From Dallas, Texas to Vancouver, British Columbia we see GM Chuck Fletcher in his first draft for the Flyers. The top 3 would go Jack Hughes to New Jersey, Kappo Kakko to the New York Rangers, and Kirby Dach going to Chicago.
First Pick: Round 1 Pick 14 (14)
Original Pick: Cam York (D)
New Pick: Cam York
This pick was acquired in a June 21, 2019 Draft Day trade that sent our 1st (11- Victor Söderström) to Arizona for their 2nd (45-Egor Afanasyev), and this pick
I’m gonna be completely honest here, I immediately put Cole Caufield as the new pick when I started this article years ago not because I didn’t think that York would be bad by any means, but because I believed that Caufield would be a greater impact player, but I’m not so sure about that anymore (at least right now). It’s not by Cole’s fault that he’s had a rough go with injuries but Cam York has looked really solid and poised to be a sneaky good defenseman that will need a larger stage for the rest of the league to take notice. After playing two good years at Michigan, York spent the first two full years of his pro career before making the full jump to the NHL this past season where he put up 10 goals and 20 assists for 30 points, all career highs while playing in all 82 games. In his NHL career, he has played 169 games scoring 15 goals and 45 assists for 60 points. Even though he hasn’t gotten much attention outside of Philly, I believe that’ll change.
Others in contention: Cole Caufield (15), Alex Newhook (16), Peyton Krebs (17), Thomas Harley (18), Ville Heinola (20), Tobias Bjornfot (22), Phillip Tomasino (24), Connor McMichael (25), John Beecher (30), Shane Pinto (32), Arthur Kaliyev (33)
Second Pick: Round 2 Pick 3 (34)
Original Pick: Bobby Brink (RW)
New Pick: Pytor Kochetkov (G) (36)
This pick was acquired in a June 22, 2019 trade that sent Arizona’s 2nd (45-Egor Afanasyev) and New Jersey’s 3rd (65-Alexander Campbell) to Nashville for this pick (NJ 2nd)
Brink started off this year pretty hot with eight points in his first ten games, but then started to taper off just before the scratching and being sent down happened before Brink returned later in the season. He finished the season with 11 goals and 22 assists for 33 points in 57 games for his rookie year, adding to the four assists he had in 2021-22 to bring his career total to 11 goals and 26 assists for 37 points in 67 games. Brink’s future with the club remains unclear, but it was a fine bounce back season after missing most of last year with a hip injury before rehabbing in the AHL.
Kochetkov is also not as proven, but looks to have higher potential than Brink. Goalies also get more grace since you’re not expecting a 23 year old to come over and immediately be the elite starter to a perennial playoff team, but Kochetkov has been stuck behind Raanta and Andersen, although maybe that’ll change soon. Kochetkov will most likely be the goalie on the All-Rookie Team this year as he’s tied with Sam Ersson for wins and shutouts at 23 and 4 respectively, but Kochetkov played 9 less games and had a better sv% and GAA. So far Kochetkov has played in 69 games with a record of 38-20-9 with a .910 sv%, 2.37 GAA, and 8 shutouts. He is the future of Carolina’s net barring anything weird happening.
Others in contention: Nils Höglander (40), Alex Vlasic (43), Nick Robertson (53)
Third Pick: Round 3 Pick 10 (72)
Original Pick: Ronnie Attard (D)
New Pick: Dmitri Voronkov (LW) (114)
Ronnie Attard has only played in 29 NHL games through three seasons, so technically he was a rookie this past year as he’s played in 12+ games twice now. In those 29 games, he has two goals and four assists for six points. Not exactly the best numbers, but we know defensemen aren’t always good to judge by the scoresheet. He does play a good defensive game that shines, but needs more consistency and some more time.
However, Voronkov has finally arrived in North America and Columbus fans couldn’t be happier, especially since he almost left according to rumors but is reportedly happy where he is now. In his rookie year in the NHL he put up 18 goals and 16 assists for 34 points in 75 games and established himself as a true power forward.
Others in contention: Pavel Dorofeyev (79), Anttoni Honka (83), Jordan Spence (95), Matias Maccelli (98)
Fourth Pick: Round 4 Pick 10 (103)
Original Pick: Mason Millman (D)
New Pick: Elmer Söderblom (LW) (159)
Millman has never played more than 15 games in an AHL season, spending most of his playing time in Reading with the Royals. Söderblom isn’t exactly the sexiest pick, but the 6’8 soon-to-be 23-year-old winger got into 21 games where he scored five goals and three assists for eight points for the Red Wings in 2022-23. He spent the 2023-24 season in the AHL getting a better feel for North American ice and is still expected to be a big part of their future even as soon as this upcoming year.
Others in contention: Arseny Gritsyuk (129)
Fifth Pick: Round 6 Pick 10 (165)
Original Pick: Egor Serdyuk (RW)
New Pick: Valtteri Puustinen (RW) (203)
Serdyuk has played one KHL game in his career and has mostly spent his time in the VHL (think the AHL for the KHL). Puustinen had a pretty good rookie season playing in 52 games tallying five goals and 15 assists for 20 points; only having played one previous NHL game during the 2021-22 season for the Penguins where he had one assist.
Others in contention: none
Sixth Pick: Round 6 Pick 14 (169)
Original Pick: Roddy Ross (G)
New Pick: Rafaël Harvey-Pinard (LW) (201)
This pick was acquired in a January 11, 2019 trade. that sent Jordan Weal to Arizona for Jacob Graves and this pick.
Ross has played three seasons at the University of Saskatchewan where he has played decently. He is currently a UFA having never signed a contract. Rafaël Harvey-Pinard has carved out a decent depth career in Montreal to start his time in the NHL. He has played 83 games over the past three seasons with the Habs and has scored 17 goals and added 14 assists for 31 points. Not eye popping numbers, but for a seventh-round pick that broke into the league at 24, that’s pretty good.
Others in contention: none
Seventh Pick: Round 7 Pick 10 (196)
Original Pick: Bryce Brodzinski (RW)
New Pick: Dustin Wolf (G) (214)
Brodzinski had a pretty good college career and captained the University of Minnesota this past year during his fifth year option. After the Gophers were eliminated, it came out that Bryce would probably be heading to free agency due to limited contract spots available for the Flyers. It is unknown if he’ll be picked up. Dustin Wolf is the future in net for Calgary and could be a starter very soon. In 18 games with the Flames, the 24-year-old netminder has a 7-7-1 record with a .896 sv% and a 3.03 GAA. Those don’t sound super promising, but on a bad Calgary team that is only going to get better and a larger role can see Wolf shine in the coming years.
Others in contention: Juuso Parssinen (210), Massimo Rizzo (216)
Draft Picks Traded Away
1st (11-Victor Söderström) to ARZ for 1st (14-Cam York)+2nd (45-Egor Afanasyev)
2nd (41-Kaeden Korczak)+2020 3rd (Maxim Groshev) to SJ for Justin Braun
5th (134-Harrison Blaisdell) to WPG for Kevin Hayes
MTL 7th (201-Rafael Harvey-Pinard) to MTL for 2020 7th (202-Gunnarwolfe Fontaine)
Flyers Real 2019 Draft
Cam York
Bobby Brink
Ronnie Attard
Mason Millman
Egor Serdyuk
Roddy Ross
Bryce Brodinski
Flyers New 2019 Draft
Cam York
Pytor Kochetkov
Dmitri Voronkov
Elmer Söderblom
Valtteri Puustinen
Rafaël Harvey-Pinard
Dustin Wolf
By Noah Caplan (@Phlyers24)
Photo creds: Wikipedia
brotherlypuck.com 