Entering the 2022 NHL Draft Lottery, the Philadelphia Flyers had the fourth-best odds.
Now, the Flyers will select fifth overall. When Chuck Fletcher takes the podium at the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, he’ll announce the name of a potential high-end prospect. At fifth overall, a high volume scorer is available, and the best defenseman in the class could be too. What will be the focus on draft day? Will Philadelphia select the best player available, address a team need, or simultaneously both?
Recently, Matt Stinger and I did a deep dive into the likeliest prospects Fletcher will consider based on the current draft odds position. It already was hard to miss a top-tier draft prospect based on the fourth-best draft odds position. Now, with the fifth overall pick, it’ll be impossible.
Seriously, Fletcher would have to go out of his way to ruin this. While the general manager of the Flyers, he’s hit during the draft. His decisions on draft day have panned out better than his during free agency. On July 7th, I have all the faith in Fletcher that he’ll secure a weapon for Philadelphia.
Let’s take a look at the brief history of notable selections made by Fletcher in Philadelphia:
Flyers 2019 NHL Entry Draft
- Cam York; 14th overall
- Bobby Brink; 34th overall
- Ronnie Attard; 72nd overall
York, Brink, and Attard all received an extended look during the fallout of the 2021-2022 season. Unfortunately for York, he didn’t finish the campaign healthy, but all signs point to him beginning with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2022-2023. Brink, a playmaker, adapted to the NHL, revitalizing some veterans like James van Riemsdyk. Attard will be in the AHL next season but has already shown he can adapt against top-notch NHL teams.
Flyers 2020 NHL Entry Draft
- Tyson Foerster; 23rd overall
- Zayde Wisdom; 94th overall
- Elliot Desnoyers; 135th overall
All of these prospects show promise in terms of forechecking and scoring. Foerster finished 2021-2022 in the OHL with the Barrie Colts, notching four points (1G, 3A) in six playoff games. Wisdom finished 2021-2022 with the Kingston Frontenacs, totaling fourteen points (4G, 10A.) Desnoyers spent all of 2021-2022 with the Halifax Mooseheads, including three playoff games where he scored seven points (1G, 6A.) Only Wisdom and Desnoyers are actively competing in their respective playoffs; the Mooseheads could win their series tomorrow, and the Frontenacs could take a series lead tonight.
Flyers 2021 NHL Entry Draft
- Samu Tuomaala; 46th overall
Tuomaala dressed for two games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in 2021-2022. He was loaned to the Liiga, representing Sport, but finishing into the postseason with Jukurit. KooKoo eliminated Jukurit in the playoff quarterfinals. During the postseason run, Tuomaala appeared in one playoff game for Jukurit. The Philadelphia Flyers recently hired Sami Kapanen as a scout, expecting to work closely with Tuomaala.
(Devin Manky/Icon Sportswire)
