As the first quarter of the Flyers’ season and the first third of the NCAA ice hockey season has concluded, let’s check in on how the 2019 Flyers draft picks are fairing for their respective teams.
The Draft
Back in June, teams around the NHL gathered to draft their futures.
The Flyers opened up their draft by selecting defenseman Cam York with the 14th-overall pick, passing up on highly praised goal scorer, Cole Caulfield. They went on to draft winger Bobby Brink with the 34th-overall pick and D-man Ronnie Attard with pick #72.
Catch the scouting reports of these three studs: here.
The team also drafted:
- MASON MILLMAN (defenseman, 4th round, 103 overall)
- EGOR SERDYUK (winger, 6th round, 165 overall)
- RODDY ROSS (goalie, 6th round, 169 overall)
- BRYCE BRODZINSKI (winger, 7th round, 196 overall)
For the sake of following trends in history, as typically NHL players are drafted in the first three rounds, let’s zone in on how York, Brink, and Attard are doing so far this season.
Cam York
The stud two-way defender is making an impact for the Michigan Wolverines so far this season. He is currently tied for third on the team with five points and is even in plus/minus.
York has played in only 10 of the Wolverines’ 14 games so far since returning from injury. While making a huge offensive impact for Michigan, the 18-year-old freshman has solidified the Wolverines’ blue line. Along with this, he has quarterbacked the team’s powerplay unit and has only taken one penalty so far this season.
He is producing well offensively, and can consistently play a ton of minutes. His defense-first mindset allows the Wolverines to transition to offense seamlessly. He earns the right to play in the offensive zone with his solid defense.
2019-2020 Flyers comparison: Ivan Provorov
Bobby Brink
After a dominating offensive campaign for Sioux City in the low scoring USHL, Brink earned his name being called at the draft. Despite his lack of smooth-skating, Brink dominates offensively for the Denver Pioneers.
So far this season, Brink has 11 points through 12 games in a Pioneer jersey. He has been a threat on the wing so far, but he gains high praise from his hockey IQ. His vision and knowledge of the game are remarkable. He showcases this below, in a filthy snipe against Western Michigan.
Look to see how Brink opens up his hips to get the goalie guessing, which opens up the short side, leading to an absolute snipe.
2019-2020 Flyers comparison: Sean Couturier
Ronnie Attard
Ronnie Attard brings a big presence to the Western Michigan blue line. Not only is he a lockdown defender, but he stands at 6’3, 210 pounds. This brings him an edge, as he uses his size to an advantage, outmuscling much smaller opposing wingers. This does lead to many penalties, though, so he will need to work on discipline if he wants to make the league.
So far this season, the D-man has netted four goals and one assist for the Broncos. This comes as a surprise, however, as Attard is more scouted for his defensive capabilities. As he holds a very aggressive strategy, one where he refuses to give up the blue line. His strength is refusing entry into his own zone, which disturbs opposing offenses.
His big shot from the point, yet the stay-at-home mentality allows him to hold down the fort for Western Michigan.
2019-2020 Flyers comparison: Matt Niskanen
According to many NHL scouts, the Flyers picked up a couple of potential steals in Brink and Attard. The Flyers need to figure out a solid blue line, which first-year general manager Chuck Fletcher did during the 2019 draft.
The future is bright, Flyers fans.
Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
