers move back than move up, if they move from No. 21 at all."
Flyers linked to multiple defensemen in trade down scenario
If the Flyers were to entertain trading down, there are two likely reasons. Either they aren't sold on any of the prospects available to them, while another team is. Or they are interested in someone who could be available later in the round, and they want to add another asset while still being able to draft said player.
Netting another second-round pick, as Kurz said, seems to be the appeal in moving down. But are there any particular players the Flyers are interested in that could still be available toward the end of the round? Philadelphia has been connected to many players over the last few weeks, but two defensemen in particular have risen in the rankings: Tommy Bleyl and Maksim Sokolovskii.
We've talked about Sokolovskii as someone the Flyers could be interested in. They have a connection with the London Knights after drafting both Denver Barkey and Oliver Bonk. He also plays on the left side, an area the team would like to strengthen. And not to mention, he's physical, another thing the Flyers like.
But there's not a whole lot that suggests they should use a first-round pick on him. His offense is pretty much non-existent, and while he has a booming shot, it's not the most accurate. And he needs to greatly improve his puck skills, something you don't want to worry about with a defenseman.
As for Bleyl, he would be much more in line with what the Flyers are looking for. He was sharp in his debut season for the Moncton Wildcats, posting 13 goals and 81 points, topping the team in points. 42 of his points came on the power play. Those numbers alone are impressive for a rookie defenseman. He earned both the Rookie Defenseman of the Year and Defenseman of the Year awards, breaking numerous records along the way.
He's known for his smooth skating, something that could be especially important as a power play quarterback. The Flyers don't have a defenseman that they've been able to use successfully in that role. His shiftiness on the ice allows him to take on other players and capitalize on their mistakes.
Bleyl would make much more sense as his ceiling is almost certainly higher than Sokolovskii's. The latter isn't as big, coming in almost 70 pounds lighter and eight inches shorter. So there would be some concern about what he can handle against bigger and better players.
But if it's between a player who is big and one who has shown he can provide offense, the answer seems rather obvious.
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