FLYERS JUMP FROM 13TH TO 2ND IN 2017 NHL DRAFT
The National Hockey League draft lottery has not been too kind to the Philadelphia Flyers over the years. This year, however, the fates smiled down upon Philadelphia. The Flyers have jumped up from their default 13th overall spot to owning the second overall pick of the 2017 NHL Draft.
In a conference call with reporters, Flyers general manager Ron Hextall, said that he learned of the lottery results on television after returning from a trip to Finland. Hextall categorized this year's draft as an "average" one compared to the "bumper" draft crops of the last few years but said that the draft is not nearly as shallow depth wise as some critics have claimed.
"Even if we picked 13th, we were comfortable that we would get a good player," Hextall said.
While the consensus rankings for the top overall prospect for the 2017 Draft has been a two-horse race all year -- with Brandon Wheat Kings center Nolan Patrick as the typical front-runner but heavily pushed by Halifax Mooseheads center Nico Hischier -- Hextall did not want to identify any names the team's scouts are high on nor did he want to compare the strengths and weaknesses of Patrick and Hischier or any other players.
The GM did say it's not a slam dunk in his mind that there are only two viable choices in the top two or three picks. However, he also said that he did not envision a likely scenario where the Flyers traded down in the first round but if a can't-refuse offer came along, the team would have to consider it accordingly.
Patrick, a big-framed center, is considered a complete player with legitimate two-way upside and innate hockey sense, good size, good hand, good mobility and leadership potential. While not as dynamic as the likes of Connor McDavid or Auston Matthews, Patrick is a high-end talent. He missed much of the first half of the season with injury but recovered to play excellent hockey. Last season, at age 17, he posted 102 points. Even as a 16-year-old, he scored 30 goals and averaged a point-per-game in the Western Hockey League.
Hischier is an offensively aggressive and creative player with very good speed. Coming over from his native Switzerland, where he played 15 games at the top level (National League A) as a 17-year-old, Hischier put up gaudy offensive numbers (38 goals, 86 points, plus-20) in 56 regular season games for the Mooseheads and seven points (three goals, four assists) in six playoff matches. He also more than held his own at the World Junior Championships despite being among the youngest players in the tournament. He could use more strength on his 6-foot frame but is not an undersized player per se. Hischier was loaned by Bern to Halifax last season. As such, he falls under the "Honka Rule" and is immediately AHL eligible if the NHL team that drafts him prefers to go that route next season.
Hextall was asked if he felt whomever the Flyers pick with the second pick will be ready immediately for the NHL. The GM said he remains a believer that young players must earn their spots in the NHL, and camp performance will be a determining factor in the decision.
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PHANTOMS FORCE GAME 5, DOWN HERSHEY, 4-1
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms skated to a 4-1 road victory over the Hershey Bears on Saturday night, knotting their Calder Cup playoff series at two games apiece and forcing a fifth and deciding game at the PPL Center in Allentown on Sunday evening (5 p.m. EDT).
Scott Laughton tallied even strength and empty net goals in the third period for Lehigh Valley. The Phantoms also got goals from Danick Martel and Mark Zengerle as they built a 2-0 lead late in the first and early in the second periods. Travis Sanheim assisted on the Zengerle and Laughton goals for the first two playoff points of his pro career.
Martin Ouellette turned aside 27 of 28 shots he faced. Losing netminder Pheonix Copley stopped 34 of 37 Lehigh Valley shots. Chander Stephenson scored the lone Hershey goal.
The Phantoms were 0-for-3 on the power play (2-for-11 for the series) and went 3-for-3 on the penalty kill (10-for-10 in the series).
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QUICK HITS
1) After leading the Swedish Hockey League finals three games to two, Brynà¤s IF Gà¤vle suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 overtime loss in Game 7 on Saturday as HV71 Jönköping won the SHL championship. Oskar Lindblom was held off the scoresheet for a sixth straight game despite a second straight very strong performance. Lindblom led all players in the series with 24 shots on goal, but only found the net in Game 1. He finished the postseason with 14 points (tied for 3rd) in 20 games, with four goals and 10 assists (tied for 1st). Felix Sandström, pulled early in Game 6 by coach Thomas Berglund, was the backup goalie for BIF in Game 7. He finished the playoffs with a 6-4 record, 2.83 GAA, .901 save percentage and two shutouts. Veteran teammate David Rautio was 5-5 with a 2.01 GAA, .928 SV% and three shutouts.
2) Valtteri Filppula broke a scoreless tie at 9:37 of the third period as Team Finland blanked Russia, 1-0, at the Carlson Hockey Games tournament on Saturday. Ivan Provorov and Roman Lyubimov suited up for the Russian side.
3) Jakub Voracek racked up four assists as the host Czech Republic routed Sweden, 8-4, in their Carlson Hockey Games match on Saturday. Radko Gudas also plays for the Czech team.
4) The Carlson Hockey Games wrap up on Sunday with games pitting Finland against Sweden and Russia against the Czech Republic.