From Vancouver, British Columbia in 2019, the 2020 draft was originally supposed to be hosted in Montréal, Québec, but was held in the NHL Network Studio in Secaucus, New Jersey via video call thanks to the pandemic. The first three would go as follows: Alexis Lafrenière to the New York Rangers, Quinton Byfield to Los Angeles, and Tim Stützle, via Alex Trebek, to Ottawa.
First Pick: Round 1 Pick 23 (23)
Original Pick: Tyson Foerster (RW)
New Pick: Brock Faber (D) (45)
Foerster took a couple of years to get to the NHL, but after seven points in eight NHL games at the end of the 2022-23 season, he looked poised to have a good rookie season. He had a pretty good rookie season, potting 20 goals and 33 points. After finishing second in goals on the Flyers this past year with 25 goals, he sits at 48 goals and 35 assists for 83 points in 166 games. Tyson not only helped on the offensive side of the ice, but he received some votes for the Selke trophy, finishing 37th in voting as a rookie. Foerster also finished seventh in Calder voting.
However, Brock Faber definitely looks like the better pick at this moment. After being drafted by LA, he was traded to Minnesota in the Kevin Fiala trade. Faber would burst onto the scene in his rookie year 2023-24, scoring 47 points and being named the runner-up to Connor Bedard for the Calder Trophy. Faber did take a step back in production this past season, only scoring 29 points, but a right-shot, top-pairing defenseman is exactly what the Flyers needed then and still do. Faber, unsurprisingly, was on the All-Rookie Team and also finished 49th in Lady Byng voting. Then he made Team USA for the Four Nations Face-Off.
Others in contention: Connor Zary (24), Justin Barron (25), Jake Neighbours (26), Brendan Brisson (29), John-Jason Peterka (34), Thomas Bordeleau (38)
Second Pick: Round 2 Pick 23 (54)
Original Pick: Emil Andrae (D)
New Pick: Alexander Nikishin (D) (69)
Andrae had a good rookie season this year, especially given his inconsistent use in the first half of the season before finding more consistent ice time from February through the end of the season. Andrae has played in 46 games with the Flyers, tallying one goal and six assists for seven points, all of which were scored in his 42 games this year.
While the Andrae pick seems to be going well, it could’ve been better. Nikishin made his KHL debut during the 2019-20 season for Spartak Moscow. He would play in at least 20 games for Spartak each of his first three years in the league before being traded to SKA St Petersburg. Yes, where Matvei played. Nikishin would explode for 55 points in 65 games in 2022-23 and bested his points next season with 56 in 67 games. He was named captain of SKA before the 2024-25 season, and while his points dipped, he was still top three in team scoring and just signed his ELC with Carolina. Could you imagine a top pairing of Nikishin and Faber?
Others in contention: Mason Lohrei (58), Will Cuylle (60), Alex Laferriere (83), Nico Daws (84)
Third Pick: Round 4 Pick 1 (94)
Original Pick: Zayde Wisdom (RW)
New Pick: Brett Berard (LW) (134)
This pick was acquired in an October 7, 2020 trade that sent our 4th (116-Eamon Powell) and 5th (147-Jaydon Dureau) rounders in 2020 to Tampa Bay for this pick (DET 4th)
Wisdom had quite an interesting post-draft experience. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020-21 OHL season was cancelled and players like Wisdom were able to play in the AHL early, and Wisdom looked good, especially for an 18-year-old who was just drafted in the fourth round. He put up 18 points in 28 games. Wisdom has yet to make his NHL debut, and after several years in the AHL, he finally bested his point total from four years ago.
Brett Berard, no relation to Bryan, was drafted 40 picks later by the New York Rangers. He’s played in 35 NHL games, all this year, and scored six goals and four assists for 10 points. There’s not much else to really say about Berard, he just happens to have NHL games, and points, which is something you’re lookinng for in these later rounds.
Others in contention: none
Fourth Pick: Round 5 Pick 11 (135)
Original Pick: Elliot Desnoyers (LW)
New Pick: Jakub Dobes (G) (136)
This pick was acquired in an October 7, 2020 trade that sent our 7th (209-Chase McLane) and Montreal’s 7th (202-Gunnarwolfe Fontaine) to Nashville for this pick (NSH 5th)
Desnoyers looked more promising in the first couple years after the draft, including getting his only four NHL games, which he went pointless in, during his first pro season in 2022-23. Besides those four gams, he’s been a regular in the AHL with his point total going down each year. Maybe his brother, Caleb, will join the franchise this year.
Dobes burst onto the scene in Montreal this year due to another season without a true #1 goalie. He started off hot with a shutout in his first game ever and followed it up with four more wins to give him five straight wins to start his career. He’d ultimately end the season with a 7-4-3 record with 2.74 GAA, a .909 sv%, and the one shutout.
Others in contention: Isaak Philips (141), Matt Rempe (165)
Fifth Pick: Round 6 Pick 23 (178)
Original Pick: Connor McClennon (RW)
New Pick: Devon Levi (G) (212)
McClennon never really amounted to much. He never played in the Flyers organization and has played less than 10 pro games between the AHL and ECHL picking up one assist before going to the University of Alberta, where he still plays today.
This one has been the one real no-brainer. Levi’s career is still very young and has been a bit of a roller coaster, but at 23, he is still one of the most hyped up young goalies in the league. Playing in Buffalo takes a toll on everyone, but he started out very strong after completing college and went 5-2-0 in his first seven gams with the Sabres late in the 2022-23 season. He has failed to be that true #1 in net for Buffalo so far as he has an overall record of 17-17-2 with a 3.29 GAA, a .894 sv%, and no shutouts.
Others in contention: none
Draft Picks Traded Away
3rd (85- Maxim Groshev)+2019 2nd (41- Kaeden Korczak) to SJ for Justin Braun
NSH 4th (104-Thimo Nickl)+Kyle Criscuolo to ANA for Derek Grant (Condition was that Anaheim would get the higher of NSH or PHI 4th rounders)
4th (116- Eamon Powell)+5th (147- Jaydon Dureau) to TB for DET 4th (94- Zayde Wisdom)
7th (209- Chase McLane)+MTL 7th (202- Gunnarwolfe Fontaine) to NSH for 5th (135- Elliot Desnoyers)
Flyers’ Real 2020 Draft
Tyson Foerster
Emil Andrae
Zayde Wisdom
Elliot Desnoyers
Connor McClennon
Flyers’ New 2020 Draft
Brock Faber
Alexander Nikishin
Brett Berard
Jakub Dobes
Devon Levi
By Noah Caplan (@Phlyers24)
Photo credit: Wikipedia
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