actually the post wasnt motivated by caufield regret. just read broad street hockey prospect review and realized that top 6 skilled offensive hopefuls in system now light. i had hoped for more progress from some of the college kids as well as ratcliff/rubtsov in ahl. as of this moment in system i cant see another highly probable top 6 forward now that frost and farabee with flyers. well maybe brink has the skill set. i hope that some of the kids prove me wrong. perhaps i am just being too pessimistic.
after all that i looked into cole stats just to see. he will be in nhl by winter imho.
- biggbear77

Our bonafide top 6 prospects are already in the league. TK is 22, as is lindblom. Patrick 21. Frost is 20. Farabee is 19. Is that not enough young players for you?

Brink projects as a top 6 player. Cole Caufield will not be in the NHL by winter. When was the last time a team pulled one of its prospects from college halfway from the season. I'm pretty sure that's not even allowed!

Just thought it was interesting that there were more 1st-overall busts than 2nd-overalls within the given time frame. Not making a commentary about the quality of 1st-overall picks or anything.
- Tomahawk

A franchise can certainly become really good without ever having a first overall pick. There's some quality kids in the first few rounds, you've just gotta find them.

Throughout the years the Flyers have been really good at unearthing talent all over the draft. Back in the 80's they built a really good team with Hextall, Tocchet, Ron Sutter, Dave Brown, Zezel, Pelle Eklund, Mellanby, all as major contributors to the franchise.

I believe, because I'm a fan of what Hexy was doing, if Ron Hextall was given more time to execute his plan you'd be seeing that again. Even with him gone he drafted really well for a five year period.

have you stepped in human excrement on the sidewalks yet?
- PLindbergh31

yea they're called liberals

To me his production will eventually fall into line with that of Jordan Staal's, which is nether good nor bad, just disappointing given he was touted as a highend offensive player. Unlike J. Staal.
- DraftandDestroy

Both were highly rated due to perceived NHL-readiness. Likewise, both continued to carry unreasonable expectations based on their high draft position in comparatively weak draft classes.

Staal was/is pretty special defensively, so he's always been valuable.

NP's niche has yet to reveal itself./

I believe, because I'm a fan of what Hexy was doing, if Ron Hextall was given more time to execute his plan you'd be seeing that again. Even with him gone he drafted really well for a five year period.
- DraftandDestroy

If they end up winning a Cup, I think it will be thanks to those 5 drafts.

nopa biggest 2nd overall bust since JVR

A franchise can certainly become really good without ever having a first overall pick. There's some quality kids in the first few rounds, you've just gotta find them.

Throughout the years the Flyers have been really good at unearthing talent all over the draft. Back in the 80's they built a really good team with Hextall, Tocchet, Ron Sutter, Dave Brown, Zezel, Pelle Eklund, Mellanby, all as major contributors to the franchise.

I believe, because I'm a fan of what Hexy was doing, if Ron Hextall was given more time to execute his plan you'd be seeing that again. Even with him gone he drafted really well for a five year period.
- DraftandDestroy

outside of the 1st rd picks his drafts are still ungraded. couple nice hits in hart and Oscar; several misses as well.

outside of the 1st rd picks his drafts are still ungraded. couple nice hits in hart and Oscar; several misses as well.
- daryl stanley

I agree, largely "yet to be determined". But like I said, that was just my opinion on his drafting during his time with the Flyers. Personally I don't see any guys yet to considered misses, or as you put it, "several misses as well".

To me he drafted really well given his draft positions and what they were looking for positionally. Take Provorov for instance, he was highly ranked in 2015 and they wanted to start building the defense from within. I think him and Hanifin were the top ranked dmen.

I agree, largely "yet to be determined". But like I said, that was just my opinion on his drafting during his time with the Flyers. Personally I don't see any guys yet to considered misses yet, or as you put it, "several misses as well".

To me he drafted really well given his draft positions and what they were looking for positionally. Take Provorov for instance, he was highly ranked in 2015 and they wanted to start building the defense from within. I think him and Hanifin were the top ranked dmen.
- DraftandDestroy

nak and labarge

A number 2 overall pick not available for an entire season (Patrick) and a number 14
overall pick out for at least his 2nd season (Morin). This is a tragedy that the Flyers will have to find a way to recover from. The Patrick issue is why they had to spend "stupid" money on a guy like Hayes, the Morin issue caused Braun and Niskanen to be needed. "The best laid plans of mice and men oft go astray."
- DANCER

finding a kid like Lindblom in the 5th round and an UFA in Meyers help ease the disappointment in first round picks not living up to their draft position.

I agree, largely "yet to be determined". But like I said, that was just my opinion on his drafting during his time with the Flyers. Personally I don't see any guys yet to considered misses, or as you put it, "several misses as well".

To me he drafted really well given his draft positions and what they were looking for positionally. Take Provorov for instance, he was highly ranked in 2015 and they wanted to start building the defense from within. I think him and Hanifin were the top ranked dmen.
- DraftandDestroy

That 2015 first round was LOADED, NJ took Zacha . Not a terrible player but looking at that top 10 now, geez that's a tough one.

