I think your analysis is spot on with player breakdowns however I believe just like the Hall-Seguin "who will be number 1" this year will play out the same and Patrick will go to the Devils. Either way its a win for us.
- youarewrong

Works for me

I've seen limited full game viewings of both players, but plenty of clips. Here is one man's breakdown:

Nolan Patrick 6'3 198, turns 19 this September
Nico Hischier 6'0 176, turns 19 on Jan 4, 2018

Skating
Patrick is a very good, but not elite skater. He has a long stride and gets up to top speed in a hurry though. He also is deceptively quick and agile for a big man.

Hischier is an elite skater, with great speed, acceleration and quickness. He's not quite as dynamic as Connor McDavid, but he'd arguably be the fastest Flyers forward from day one.

Both players are just as fast with the puck as they are without it.

Size and strength
Patrick is man strong. He will likely continue to fill out and top out at around 210 lbs. He uses his size to protect the puck well, will win board battles and is very difficult to knock off the puck. He's not a particularly aggressive player physically, but he won't back down.

Hischier may still be growing, some sites are now listing him at 6'1 and he's likely around 180 lbs at this point. Obviously, he could benefit by filling out and getting stronger and he will likely top out around 195-200 lbs. That being said, he plays a fearless game, and will happily venture into the dirty parts of the ice. He is deceptively strong and hard to knock off the puck and he has a bit of mean in his game too.

Skills
Patrick has fantastic skills. He possesses a hard, accurate shot, is an excellent passer and has very soft hands that allow him to be an excellent stickhandler. He's going to put points at the NHL level, maybe not the 100+ of a McDavid, but 30+ goals and 80+ points are not out of the realm of possibility when he hits is prime.

Hischier has world class skills. He has innate sense of when to pass and when to shoot and the soft hands to stickhandle with the best of them. He has an accurate shot with a quick release too. Again, he won't put up McDavid numbers, but he too could top out at 30+ goals and 80+ points, and if he really hits his full potential, he could flirt with a few 90+ point seasons.

Overall hockey sense
Patrick is a complete player with very good defensive awareness. He is strong defensively and on faceoffs and competes hard in all three zones. He is a future team captain and a guy who will play in all situations. He is very composed and rarely makes a bad read or a bad play. Coaches are going to love this guy.

Hischier has fantastic on ice awareness, he seems to know where everyone on the ice is at all times and can make a seemingly blind pass out of nowhere. His defensive game is solid, but he could use a bit of improvement to play at the NHL level. He's 9 months younger and less experienced at as high a level as Patrick and that needs to be taken into consideration. Overall, his hockey sense is elite and from all accounts he's very coachable and hard working.

Negatives
Patrick's only negative is his injury history.

Hischier's only negative is that he needs to get a bit stronger.


My preference:
It's a very tough call, but I'd give the slightest of slight edges to Hischier. This is due to my feeling that he may just have a smidge more offensive skill and he's a better skater than Patrick. And, while I don't think it's a major issue, you also can't ignore Patrick's injury history.

My prediction:

I think Shero will go with Hischier and Patrick will be the captain of the Flyers by the early 2020s.
- BiggE

Love this analysis and from everything I've read and watched, seems to be pretty spot on. As of today, I too think that Shero goes Hischier.

Like Bill said, as of now it would seem that the Flyers will take whichever of the "top 2" falls to them, but if the Devils take Hischier and for some reason the Flyers pass on Patrick (either selecting someone else or trading down), I have faith in Hexy that he knows what he's doing when it comes to Brandon players.

Don't get me wrong, it would surprise me, but Hexy should know Brandon players better than almost anyone.

Amazing deal. If we can get Ghost for something like that everything will be slightly less terrible
- Mordecai

Call me an idiot but I am not sure I want Gostisbehere at 7 years 4.5 million. I am hoping he is around 3-3.75 range. Maybe highest is 4

We call that "scotch math."
- jmatchett383[/quote

Call me an idiot but I am not sure I want Gostisbehere at 7 years 4.5 million. I am hoping he is around 3-3.75 range. Maybe highest is 4
- J35Bacher

Unless you're signing him to a 2 year bridge deal, that ain't happening

Call me an idiot but I am not sure I want Gostisbehere at 7 years 4.5 million. I am hoping he is around 3-3.75 range. Maybe highest is 4
- J35Bacher

You might be able to hang your hat on the fact he stumbled fairly heavily this season.

You might be able to hang your hat on the fact he stumbled fairly heavily this season.
- mayorofangrytown

Why's it gotta always be about hats with you?

