Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers Should Avoid Carter Yakemchuk with 12th Pick in 2024 NHL Draft
If there’s one position the Philadelphia Flyers have fortified, at least for now, it’s the right defense position. The Flyers drafted Oliver Bonk in the 2023 NHL Draft and acquired Jamie Drysdale from the Anaheim Ducks in January in the Cutter Gauthier trade, and Travis Sanheim and Rasmus Ristolainen have multiple years left on their contracts. Still, draftniks have the Flyers selecting defenseman Carter Yakemchuk in the 2024 NHL Draft.
Right now, that just doesn’t work for the Flyers.
And to be clear, this isn’t to say Yakemchuk isn’t a talented player, because he is. There’s a reason he’s being considered as a borderline top-10 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. This is about Yakemchuk fitting in with the Flyers’ needs, something that mock drafters have apparently disregarded.
The Flyers added Matvei Michkov in last year’s draft, and Michkov easily projects as a top-line forward if and when he makes his way over to North America from the KHL. The problem is that he’s the only forward prospect in the organization with that upside.
In contrast, defense prospects like Emil Andrae, Ronnie Attard, and Adam Ginning have already played in NHL games. Hunter McDonald is probably the closest to joining them, and the Flyers remain excited about the less-talked-about Helge Grans and Ethan Samson.
If Yakemchuk is the best player available when the Flyers are on the clock with the No. 12 overall pick, that’s one thing. It would be another thing to pass on historical producers at the forward position, namely Cole Eiserman and Konsta Helenius. Those two can provide the Flyers with something that they don’t already have in the organization–a true sniper, or a two-way, top-six center.
Yakemchuk can bring offense of his own; he scored 30 goals and 41 assists in 66 games with the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen this season. He’s also 6-foot-3. Yakemchuk would undoubtedly make the Flyers a better team in the future, but not to the same degree as Eiserman or Helenius.
In addition, the Flyers have the Florida Panthers’ first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. Although that selection is going to fall all the way back to the very end of Round 1, they can still use it to fortify their defense if that is still an identified need.
With the forward cupboard still barren one year into the rebuild, the Flyers need to bypass Yakemchuk and other-right shot defensemen and instead focus on adding high-upside forwards that can help them sooner rather than later.
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I really hope that Eiserman falls to them at 12, but my gut is telling me he’s going to NJ at 10.
I would have to agree, we still need to have a further look at about 6 prospects we already have on d.
There is some insane stuff on the internet and this certainly qualifies for that bucket. Yakemchuk is EXACTLY who they should pick should he be available at that spot. He’s got size, some snarl and is the coveted right-handed shot. Fact is that the Flyers basically have one quality defensive prospect – Oliver Bonk. No knock on Emil Andrae, but the odds are against him regarding him having any fruitful NHL career. Ginning appears to be headed to Sweden and Grans looks like more fizzle than sizzle. No one else enters the conversation.
Most importantly, having a horse or three in your stable on the back is the best way to build a quality team. Dallas, arguably the most complete team in the NHL, has promoted Heiskanen, Harley and Lindell and has Bichsel about to make the jump.
Lastly, there are always a bounty of forwards available every July 1. The market for defenders is usually far more meager and therefore far more competitive in terms of pricing which impacts the capology of a team. To add, a quality defenceman packs a punch in terms of trade value – particularly one that owns a right-handed shot.
There is zero reason to look beyond Yakemchuck, if available. The while the perceived bigger need is down the middle, that can be remedied in other ways. Fact is that the C position in this draft has elite talent and then a massive drop after the top three, maybe four. Picking a player that should deservedly go between 20 and 25 at 12 does the franchise zero good.
💯 agree. You can never go wrong with a big rugged back-end.