The upcoming NHL Draft has Philadelphia Flyers fans pumped and ready to go and for good reason, as the team holds two first round picks of the 2018 NHL Draft. This has the billing to be the most anticipated draft in recent memory for the organization.
Finally, the fans can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and they hope to rejoice with a parade down Broad Street in a few years. People can already hear the voice of the iconic Gene Hart saying, “Ladies and Gentlemen, the Flyers are going to win the Stanley Cup! The Flyers win the Stanley Cup! The Flyers win the Stanley Cup! The Flyers have won the Stanley Cup!.” This draft can be one key to the Flyers immediate success. Without further delay here is my seven round Flyers Mock draft. Let’s go Flyers duh-duh-duh-da-duh.
Round 1: (Pick 14) LW, Joel Farabee
For the second straight year. The Flyers draft a stud with their first pick. This pick was a toss-up between a Right-Handed Defenseman in Bode Wilde, Barrett Hayton, or Farabee. Farabee’s blazing speed, and lethal wrist shot are just too hard for the orange and black to pass up.
Farabee had a coming out party for the US National U18 Team for the USDP in the 2016-17 season. For the season, he amassed 8 goals, and 11 assists for a total of 19 points in 22 games played. This really put him on the map as a player to be reckoned with.
In the 2017-18 season for the US National U18 Team and now Captain of the ship, Farabee enjoyed a career year by registering 33 goals, and 43 assists for a total of 76 points in 62 games played. He really did everything that was asked of him from the coaching staff.
If a person has watched Farabee play for the National Team, then one would notice his smooth silky hands. He is a natural goal scorer, blows by Defenders, and knows how to put the biscuit in the basket. Farabee has evolved into a solid two-way player at his young age, and there is little doubt he will be a mainstay in the NHL.
This pick yet again shows the NHL that Flyers will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come, as Farabee stocks the Flyers cupboard on the Wing. The proud orange clad Philly fans will have plenty to cheer about when they announce Farabee’s name with the 14th pick, and there will be plenty of Let’s Go Flyers chants to along with the cheering, as well.
Round 1: (Pick 19) RHD, Bode Wilde
This pick is a valuable strong pick in the First Round. The Flyers are in desperate need of a Right-Handed Defenseman with skill.
Wilde stands at 6’2″, and is a 196 pound beast. He’s a big skilled Defenseman that plays a consistent game. Wilde can clear the porch with the best of them, and Flyers fans know full well the team is dire need of someone who possesses that skill.
Flyers 2018 NHL Draft Profiles: Getting to know first round target RHD Bode Wilde
The young prospect enjoyed a career year for the US National U18 Team in the USDP in 2017-18. For the season, he tallied 12 goals, and 29 assists for 41 points in 61 games played. He’s not flashy, but Wilde does a good job with transitioning out of the Defensive zone.
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Round 2: (Pick 50) C, LW, Riley Stotts
Stotts is a sturdy power Center/Winger, and is willing to take a beating on his way to the net. He picks his spot in the front of the net, and places his stick in the right position to tip pucks home.
Flyers 2018 Draft Profiles: Catching up with second round stud Riley Stotts
The Flyers could benefit from a fearless player that is willing to sacrifice his body for a dirty goal. If one saw Stotts play this past season for the Calgary Hitmen, then they would have noticed his good pair of hands. Stotts has a lethal wrist shot, to go with his good vision of the ice, as well. For the season, he registered 17 goals, and 24 assists for a total of 41 points in 47 games played for the Hitmen, after being traded from the Swift Current Broncos.
Round 4: (Pick 112) D, Xavier Bouchard
Bouchard is a 6’3″, 190 pound lumberjack that plays for Baie-Comeau. While playing for the Baie-Comeau he has really become a force to be reckoned with.
The Baie-Comeau product, Bouchard is a skilled Defenseman that makes his players better. He has great vision, and has the ability to find the man that nobody knows is open.
Bouchard can change gears quickly with ease when he has to. For the 2017-18 season he registered 3 goals, and 18 assists for a total of 21 points in 65 games played. He really is a solid two-way Defenseman, that can transition out of the Defensive zone smoothly. Bouchard’s passes are crisp, and are right on the tape.
Round 5: (Pick 127) C, Zach Solow
Solow is an American born player, who was the USHL’s top scorer for the 2016-17 season, while playing for the Dubuque Fighting Saints. Solow typically ran the offense and power play for the Saints throughout his tenure for them.