Still would of chosen Patrick at #2, but my only concern is what else did the Flyers uncover while scouting him, chronic migraines do NOT pop up out of the blue overnight. Not to mention his known injury that caused a slow start to his career.

On the other side of the coin, how many teams have gone off board and regretted it. Boston comes to mind in 2015. 3, again I repeat THREE 1st round picks in a row and they passed on Barzal, Connor, Chabot, Samsonov, Boeser and others. Sure Debrusk is having a decent young career so far, but 27 goals isn't that big of a deal when you look at what they could of had and none of those players were "woah what a surprise" picks.
- Glak18

everyone and their mother were shocked when they passed on Barzel

nak and labarge
- daryl stanley

Nolan Patrick is a yet to be determined player, although I don't think he's going to be much of a player, and no one taken after Laberge makes him a "miss".

Sorry but I think you're reaching, at best, for something negative that's not really there.

actually the post wasnt motivated by caufield regret. just read broad street hockey prospect review and realized that top 6 skilled offensive hopefuls in system now light. i had hoped for more progress from some of the college kids as well as ratcliff/rubtsov in ahl. as of this moment in system i cant see another highly probable top 6 forward now that frost and farabee with flyers. well maybe brink has the skill set. i hope that some of the kids prove me wrong. perhaps i am just being too pessimistic.
after all that i looked into cole stats just to see. he will be in nhl by winter imho.
- biggbear77

yeah, he kid isn't leaving college mid season

Nolan Patrick is a yet to be determined player, although I don't think he's going to be much of a player, and no one taken after Laberge makes him a "miss".

Sorry but I think you're reaching, at best, for something negative that's not really there.
- DraftandDestroy

yes he is a miss as wont be an nhl player. doesn't matter who was taken after him. Not reaching at all as the facts are those 2 will not be nhl players.

everyone and their mother were shocked when they passed on Barzel
- nastyflyergirl

A HUGE blunder by them looks good on those pukes

yes he is a miss as wont be an nhl player. doesn't matter who was taken after him. Not reaching at all as the facts are those 2 will not be nhl players.
- daryl stanley

Reaching....

Reaching....
- DraftandDestroy

nope. its a fact. both are 2ndrd bust. please prove to me how otherwise they are not.

Ryan has had a better career than JVR.
- PLindbergh31

eh, their career totals are pretty close. Ryan has fallen off a cliff tho over the last 4 seasons.

Our bonafide top 6 prospects are already in the league. TK is 22, as is lindblom. Patrick 21. Frost is 20. Farabee is 19. Is that not enough young players for you?

Brink projects as a top 6 player. Cole Caufield will not be in the NHL by winter. When was the last time a team pulled one of its prospects from college halfway from the season. I'm pretty sure that's not even allowed!
- bulet13

that was my point, all the serious top 6 prospects on team. counting the existing flyers as nhl level players not prospective nhl players.
we have drained the system of them, except perhaps for brink and ratcliffe.
cole has expressed the desire to play in montreal this regular season. i think he will get an audition, we will see.

Frost was signed to score. Putting him on the top line with G and TK will keep him in his comfort zone, so to speak. As a rookie, I'm sure he's still learning how to play a well rounded game 200 foot game. Putting him on the 4th line would not be very helpful. Hopefully the kid does well tonight? I'm sure AV will juggle the lines around tonight if it seems that Frost is in over his head.

Ryan has had a better career than JVR.
- PLindbergh31

Ryan is 2 years older with 13 seasons under his belt. JVR is 2 years younger with 11 seasons under his belt.

Bobby Ryan - 250 Goals 301 Assists for 551 points
JVR: 232 Goals, 218 assists 450 points

To match Ryan, JVR just has to average 50.5 points over this season and next season.....

Ryan is 2 years older with 13 seasons under his belt. JVR is 2 years younger with 11 seasons under his belt.

Bobby Ryan - 250 Goals 301 Assists for 551 points
JVR: 232 Goals, 218 assists 450 points

To match Ryan, JVR just has to average 50.5 points over this season and next season.....
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Fair enough. It's pretty safe to say they are comparable players.

that was my point, all the serious top 6 prospects on team. counting the existing flyers as nhl level players not prospective nhl players.
we have drained the system of them, except perhaps for brink and ratcliffe.
cole has expressed the desire to play in montreal this regular season. i think he will get an audition, we will see.
- biggbear77

I think you are making things up as you go along. What exactly is an “audition” ? I’m assuming you mean an ATO, in which case an NCAA player is prohibited until his season is over.

To me his production will eventually fall into line with that of Jordan Staal's, which is nether good nor bad, just disappointing given he was touted as a highend offensive player. Unlike J. Staal.
- DraftandDestroy

My expectations remain the same for Nolan Patrick. Top six center