Round 6; Pick 178; RW Cameron Butler
Cameron Butler may be the only selection based purely on development and depth for the Philadelphia Flyers in this draft. I do not have him penciled in to replace anyone in particular in the next few seasons. Butler does offer depth as a role player from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms before becoming a fixture with the Flyers’ main roster. I would expect Butler to be a two-way system player. He’s an evenly balanced winger on offense and plays big when skating with momentum.
Round 7; Pick 202; G Nico Daws
The Philadelphia Flyers need to become a goaltending factory. We have realized just how important it is to have a young, quality goaltender in Carter Hart. Brian Elliott will not be with the Flyers long-term. It’s time to draft players who can develop and replace him in the backup role. In a draft where defensemen and forwards will rule the selections, the best goaltender could be available in the final round.
Nico Daws finished 2019-2020 with a 23-8-6 record, 92.4% save percentage, and a 2.48 goals-against average. His most recent season with the Guelph Storm in the OHL is the best of his hockey career. Daws catches with the left hand and led the OHL in save percentage in 2019-2020. Standing at 6’4″, Daws challenges shooters at the top of the crease with quick lateral movement and good rebound control. His NHL comparison is Connor Hellebuyck, who happens to be the NHL’s 2019-2020 Vezina Trophy winner.
Round 7; Pick 209; LD Aidan De La Gorgendiere
Using their final pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers could be thinking about depth after Robert Hagg is secured by the Seattle Kraken in their expansion draft. Aidan De La Gorgendiere played on the Saskatoon Blades in the WHL. A left-handed shooter, De La Gorgendiere is another playmaking defenseman. His 28 points in 63 games were assist heavy. Defensively, he is arguable the most reliable from his WHL draft class.
Aidan De La Gorgendiere could be a gem in the final round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He locates breakaway passes to generate scoring opportunities. De La Gorgendiere has a knack of disrupting passing lanes to benefit the powerplay and penalty kill. He’s a complete defenseman with a capable 200ft game.
Photo by Christopher Mast/Icon Sportswire