Flyers Draft: Getting to know potential third-round target, C Zach Solow
The Fighting Saints product, Solow is an Offensively skilled player that makes his linemates better. Solow has great vision of the ice, and has the ability to find the man like he has eyes in the back of his head. Solow committed to the Northeastern University Huskies before the 2017-18 season began.
Solow may be undersized, but he’s strong and will try to finish his checks. He can change gears quickly, and will outmaneuver defensemen. For the 2017-18 season with the Huskies, he potted 5 goals, and 21 assists for a total of 26 points in 38 games played. Moreover, Solow was a whopping plus 9 to boot. Simply put, Solow does it all.
Round 5: (Pick 143) C, Kyle Topping
This dazzling playmaker in Topping was asked to take on a bigger role during his second season with the Kelowna Rockets. Well, Topping did just that en route to a career season.
Flyers 2018 Draft Profiles: Catching up with mid-round hidden gem, Center Kyle Topping
Topping finished fifth on the team in scoring by amassing 22 goals, and 43 assists for a total of 65 points in 66 games played. He finished just 7 points shy of Flyers prospect Carsen Twarynski. Topping is a quick skater with great vision of the ice. He would be hard for Hextall to pass up at this point in the draft.
Round 6: (Pick 174) LW, Anderson Macdonald
Macdonald is a smooth skating Left Winger with a ton of offensive upside. After just playing one season for the Moncton Wildcats in 2017-18, he really showed his composure on the ice by taking on a larger role as the season wore on.
For the 2017-18 season for the Wildcats, Macdonald registered 27 goals, and 18 assists for a total of 45 points in 58 games played. He was really rock solid all season for the Wildcats, as Macdonald showed he can put the biscuit in the net. Macdonald would be a hidden gem at this point in the draft.
Round 7: (Pick 190) G, Jordan Kooy
Kooy is a tall, lumberjack goaltender. He took the back seat for the London Knights as a backup netminder to Joseph Raaymakers. In two season’s for the Knights, Kooy has posted an 18-10-1 record, with a 2.91 GAA, and a .911 save percentage in 35 games played.
The young prospect in Kooy looked far more composed in net from the start of the year in 2017-18. Kooy has a lot of size in net, and has the ability to cut off the angles well. He can improve upon his rebound control, and his ability to steal a game. Kooy has the ability to be a draft day steal, as he stated to us this past Friday in an interview, “Chicken Parmesean is my go to. I’m always an upbeat guy, love playing hockey.” (See the full-interview next Friday). The Flyers have no need to rush his development with the likes of Anthony Stolarz, Alex Lyon, Carter Hart, Felix Sandstrom, and Kirill Ustimenko waiting in the wings.
Round 7: (Pick 203) LW, Samuel Fagemo
Fagemo is a fast skating Winger, who appears to be a natural goal scorer. He learned a lot from his rookie season with the Frolunda HC J20 in the Super Elite League in 2016-17. For the season, he registered 1 goal, and 1 assist for a total of 2 points in 8 games played. Fagemo was just getting his feet wet for the tough competition ahead.
At age 18, Fagemo battled injuries, but enjoyed a stellar sophomore season for the Frolunda HC J20. He set career highs in goals (19), assists (11), for a total of 30 points in 37 games played. Fagemo showed his skating, good hands, and playmaking abilities. This young prospect will need time to grow, but as time goes along he could really develop into a hidden gem for the Flyers.
Round 7: (Pick 205) D, Christian Krygier
Krygier is a smooth skating defenseman that is a steady, stay at home Defenseman for now. After just playing two seasons for the Lincoln Stars in the USHL, he really showed his composure on the ice by taking on a larger role as the seasons wore on.
For the 2017-18 season, Krygier registered 0 goals, and 8 assists for a total of 8 points in 48 games played. He was rock solid defensively all season for the Stars, and he managed to finish with a plus 10 rating. Krygier would be a value pick at this point in the draft, as he comes from a successful family hockey background. His dad played professional hockey for a number of years, and Krygier leaves little doubt he could develop into a draft day steal.
Flyers 2018 Draft Profiles: Q&A with Sleeper defenseman Christian Krygier
This mock draft does not include trades. This doesn’t mean the Flyers aren’t making any trades at the Draft. However, predicting picks is hard enough, and it becomes even dicier with predicting trades.
Mandatory Photo Credit: Kevin Hoffman/Getty Images North America
