From a hotel in Ottawa, Ontario to Vancouver, British Columbia we come to a very memorable draft for a couple reasons for Flyers fans. This will be talked about very soon. The Pens have continued their trend of picking 1 then 2. Erik Johnson and Jordan Staal were the top two picks, and is probably the weakest 1, 2 punch, but Jonathan Toews was an amazing 3rd pick. Just imagine Toews as a Blue. Anyway, the Flyers continue their bad drafting habits.
*All stats are prior to the 2020-2021 season, unless noted otherwise*
First Pick: Round 1 Pick 22 (22)
Original Pick: Claude Giroux (C/LW)
New Pick: Claude Giroux
This was the best pick possible. There was Varlamov and Nick Foligno available, but tell me with a straight face that you’d pick them over him. The most memorable part of this pick was Bobby Clarke forgetting his name on stage. In 890 games, all for the Flyers, he has 257 goals and 558 assists for 815 points. He has played the most games as a Flyers captain, after being given the “C” in the 2012-13 season. He went to the NHL All Star Game in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019 along with being on the 2018 NHL 2nd All Star Team. He has gotten Hart votes 4 times (3 times getting 4th most or more). He has had a 100+ point season in 2017-18, 2nd most in NHL behind Connor McDavid. Giroux is currently 4th all time in points as a Flyer, 10th in goals, 2nd in assists, and will become 2nd in games played. He had the 4th most points in the NHL during the 2010s. Claude Giroux is a polarizing figure in Flyers history. In my eyes he is one of the best Flyers ever, and he has the numbers to back it up.
Others in contention: none
Second Pick: Round 2 Pick 9 (39)
Original Pick: Andreas Nodl (RW)
New Pick: Jeff Petry (D) (45)
This pick was acquired in a July 30, 2005 trade that sent Anaheim’s 2005 2nd (59-Pier-Oliver Pelletier) to Arizona for Columbus’s 2005 4th (119-Jeremy Duchesne) and this pick.
Andreas Nodl was an ok pick for us. In 183 games played for the Flyers and Hurricanes he scored 15 goals and 21 assists for 36 points. He was a part of the 2010 Flyers team that made it to the Stanley Cup Final. Jeff Petry has found more success in the NHL, though. In 680 games played with the Oilers and Canadiens he scored 69 goals and 184 assists for 253 points. He is a very serviceable right handed defenseman that really improves Montreal’s defense corps.
Others in contention: Jhonas Enroth (46), Artem Anisimov (54)
Third Pick: Round 2 Pick 12 (42)
Original Pick: Mike Ratchuk (D)
New Pick: Milan Lucic (LW) (50)
I am not 100% sure if this is the trade that actually gave us the 42nd pick, but on August 4, 2005 the Flyers and Kings (who are the original holders of the pick) made a trade that sent Jeremy Roenick and a 3rd (86-Bud Holloway) for future considerations. I am led to believe this pick was the future considerations.
Ratchuk never played any higher than the AHL in North America. He played several seasons for the Philadelphia/Adirondack Phantoms, Syracuse Crunch, Springfield Falcons, and Binghamton Senators. Milan Lucic has become a pretty loathed player be cause his albatross of a contract, but back in the day he was the quintessential power forward. He was the bodyguard that anyone would want for their stars, especially Peter Chiarelli. Along with his powerful physical play, he could put the puck in the net, and provide offense. In 958 games played with the Bruins, Kings, Oilers, and Flames, he has 206 goals. and315 assists for 521 points. He won the 2011 Stanley Cup with the Bruins, and was invited as an NHL YoungStar in 2008 and 2009, but did not play in 2009 due to injury.
Others in contention: none
Fourth Pick: Round 2 Pick 25 (55)
Original Pick: Denis Bodrov (D)
New Pick: Brad Marchand (LW) (71)
Bodrov came over to play 17 games with the Adirondack Phantoms where he scored 1 goal and 3 assists for 4 points. He’s had a decent career in the KHL with 27 goals and 92 assists for 119 points in 477 games. We all know Brad Marchand, and most of us are not fans of him. But, you can’t deny the player he has become. It took him a while to become the star he is when he busted out 85 points in 2016-17 and then reaching the 100 point plateau in 2018-19. In 751 games, all with the Bruins, he has 290 goals and 356 assists for 646 points. He was a part of the 2011 Stanley Cup winning Bruins team with Lucic. He went to the 2017 and 2018 NHL All Star Game. He was named to the 2017 NHL 1st All Star Team, and he was named to the 2019 and 2020 NHL 2nd All Star Teams.
