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Quick Hits: June 7, 2024
1) The Flyers presently hold the following picks in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft:
First Round: 12th overall, 31st or 32nd overall (depending on Stanley Cup Finals outcome)
Second Round: 51st overall
Third Round: 77th overall
Fourth Round: None
Fifth Round: 148th overall, 150th overall
Sixth Round: 173rd overall, 177th overall
Seventh Round: 205th overall
2) Andrew Basha is my pre-Draft choice for the 2024 Draft year's sleeper pick. The Medicine Hat Tigers winger is generally projected to be selected near the end of the first round to the early portion of the second round. Playmaking wingers tend to be valued a little lower than goal-scoring types, but Basha also possesses well above-average speed. He has a projectable middle-six upside in the professional game.
Although Basha is a pass-first type of attacker, he can also score opportunistic goals. He finished the 2023-24 season with 30 goals (55 assists and 85 points in 63 games) during the regular season. He scored three goals and added two assists in five playoff games was knocked out by the Red Deer Rebels in the first round of the 2024 playoffs. His No. 1 asset, however, is his creativity with the puck and his deft passing touch.
Basha possesses average size (listed at 6-0 and 185 pounds by some sources, 5-foot-11, 175 pounds by others). He is a late-year birthday player (born Nov. 8, 2005), which is something that works against him in public rankings.
Speaking of pass-first players, in addition to Basha, I considered Guelph Storm (OHL) center Jett Luchanko. One of the youngest players in this year's draft crop, Luchanko is a pure speedster with excellent playmaking skills and high intelligence on both sides of the puck. I think there is realistic future middle-six potential with a top-six ceiling.
I did not pick Luchanko as the sleeper of the year because he's not really a sleeper at this point. He's been a rising name for the last half season and seems likely to get top 20 in the Draft. I prefer to home in on probable late-first to mid second-round projected draftees.
Along the same lines, University of Michigan-bound center Michael Hage (USHL's Chicago Steel) is another name getting buzz as a potential top 20 pick. He's coming off a really good all-around season for the Steel and should see a lot of playing time at Michigan even as a freshman.
Hage, too, is not really under the radar enough to be defined as a sleeper. But he's another exciting prospect who will likely fall outside the top 10 to 15 picks.
3) Today in Flyers History: June 7
1979: After the forced retirement of Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender Bernie Parent due to a career-ending eye injury, the Flyers acquired veteran goaltender (and fellow Niagara Falls Flyers alum) Phil Myre from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for center Blake Dunlop and defenseman Rick Lapointe.
1995: The Flyers cut the gap in the Eastern Conference Final to two games to one as they earn a 2-1 overtime road victory against the New Jersey Devils in Game 3. The Flyers battled back from deficits of 1-0 and 2-1 on goals by Kevin Dineen (fourth of the playoffs) and Rod Brind'Amour (5th). Finally, at 4:19 of overtime, Eric Lindros (4th) took a drop pass from Mikael Renberg and wired a shot past Martin Brodeur to end the game.
1997: The Detroit Red Wings complete a Stanley Cup Finals sweep of the Flyers with a 2-1 victory over Philly in Game 4 at Joe Louis Arena.
2011: The Flyers acquire the rights to goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for minor league winger Matt Clackson and third-round picks in the 2011 and 2012 Entry Drafts.
4) On the June 7 edition of Flyers Daily, Jason Myretus has a one-on-one interview with Comcast Spectacor CEO and Flyers Governor Dan Hilferty. Hilferty discusses the first year of his tenure with the Flyers, what he has learned about Danny Briere, Keith Jones and John Tortorella, what he feels are are the traits that make for a great leader, the chemistry of a winner, and more.
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