Grading The Flyers’ Top 10 Draft Picks Through the Years

Since 1972, the Flyers have made 15 draft picks in the top 10. In those 51 drafts, the Flyers had the overall top pick once, in 1975, when they were two-time defending Stanley Cup champions.

We mention this because in the last two years the Flyers have drafted in the top 7. And for a team on the mend, they are counting heavily on Cutter Gauthier and Matvei Michkov to perform at a level commensurate with their draft position.

Two of the Flyers’ top-10 picks have been Hockey Hall of Famers — Bill Barber in 1972 and Peter Forsberg in 1991, although the bulk of Forsberg’s accomplishments were in Colorado.

Here is a look at the Flyers’ top-10 picks since 1972, with Philly Hockey Now grades for each player:

2023: Matvei Michkov (7 overall)

Michkov was regarded as the second-best player in the draft, behind Chicago’s Connor Bedard. Michkov has attributes you need in a star player — speed, smarts, great shot. He’s not big at 6-foot, 159 pounds, but that doesn’t seem to concern anyone.

GRADE: Unknown. Potential grade: A

2022: Cutter Gauthier (5)

Gauthier had a strong freshman season at Boston College and was outstanding in the World Championships going against older players. Gauthier has size and a quick, accurate shot that right now looks like it belongs in the NHL.

GRADE: Unknown. Potential grade: A

2017: Nolan Patrick (2)

Patrick’s career has been devastated by injury. He sat out two entire seasons — one in Philadelphia and one in Vegas. Teams expect a No. 2 overall pick to be a difference maker. He was released by Vegas so his future is uncertain.

GRADE: F

2015: Ivan Provorov (7)

Provorov played seven seasons in Philadelphia. His play slumped the last few seasons and he was traded to the Blue Jackets this offseason. He played 532 games (65 goals, 152 assists, 217 points). The change of scenery should serve him well.

GRADE: B-

2011: Sean Couturier (8)

Couturier, 30, has played 11 seasons with the Flyers. He missed last season after undergoing two back surgeries. When healthy, Couturier is one of hockey’s best two-way players. He’s had two 30-goal seasons and has played 721 games (180 goals, 280 assists, 460 points). He won the Selke Trophy in 2019-20 for the NHL’s best defensive forward.

GRADE: A-

2007: James van Riemsdyk (2)

JVR, 34, had two stints with the Flyers. His speciality was clogging the front of the net, especially on the power play.  He signed with the Bruins as a free agent earlier this month. He played 527 games with the Flyers (146 goals, 151 assists, 297 points). He also scored 154 goals in 413 games in Toronto. Like with Patrick, though, the Flyers didn’t get a franchise-altering talent out of the second overall pick.

GRADE: B-

2002: Joni Pitkanen (4)

The defenseman played three seasons with the Flyers before being traded to Edmonton in 2007 for Joffrey Lupus and Jason Smith. Pitkanen played 206 games in Philly (25 goals, 91 assists, 116 points). He played one season with the Oilers and finished his career with five seasons with the Hurricanes.

GRADE: C

1992: Ryan Sittler (7)

The son of Hockey Hall of Famer Darryl Sittler never played an NHL game. Ryan played in the minors from 1994-99.

GRADE: F

1991: Peter Forsberg (6)

Forsberg was one of hockey’s most talented players, who didn’t play for the Flyers until he was age 32. Forsberg was part of the massive trade to the Quebec Nordiques that brought Eric Lindros to Philadelphia. The Nordiques moved to Colorado in Forsberg’s second season, where he won two Stanley Cups with the Avalanche. He was the NHL’s MVP in 2002-03. He played two seasons in Philly (30 goals, 85 assists, 115 points in 100 games).

GRADE: A (just not for the Flyers)

1990: Mike Ricci (4)

Ricci played two seasons with the Flyers before being traded to Quebec as part of the Lindros deal. Ricci won the Stanley Cup in Colorado in 1996. He played two seasons in Philly (41 goals, 56 assists, 97 points, 146 games). He played 16 NHL seasons and scored 243 goals and 362 assists for 605 points in 1,099 games.

GRADE: B+ (just not for the Flyers)

1982: Ron Sutter (4)

One of the Sutter twins, Ron played nine seasons with the Flyers. He was a solid two-way player who was a Flyers captain. He played nine seasons in Philly (137 goals, 223 assists, 360 points, in 555 games) in a 19-year NHL career.

GRADE: B

1978: Behn Wilson (6)

Wilson was one of the NHL’s top fighters … and a good defenseman, too. He played five seasons with the Flyers (39 goals, 155 assists, 214 points, 873 penalty minutes in 339 games), and also played four seasons with the Blackhawks. He was on the Flyers’ 1980 Stanley Cup finalist team.

GRADE: C+

1978: Ken Linseman (7)

Linseman brought blazing speed to a Flyers team that never really had much. He played five years in Philly and was on the 1980 team that went to the Stanley Cup finals. His Flyers career lasted 269 games (73 goals, 184 assists, 257 points). He won the Cup with the 1984 Oilers and had a 14-season career.

GRADE: B

1975: Mel Bridgman (1)

The No. 1 overall pick played seven seasons in Philly and appeared in two Cup finals. He had 119 goals, 205 assists, 324 points in 462 games with the Flyers. He was a rugged center who played with an edge and played 14 NHL seasons.

GRADE: B

1972: Bill Barber (7)

Barber played all 12 seasons in Philadelphia. He was on the Flyers’ famous LCB Line with Bobby Clarke and Reggie Leach. Barber was on the Flyers’ two Stanley Cup championship teams. Barber played 903 games and scored 420 goals, 463 assists, 883 points. He was never a minus-player in any season and finished plus-312 in his career.

GRADE: A

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