Anyone else really hoping both Patrick and Hischier both hit their potential creating an incredible rivalry and comparisons when they play each other?

If that doesn't happen, I am cool with the Flyers pick panning out while the Devils end up questioning their decision.

Anyone else really hoping both Patrick and Hischier both hit their potential creating an incredible rivalry and comparisons when they play each other?

If that doesn't happen, I am cool with the Flyers pick panning out while the Devils end up questioning their decision.
- Glak18

Love this analysis and from everything I've read and watched, seems to be pretty spot on. As of today, I too think that Shero goes Hischier.

Like Bill said, as of now it would seem that the Flyers will take whichever of the "top 2" falls to them, but if the Devils take Hischier and for some reason the Flyers pass on Patrick (either selecting someone else or trading down), I have faith in Hexy that he knows what he's doing when it comes to Brandon players.

Don't get me wrong, it would surprise me, but Hexy should know Brandon players better than almost anyone.
- five4fighting10

Unless the Flyers do something to make sure they get a high pick in the 2018 draft along with a high pick in this one then I don't see any trade worth it.

I would talk to Vegas to see if they would swap picks this year and next year. The 2018 draft is supposed to be as good or better then 2015 and close to 2003. And they would have to take MacDonald. Though I'm still not sure if I would do this... but you would have to expect Vegas's pick to be top 5 next year right?

Just was thinking about the future of the Metro Division. Dear god in 2 years this division could be only getting 3 playoff teams due to every team beating the snot out of each other. Oh is it going to be a blast.

Why's it gotta always be about hats with you?
- jmatchett383

The sun burns my bald noggin

Anyone else really hoping both Patrick and Hischier both hit their potential creating an incredible rivalry and comparisons when they play each other?

If that doesn't happen, I am cool with the Flyers pick panning out while the Devils end up questioning their decision.
- Glak18

Ohh even better.... Crosby retires due to injury and Ovechkin wins the cup and jumps ship to finish career in Russia. Patrick and Hischier become the new Crosby vs Ovechkin.....

Just was thinking about the future of the Metro Division. Dear god in 2 years this division could be only getting 3 playoff teams due to every team beating the snot out of each other. Oh is it going to be a blast.
- dragonoffrost

I made the comment in yesterdays blog that 6 of the 15 active 1st overall picks are in our division. Soon to be 7 of 16. And 11 of 16 in our conference. The east is ridiculous.

Detroit might beg to go back west soon.

Crosby out game 4 with concussion.

How many is that now?

Just a little bit more money than the Flyers 25 year old Russian RFA is going to get.
- Feanor

Hexy did try to get Zaitsev though. His decision paid off for him. You're right though. Lyubimov's...well...his didn't work out as well

Crosby out game 4 with concussion.

How many is that now?
- J35Bacher

34 #scotchmath

Crosby out game 4 with concussion.

How many is that now?
- J35Bacher

Lindrosian?

Crosby out game 4 with concussion.

How many is that now?
- J35Bacher

One less then Lindros?

Call me an idiot but I am not sure I want Gostisbehere at 7 years 4.5 million. I am hoping he is around 3-3.75 range. Maybe highest is 4
- J35Bacher

OK.

Amazing deal. If we can get Ghost for something like that everything will be slightly less terrible
- Mordecai

Agreed. I'd be pretty happy if they just gave him the Amac special too.

Call me an idiot but I am not sure I want Gostisbehere at 7 years 4.5 million. I am hoping he is around 3-3.75 range. Maybe highest is 4
- J35Bacher

Zaitsev played top pairing and also had more UFA years bought out (5). I would expect Ghost to come in below this if it is shorter, but would be okay with 4.5

Unless you're signing him to a 2 year bridge deal, that ain't happening
- BiggE

Yeah.

For me I just feel 7 years 4.5 would be a lot for Gostisbehere.

It will be interesting to see where Gostisbehere comes in at

Yeah.

For me I just feel 7 years 4.5 would be a lot for Gostisbehere.

It will be interesting to see where Gostisbehere comes in at
- J35Bacher

3 yrs at 4 mil per

Just my hopeful guess. That gets him past Povorov's new deal.

Yeah.

For me I just feel 7 years 4.5 would be a lot for Gostisbehere.

It will be interesting to see where Gostisbehere comes in at
- J35Bacher

7 years would carry some risk for the Flyers, but it would also make no sense for Ghost so sign for that long for less than $4.5m AAV. If he turns into a regular 50+ point dman he could be looking at nearly double that in a few years.

Dmen who put up points always get good money. Just being consistently in the 20-35 range got Demers 5 years at $4.5m.