Button said that no one knows at this point.
- Sinisalo4vr

8 players were originally named in the lawsuit and the police investigation concluded that 5 players were guilty of sexual assault.

Meanwhile only four players have not denied the allegations:

The eight players involved in the allegations have remained anonymous, however, a multitude of players on the 2018 Canadian world junior team either put out personal statements or their agents have issued statements on behalf of their clients, stating they were not involved.

Victor Mete and Jordan Kyrou confirmed that they did not attend the gala and were not in London at the time of the incident.

The following players have come out either via personal statement or with their agency to say that they were not involved with the allegations: Jake Bean, Kale Clague, Max Comtois, Dillon Dube, Dante Fabbro, Cal Foote, Jonah Gadjovich, Carter Hart, Brett Howden, Cale Makar, Colton Point, Taylor Raddysh, Sam Steel, Tyler Steenbergen Robert Thomas and Conor Timmins.

The following players have stated that they have fully cooperated with the investigation but declined to comment further: Boris Katchouk, Drake Batherson and Michael McLeod.

Alex Formenton is the lone player that has not made any comments to date.

So can't really rule anybody out until the report gets published.

Yes, it is foolish. 2 firsts which likely would not be high firsts and two seconds to draft a player with the 2nd overall pick with the real potential to be an elite player. It's a no brainer. The only thing that bothers me is the Flyers past luck with the 2nd overall.


Would you trade two 1st rounders and two 2nd rounders for a young Auston Matthews or Nathan McKinnon?
- MJL

We’re just going to leave out the fact that we’re giving up the #7 pick as well? No big deal I guess. Would you for Nolan Patrick? Kappo Kaako?

Would you for Nolan Patrick? Kappo Kaako?
- Just5

I would for Geno, Prongs, Hedman, Doughty, Barkov and Shanahan

I would for Geno, Prongs, Hedman, Doughty, Barkov and Shanahan
- Tomahawk

My thing is you’re gutting the team of their most trade able assets and putting it all on one resource. One player. It’s an all in proposition. The flyers don’t have many other pieces to sell to build this thing properly. There’s risk. I’d rather take the 6-7 quality kicks at the can these assets generated (that includes a #7 overrall)

My thing is you’re gutting the team of their most trade able assets and putting it all on one resource. One player. It’s an all in proposition. The flyers don’t have many other pieces to sell to build this thing properly. There’s risk. I’d rather take the 6-7 quality kicks at the can these assets generated (that includes a #7 overrall)
- Just5

I agree with you.

Also it would be a short lived GM position for DB if it didn't work out. It would apply a lot of pressure to Fantilli and fans would expect a shorter turn around to success.

Anaheim has done their building of top 10 picks like Zegras. I don't see why they want to do it again and not miss on this elite prospect themselves for more middling, few years away players.

My thing is you’re gutting the team of their most trade able assets and putting it all on one resource. One player. It’s an all in proposition. The flyers don’t have many other pieces to sell to build this thing properly. There’s risk. I’d rather take the 6-7 quality kicks at the can these assets generated (that includes a #7 overrall)
- Just5

I hear you, but that one elite superstar gives you something to anchor your entire rebuild to. They elevate their linemates. They set the tone in the room. Etc.

The historical difference in quality between the kinds of players taken 7th-overall and 2nd-overall is stark... and the disparity is likely to be even bigger this year with Fantilli being so good.

Anaheim's not gonna bite anyway, so no sense in getting too deep into it.

Button said that no one knows at this point.
- Sinisalo4vr

Of course that’s the narrative. Now think logically for a second. This story has been going on how long? They knew when it happened who was involved years ago. Take that out of equation and just go from story broke over a year ago. They’ve been investigating all this time and don’t know who’s involved? Makes zero sense. They know.

https://twitter.com/NHL_W...5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=

Why are the Ducks trading the 2nd overall pick from their rebuild to get a bunch of stuff not good enough for the flyers rebuild?
- Aaron_85

They're not. It was just a hypothetical discussion.

Why are the Ducks trading the 2nd overall pick from their rebuild to get a bunch of stuff not good enough for the flyers rebuild?
- Aaron_85

Well, there is THAT. But what else do we have to talk about?

We’re just going to leave out the fact that we’re giving up the #7 pick as well? No big deal I guess. Would you for Nolan Patrick? Kappo Kaako?
- Just5

Let me guess. You brought in 2 firsts and 2 seconds which were not part of the hypothetical deal brought up. Now you want to bring a fact into it from the proposed deal? I responded to your comment. To the best of my knowledge, neither Patrick or Kaako were rated as high as Fantilli. We also know that both Patrick and Kaako have not met their potential which brings hindsight into it.