Others in contention: Steve Mason (69)
Fifth Pick: Round 3 Pick 16 (79)
Original Pick: Jonathan Matsumoto (C)
New Pick: James Reimer (G) (99)
This pick was acquired in a June 24, 2006 trade that sent a 3rd (66-Ryan White) to Montreal for 4th (109-Jakub Kovar) and this pick.
Matsumoto only played 14 games in the NHL for the Hurricanes and Panthers (1 game) where he scored 2 goals and no assists for 2 points. James Reimer isn’t a home run pick, but is still a great pick for the 3rd round. In 363 games played with the Maple Leafs, Sharks, Panthers, and Hurricanes he has a record of 158-126-41 with a 2.80 GAA, .913 sv%, and 24 shutouts. He has proven to be a suitable backup at the NHL level.
Others in contention: Tom Sesito (85)
Sixth Pick: Round 4 Pick 8 (101)
Original Pick: Joonas Lehtivuori (D)
New Pick: Matt Beleskey (LW) (112)
Ok, this trade is a bit of a doozy basically the trade turned into Dennis Seidenberg and a 4th (115-Tomas Marcinko) to Phoenix for Petr Nedved this pick. The confusing part was that the Flyers had the option to swap 4ths this year, and ability to swap 3rds in 2007, we only swapped 4ths this year.
Joonas Lehtivuori played in 98 AHL games for the Phantoms scoring 7 goals and 25 assists for 32 points. He would then go back to Europe. Matt Beleskey has had a nice career in the NHL. In 477 games with the Ducks, Bruins, and the Rangers he has 76 goals and 82 assists for 158 points. Not much else to be said.
Others in contention: Reto Berra (106), Korbinian Holzer (111)
Seventh Pick: Round 4 Pick 16 (109)
Original Pick: Jakub Kovar (G)
New Pick: Alex Biega (D) (147)
This pick was acquired in the same trade as our 5th pick this draft (79-Jonathan Matsumoto)
Jakub Kovar never played professional hockey in North America. Alex Biega has played in 228 games for the Canucks and Red Wings scoring 4 goals and 35 assists for 39 points, but is known more for his defensive play.
Others in contention: Chad Johnson (125)
Eighth Pick: Round 5 Pick 22 (145)
Original Pick: Jon Rheault (RW)
New Pick: Andrew MacDonald (D) (160)
Rheault played in 5 NHL games for the Panthers tallying no points. Played most of his career in the AHL before going to Europe. I’m gonna get a lot of flack for this pick, but Andrew MacDonald was the best pick. I know, I know, I dislike him too. MacDonald played in 586 NHL games for the Islanders and Flyers scoring 28 goals and 133 assists for 161 points. He has no other mentionable accomplishments besides swindling a 6 year $30 million deal with the Flyers in 2014.
Others in contention: Viktor Stalberg (161), Mathieu Perreault (177)
Ninth Pick: Round 6 Pick 22 (175)
Original Pick: Michael Dupont (G)
New Pick: Leo Komarov (C) (180)
Dupont never played professional hockey in North America. Leo Komarov has turned into a fan favorite and versatile forward over his 457 NHL games with the Maple Leafs and Islanders scoring 62 goals and 100 assists for 162 points, but is known more for his physical play and veteran leadership accruing the nickname “Uncle Leo”. He played in the 2016 NHL All Star Game in Nashville.
Others in contention: Derek Dorsett (189)
Tenth Pick: Round 7 Pick 22 (205)
Original Pick: Andrei Popov (RW)
New Pick: Erik Condra (RW) (211)
Popov never played a game in North America playing in the RSL and the KHL systems. Condra played in 372 NHL games with the Senators and Lightning scoring 40 goals and 59 assists for 99 points.
Others in contention: Will O’Neill (210)
Draft Picks Traded Away
2nd (41-Cody Emmerton)+2nd (47-Shawn Matthais)+Josh Gratton to PHX for Denis Gauthier
Flyers Real 2006 Draft
Claude Giroux
Andreas Nodl
Mike Ratchuk
Denis Bodrov
Jonathan Matsumoto
Joonas Lehtivuori
Jakub Kovar
Jon Rheault
Michael Dupont
Andrei Popov
Flyers New 2006 Draft
Claude Giroux
Jeff Petry
Milan Lucic
Brad Marchand
James Reimer
Matt Beleskey
Alex Biega
Andrew MacDonald
Leo Komarov
Erik Condra
By Noah Caplan (@Phlyers24)
Photo creds: Wikipedia
brotherlypuck.com 