The Philadelphia Flyers selected Cole Knuble, an RW, with the 103rd overall pick in the fourth round in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
It is a last name familiar to Philadelphia. His father, Mike, played five seasons with the Flyers over two stints, one from 2005-2009 and the other in 2012-2013, wrapping up his NHL career spanning 16 seasons. Mike Knuble dressed in the Orange and Black 338 times in his career, more than any other franchise he played for, totaling 229 points (118G, 111A) with a +25 rating.
Cole was eligible for the 2022 NHL Entry Draft but wasn’t selected. He was on the Flyers’ radar, but there were reasonable concerns regarding his skating. He wasn’t drafted in 2022 but re-entered into the 2023 NHL Entry Draft to hear his name called by Daniel Briere.
With the Fargo Force last season, Knuble was an alternate captain, tallying 66 points (30G, 36A) in 57GP with a +31 rating. He averaged a point per game in the USHL postseason, adding another nine points (6G, 3A) in as many. Knuble was the captain of the USA U19 team at the WJAC-19, totaling nine points (3G, 6A) en route to earning the WJAC-19 Championship. Next season, he is committed to the University of Notre Dame.
Knuble worked on his overall game, making the Flyers confident in selecting him off the board at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. He is a playmaker who excels in the offensive zone. Another critical element in his game with the puck is his aggressiveness. Knuble battles at the crease, screening shooting lanes for the goaltender and setting deflections.
On the powerplay, Knuble shows his strength along the boards and the ability to score with range. His shot improved throughout 2022-2023. However, his greatest strength on the ice is his hockey IQ. Knuble is always finding ways to make constant improvements to his game.
He finished his first Flyers Development Camp at the same rink where he first learned to play hockey as a kid. When Knuble heard his name called by Briere, it brought back memories from his childhood:
“It meant a lot. It brought back some memories for sure of my time here when I was young. This is where I learned to play hockey; learned to skate. It was a big honor and I was really excited, really happy.”
Cole Knuble; 7/2/2023
Committed to the University of Notre Dame, Knuble wanted to further his development, hoping to make an impact, generating wins for the team.
“I wanna’ have an impact. I wanna’ be a really big impact on the team as a freshman and help us win. Continue to develop as a player and person, those are the biggest goals.”
Cole Knuble; 7/2/2023
Life came full circle for Knuble over the last few weeks. He learned how to play hockey at the Flyers Training Center, watched his father play for the Flyers, and now he completed his first Flyers Development Camp at the Flyers Training Center. Every road for Knuble treads through Philadelphia.
(AP Photo/George Walker IV)
