Philadelphia Flyers
Carchidi: 3 Random Flyers Thoughts, Including Draft Blunder (It may surprise you)
Random Flyers thoughts as the NHL season reaches the quarter pole:
1. The 2017 NHL draft has always been a hot topic among Flyers fans and the team’s No. 2 overall pick. But the SECOND round deserves more questioning.
Revisionists point to that draft and complain that the Philadelphia Flyers took Nolan Patrick at No. 2 overall. Most top scouts around the league, however, had him No. 1 or 2.
Lots of people complain that the Flyers didn’t pick defenseman Cale Makar (he went to Colorado at No. 4 overall), who appears to be the second coming of Bobby Orr. Or that they bypassed on Miro Heiskanen, a standout defenseman who went to Dallas at No. 3.
But, again, it’s hard to fault the Flyers because scouts universally loved Patrick, and you couldn’t have foreseen all the head injuries/concussions that have plagued his NHL career.
But the real crime was in the second round, where general manager Ron Hextall and his staff took left winger Isaac Ratcliffe at No. 35 overall — four picks before Dallas grabbed left winger Jason Robertson. In fact, Hextall traded up nine spots with Arizona and gave up second-, third- and fourth-rounders to get Ratcliffe.
Ratcliffe has played just 10 NHL games in his career, and is now struggling in the AHL. This year, he cleared waivers before going to the Phantoms.
Robertson, a power forward, has 16 goals and 31 points in 20 games this season for Dallas. He had 41 goals last season, and is just the type of finisher and elite power-play performer the Flyers lack.
2. It’s becoming clear that it’s going to be impossible to evaluate the jobs done by the Flyers and their coaching staff this season.
The reason, of course, is injuries. Lots of injuries. Most of them to key players, including their entire top line and their best defenseman.
How do you fairly evaluate the players and coaches when almost everyone is playing on a higher line than usual? Third-liners are on the first line (hello, Morgan Frost), some players on special teams have been elevated only because of injuries, and players who should be in the AHL are with the big team.
The good news is that many players are getting experience they wouldn’t have received, and the Flyers are finding out who they want — or don’t want — as part of their future.
3. Scott Laughton, James van Riemsdyk, and Travis Konecny should be back in a couple weeks. Is that good or bad for the Flyers?
Good: The Philadelphia Flyers, who have lost eight straight heading into Friday’s game against visiting Pittsburgh, will be more competitive.
Bad: Philly has gained ground in its draft position because of its skid, but the return of those three forwards — plus Sean Couturier in January or February — will probably take the Flyers out of the Connor Bedard running.
But remember, this is a very deep draft, filled with generational players and future All-Stars. So even if the Philadelphia Flyers finish at, say, No. 5 in the draft lottery, they are going to get a great prospect,
The future will look better if, like in the last draft, they make a smart top-5 selection — or wherever they select. GM Chuck Fletcher drafted a winner when he took center Cutter Gauthier at No. 5 overall in the 2022 draft. Don’t be surprised if Gauthier, who is off to a terrific start at Boston College, is the Flyers’ No. 3 center next season.
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The Ratcliffe selection over Robertson is a great observation, Sam. Robertson is skilled and productive. The trade up and selection of Ratcliffe underscores one problem with the Flyers’ draft thinking: They see size and get excited, and choose players based primarily on that, just as they did with Sam Morin.
I really don’t fault them for selecting Patrick; just about everyone had him as a first or second pick, although I remember one pundit saying “he’s been injured every year since he was 13.” That would have given me pause and strong consideration to look at what else was available. Unfortunately, they traded Brayden Schenn, assuming Patrick would be good, and then didn’t do well with the two first-round picks they received for him.
How blessed this franchise was when Keith Allen was GM!
Size is ALWAYS the paramount trait they this franchise looks for in prospects. It’s been that way since 1975. It’s no wonder that they haven’t won a Stanley Cup since then.
At that particular draft, before they “won” the lottery, I was hoping the Flyers would pursue a power forward to add physicality to the roster—as Simmonds at that point was the one guy providing any of that.
Patrick proved to be a major disruption for the state of the Flyers’ perceived depth at center. It was Giroux, Schenn, and Couturier through the first 3 lines, and Laughton was doing some work at center on the 4th line. How the team has fallen since then. I like Hextall, but MAN, those whiffs have basically killed the organization.
As for Ratcliffe, I saw him as that physical power forward who had some puck skills. 50 goals and slipping through the first round? I thought he was a steal.
This goes back to my concern about how the team develops players. Why so many whiffs? Is it possible the scouting is okay and that the Flyers simply fail to harness that talent? I don’t think Caufield would have had the same level of success if drafted by the Flyers—especially if coaches punished and scratched him for not playing a complete, responsible 200-foot game. I wonder if that’s what happened to Frost and Ratcliffe.
Definitely Frost! He has skill Av killed him and Torts isn’t helping!
Sam, let’s say it (write it) this organization is run by a media guy (Dave Scott). He has a collection of front office dinosaurs. Also, please stop writing the Cutter Gauthier is a “hit” from last years draft! Boston College, are you for real! 3-4 years ago I heard the flyers prospects were stacked. Today, they have nothing of real value. To speculate that Cutter will be on the big club next year is irresponsible on your part!
Cutter Gauthier has not established himself as a “winner.” Fletcher could have drafted his defensive cornerstone the for the next 15 seasons with RIGHT HANDED Czech defenseman David Jiricek, taken one pick later than Gauthier by Columbus, who is tearing up the AHL, a professional league, while Gauthier is playing in college. Another major draft blunder by this wretched organ-I-zation.
I wrote it at the time – Jiricek was the pick to make as a skilled right-handed defenseman. How many forwards have the Flyers drafted who scored a lot in junior hockey and then did little in the NHL? It is too early to know how both players will develop but right now Gauthier has 9 points in 9 games with BC and is minus-5. Not exactly lighting it up. Again, it’s early, but I will bet Jiricek will turn out to be another one who got away.
So Sam sounds like you figured out Fletchers strategy. Blame the failure once again on injuries and wait for that Contract extension
Ownership change is the only first step that needs to take place. The Roberts family couldn’t care less about winning, the team, the fans . Stop attending stop wearing the hats and shirts stop watching on tv until they sell to a owner who wants to win like Middleton does
2018 was a bad choice as well. 2nd pick in the 1st rd (Jay O’Brien) should have been K’Andre Miller. At the time they wanted to load up on forwards but Miller had known upside. 2019 with York over Caufield seems to be a bad call as well. Thought was they had loaded up on forwards and wanted skilled D. Imagine them now with Miller & Caufield instead of O’Brien & York.
The inept Team you see on the ice is a Direct Result of really Bad Ownership ; having a really Bad GM and Bad Scouting Dept. Until THAT changes; the Team on the ice will be mediocre at best. All i can say is: Fire Fletcher. It wont Win the Flyers the Cup; but at least it would be a step in the right direction.