My thing is you’re gutting the team of their most trade able assets and putting it all on one resource. One player. It’s an all in proposition. The flyers don’t have many other pieces to sell to build this thing properly. There’s risk. I’d rather take the 6-7 quality kicks at the can these assets generated (that includes a #7 overrall)
- Just5

The Flyers aren't going anywhere until they add that stud #1 defenseman and center. The Flyers have been able to add those complimentary pieces in the past. They need elite talent. If a deal like that is offered. They have to take it.

It's possible that when all is said and done that Michkov turns out to be the more talented player, but right now Fantilli is considered the better prospect.

He's worth just about anything the Flyers could realistically pay.
- Tomahawk

Michkov would go #1 in almost any other draft. He might even be better than bedard some say. He is the better prospect than fantilli. Not even close. Obviously the Russian factor is different but pure hockey michkov is better. At least predraft prospect

The Flyers aren't going anywhere until they add that stud #1 defenseman and center. The Flyers have been able to add those complimentary pieces in the past. They need elite talent. If a deal like that is offered. They have to take it.
- MJL

“ coots is an elite 1c that you absolutely resign AND build around” ~ mjl


So center is taken care just. Just need that d

Michkov would go #1 in almost any other draft. He might even be better than bedard some say. He is the better prospect than fantilli. Not even close. Obviously the Russian factor is different but pure hockey michkov is better. At least predraft prospect
- SMS4016

That whole Michkov thing with his dad is pretty wild. There’s a ton of smoke for there to be no fire.

The fact that he may attend the draft is a good sign. I really didn’t think he would.

The Russians are pretty adamant that he stays in the KHL for his career. We’ll see.

I think I’d roll the dice if I had the 5th pick or lower. If he comes over in 3 years, you could have a superstar injection after you begin you rebuild. If he doesn’t, you suck for another season and draft higher.

That whole Michkov thing with his dad is pretty wild. There’s a ton of smoke for there to be no fire.

The fact that he may attend the draft is a good sign. I really didn’t think he would.

The Russians are pretty adamant that he stays in the KHL for his career. We’ll see.

I think I’d roll the dice if I had the 5th pick or lower. If he comes over in 3 years, you could have a superstar injection after you begin you rebuild. If he doesn’t, you suck for another season and draft higher.
- Hesh_

I haven't heard this. Do you have a link?

Michkov would go #1 in almost any other draft. He might even be better than bedard some say. He is the better prospect than fantilli. Not even close. Obviously the Russian factor is different but pure hockey michkov is better. At least predraft prospect
- SMS4016

Nobody has Michkov ranked above Fantilli.

Nobody has Michkov ranked above Fantilli.
- Tomahawk

Why do you think this is? Serious question.

Why do you think this is? Serious question.
- SuperSchennBros

Fantilli is bigger and plays a much more complete game at this point.

Jeff Carter drafted 11th in 2003
Mike Richards drafted 24th in 2003

Ivan Provorov drafted 7th in 2015
Travis Konency drafted 24th in 2015

Not many will admit this but some good has come when we’ve drafted two players together in the first round. I’m really looking forward to what’s next.

Bill, is there any word that Keith Jones had any say in this trade? I’m more thinking his decisions will be what player for bobble head night

Fantilli is bigger and plays a much more complete game at this point.
- Tomahawk

I think I just noticed that Michkov is a right winger like a week ago. I originally thought he was a center. I do believe centers are more valued.

I think I just noticed that Michkov is a right winger like a week ago. I originally thought he was a center. I do believe centers are more valued.
- SuperSchennBros

By most teams, yes.

Although there's a school of thought that forward positions are so fluid now that it really doesn't matter who's a center and who's a winger. It's just F1, F2, F3 for most of the shift.

Nobody has Michkov ranked above Fantilli.
- Tomahawk

Everybody has michkov above fantilli. Michkov literally considered by some to possibly be better than bedard. You are factoring in the Russian factor. Who cares what mock draft says. Take away the Russian bs and michkov goes 2. No doubt no brainer

Everybody has michkov above fantilli. Michkov literally considered by some to possibly be better than bedard. You are factoring in the Russian factor. Who cares what mock draft says. Take away the Russian bs and michkov goes 2. No doubt no brainer
- SMS4016

You seem to be stuck in the 2022 lay of the land. Bedard's jumped way out ahead this season. Fantilli has jumped ahead as well. Most scouting services are not factoring in geopolitics and are purely ranking by talent and prospect quality.

As I said before, he could actually end up being the best player in the draft, who knows. But as of right now, June 2023, he's not widely considered #1 or #2: