BobbyClarkeFan16

The Flyers had a fantastic draft. I know people were freaking out about Cam York on Twitter and CSN Philly, but this is a really good and solid pick. I wanted Soderstrom, personally, but there's nothing wrong with the USNTDP product that was a +40, had 65 points in 63 games and is going to a renowned hockey program where they'll help address his physical deficiencies and get him up to par. As for Brink, his skating issues are all mechanical and can be easily corrected. And once again, another high profile hockey school that will help fix the skating deficiencies. He was being compared to Mark Recchi and as a huge number 8 fan, I would kill for another Recchi-like player in the lineup (Konecny also reminds me of the wrecking ball). Overall, I think Fletcher and Flahr had a very good draft. More important, Nick Pryor really stepped up and this was basically his draft. All the doom and gloom sayers have nothing to complain about. Fantastic first draft for Fletcher and company. Dare I say it, this draft was very Hextall-esque and I love that they swung for the fences on players with huge upside. Looking forward to free agency and then rookie camp.

I always thought Cam York reminded me of Josh Morrissey. It's not a bad pick. I wanted Soderstrom, but Fletcher said he was relying on his scouts this draft and if they identified York as the best defenseman, then I'm not going to question it. They've got a record of hitting on their first round picks and if York hits, that's yet another good defenseman they've hit on. I mentioned on another forum that it could be worse. Could you imagine how bat **** crazy people would be if they drafted Kaliyev?

Nailed it on the McMichael pick!!! Washington got a good one.

The contract is designed that Hayes can be traded after year 3. It's actual a well structured contract the Flyers signed him to. And before anyone says "well, he's making more than Couturier", Couturier signed his contract knowing that eventually there would be others that would sign bigger contracts than him. That's the reality of things. In terms of the final move the Flyers make, I don't think Gostisbehere is off the hook just yet. I say that because the right side is now Niskanen/Braun/Meyers. The left side is Provorov/Sanheim/Hagg or Morin. Gostisbehere is clearly the odd man out.

If the Flyers could get Kapanen for Hagg, I would not only drive Hagg to the airport, but I would also pack up his apartment. He was statistically one of the worst defenders in the NHL last year. The only thing Hagg has going for him is that he's big and he hits. He can't handle the puck if his life depended on it. He's a mediocre defensive defensemen as per all of his advanced stats. Hagg is pure garbage and if some team thinks they can turn him into an elite shut down guy, all the more power to them.

The Flyers are more than a Trouba away form contention. Let the blue skirts overpay for him (because they still need to sign him and that's going to be a huge contact). If the price was too high then Fletcher did the right thing. Right now, Fletcher just needs to get Hayes signed, get a backup goalie and sign a right winger and they're done. There are numerous teams with cap trouble and that's who the Flyers should target.

I think it's telling that the 'bad' defender the Flyers acquired still played on average 22 minutes a night in the regular season and almost 25 minutes a night in the playoffs. Now that he's getting a full off-season to heal up and playing with younger players with younger legs, he's not going to have to do as much heavy lifting. His puck moving savvy and his on ice awareness is going to be huge. I love Radko and it's tough to see him go, but the Flyers have a Radko-type guy in Morin and he's going to play this year and I bet he's going to play a lot. The Flyers won't be as 'soft' as some might expect. I still think one more rough and tumble player will be in the lineup. Don't forget that Hartman hits like a freight train (and I'm willing to bet that Vigneault will help Hartman harness his game) and Konecny can throw the body as well. I get that they aren't 6'0+ in height, but you get a bowling ball of hate flying down the wing and knocking you on your ass, you're going to feel it. I like what Fletcher's doing. Notice that none of the important assets have been given away and that all the top prospects remain. That gives me hope.

The retention is just over $1 million dollars. It's chump change in the grand scheme of things. The moving of Gudas all but guarantees that Morin is going to play a lot next year. His size, meanness and skating ability will put him ahead of Hagg. I wanted the Flyers to sign Niskanen originally when he was a free agent. I think having him in a supporting role for the younger defensemen is ideal.

If Zamula adds weight, he'll be right up there with Meyers in terms of Hextall's best finds via the undrafted free agent route.

I know that this is about the comparisons of Sanheim and Meyers, but if those two end up similar to Pietrangelo and Parayko, that's a home run. Add in that Provorov could be the second coming of Ryan Suter and that's a grand slam.

I'm liking that Fletcher at least has a pulse. He saw some areas to address and he's starting to do it. It's been nothing exorbitant or expensive. The retention on Gudas by way of $1.005 million is a drop in the bucket for a team with over $30 million in cap space. The move also allows Morin and his meanness to get into the lineup. Don't forget that Morin is a plus in terms of mobility and it also allows the Flyers to move Hagg in another deal. I get that Niskanen had a couple of down years in Washington, but this is a guy who plays 20+ minutes a night and is going to free up a bit of the defensive burden on Provorov. Provorov has been played so heavily the past three seasons that it took a toll on him last year. Getting Ivan under 24 minutes a night and increasing the ice time of Sanheim and Meyers should be a priority going forward. Hopefully this also shows Hayes that the Flyers are serious about turning this boat around and if they can get his name on a deal, that's huge too.

I'm not worried about Niskanen. He'll be a good fit. Having him play alongside Provorov or Sanheim is a good thing.

Money talks. If the Flyers pony up, he'll sign. This is just a negotiation tactic.

The Washington Capitals are proud to select from the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League, the second best Connor Mc in the game, Connor McMichael!!!! Some of the scouting reports include: Sam Cosentino - SportsNet: "Shoots and passes like a pro. Great skating ability allows him to transition well and consistently be a part of the rush."Chris Peters - ESPN: "A high-end skater, McMichael shows excellent touch and an ability to be a threat to shoot or pass."Hannah Stuart - theScore: "Last year, McMichael had six points in 28 games. This year, he put up 72 points in 67 games - and 63 of those were primary points. His production is driven by excellent hockey sense and puck skills, and he's strong in his own zone as well. "Sam Conentino - SportsNet: "Was a force early- to mid-season, but has taken a step back of late as others have bypassed him for high-leverage minutes." Connor McMichael comes from the hockey factory and there's familiarity in his game with regards to Dale Hunter being his coach. The Capitals know they're getting a forward that can play all three zones and has an offensive touch to boot. To make matters even more appealing, McMichael is a producer during even strength and produces a number of primary points. With Ovechkin, Backstrom, and Oshie all approaching their mid-30s, the Capitals decide now is the time to start replenishing the system with prospects with offensive upside. McMichael fits that bill and will be a welcome addition to the Washington Capitals prospect pipeline. @CreaseAndAssist you're up!!!!

I’m currently at work in training and I’ll make my pick around 4

I'm fine with trading Jake. The only untouchable out of the long term players is Giroux. He retires a Flyer. As well, the Flyers are going to have an eventual money problem and you might as well get ahead on the curve. I also remeber the 1989 - 1990 season when it all fell apart. I don't want a repeat of that.

But Hayes is versatile. So, if Patrick does become the number 2 (hehehe number 2) and if Frost is ready to be the number 3, you move Hayes to the wing and you've got ridiculous depth on both sides of center. Don't forget that Hayes will get pk time, so he'll get to still take draws and take pressure off Couturier and Laughton. So, you're probably gonna get 3 to 4 solid seasons out of him before fully committing to him at wing and by then, van Useless will be gone and Giroux will probably be moved to the right side to accommodate Lindblom, Farabee and Ratcliffe. Then your right side becomes Konecny, Giroux and Hayes (I think they'll move Voracek in the next year or two). That's pretty disgustingly good depth at forward that's young and skilled and Hayes will be one of those guys that can be a big assistance in helping that young talent along. If you look at the lines, it's already one solid veteran with youth in each line. I'm sold on bringing Hayes onboard. He doesn't block anyone.

After reading the press conference today, it looks like Fletcher and Nature Boy are going to draft a defenseman. I expect that Soderstrom leads the list, but with the Flyers having some good luck with the USNTDP, it won't surprise me if York is high on the list as well. Gut leads me to believe it's going to be Soderstrom just because they talked about someone between 3 - 15. They have lots of left handed defensemen, but they don't have a potentially elite right handed defender in the system. OK, now I'm really intrigued by what's going to happen at the draft.

I don't think defense is a meh area of this draft as much as the forward depth in this draft is greater than the defense depth. There's potentially five top pairing defensemen in the first round and a high number of quality second pairing throughout.

I was iffy on Soderstrom at first, but he's really grown on me. One of the things that caught my attention was how calm and composed he is. You can just see how smart he is. And then the skating, wow. I know this will drive people insane, but his skating is Rasmus Dahlin good. I have no doubt in my mind that if he were 6'2, 6'3 he'd easily be top 5. This is a really good defenseman. Like Provorov good.

This was a tough decision for the Flyers. The forward depth is very good and the defense has some very good depth as well. It came down to who the best player available was and that was the direction the Flyers took. The Philadelphia Flyers are proud to select from Brynas of the Swedish Elite League, defenseman Victor Soderstrom. After going forward the past few drafts, the Flyers decided to go with rebuilding the blueline pipeline and are very happy to select a potential number one defenseman in Soderstrom. At the combine, it should be noted that Soderstrom actually measured in at 6 feet and weighing 182 pounds, so there's one more growth spurt that should put Soderstrom to the 6'1, 6'2 mark. Add in the physical and mental ability and he might just end up being the best defenseman of this draft. Some of the scouting reports include: Cam Robinson - Dobber ProspectsMay 15th: "A puck-moving and fast-paced blueliner who loves to create offence. Enjoys controlling the pace of play. Quick outlets, sharp edges and nice vision. Could use more power on his shot." Sam Cosentino - SportsNetMay 8th: "Top-notched skating ability is the basis for a solid two-way game. Played big minutes in 44 SHL games this season." Chris Peters - ESPNMay 6th: "A mature defender who skates well and plays a solid two-way game despite average size, Soderstrom impacts the game in simple, subtle ways while making his team better when he is on the ice." Hannah Stuart - theScoreMay 1st: "His elite skating allows him to pivot quickly and transition from offense to defense - crucial in today's NHL. His vision and puck skills are also high end." Sam Conentino - SportsNet This was a tough decision for the Flyers. The forward depth is very good and the defense has some very good depth as well. It came down to who the best player available was and that was the direction the Flyers took. The Philadelphia Flyers are proud to select from Brynas of the Swedish Elite League, defenseman Victor Soderstrom. After going forward the past few drafts, the Flyers decided to go with rebuilding the blueline pipeline and are very happy to select Soderstrom. At the combine, it should be noted that Soderstrom actually measured in at 6 feet and weighing 182 pounds, so there's one more growth spurt that should put Soderstrom to the 6'1, 6'2 mark. Add in the physical and mental ability and he might just end up being the best defenseman of this draft. Some of the scouting reports include: Cam Robinson - Dobber Prospects: "A puck-moving and fast-paced blueliner who loves to create offence. Enjoys controlling the pace of play. Quick outlets, sharp edges and nice vision. Could use more power on his shot." Sam Cosentino - SportsNet: "Top-notched skating ability is the basis for a solid two-way game. Played big minutes in 44 SHL games this season." Chris Peters - ESPN: "A mature defender who skates well and plays a solid two-way game despite average size, Soderstrom impacts the game in simple, subtle ways while making his team better when he is on the ice." Hannah Stuart - theScore: "His elite skating allows him to pivot quickly and transition from offense to defense - crucial in today's NHL. His vision and puck skills are also high end." Sam Conentino - SportsNet: "A hybrid of Adam Boqvist and Nils Lundqvist from last year’s first round." This is going to be the eventual right side defender that will play with Provorov and will play 28 to 30 minutes a night. His maturity is beyond his years. In a game earlier this year, coach Magnus Sundquist said “I forgot which game it was, but he came into the room during an intermission and told everyone, ‘Guys, this is how we will run the power play,’ and started to draw up plays.” This is going to be the eventual right side defender that will play with Provorov and will play 28 to 30 minutes a night. @CreaseAndAssist you're up

I think Nolan Patrick has the upside to be a fantastic player. I'm wondering though if the Flyers were the ideal situation for him to step into. He should have NEVER played in the NHL in his rookie season, especially when he required double hernia surgery and that sapped him of all his strength. He should have gone back to junior for one final season. Instead, he was rushed into the lineup to justify the draft position. This past season wasn't a better season either. We're looking at a kid who was bounced around the lineup by an incompetent coaching staff that had no business coaching the big club. It was CLEAR that Hakstol had lost the room and Hextall failed the young players by leaving him in place for too long. On top of it, Hakstol used a system that didn't utilize the strengths of the players. Usually, a coach tries to fit his system around the players he has, not tries to fit the players to the system. That's a recipe for disaster. I'm willing to give Patrick one more year. Usually year two is a dreaded sophmore jinx year, but with a new coaching staff in place, you can bet that they've reached out to everyone and that the expectations are clear. I certainly expect a big jump in production from Patrick, especially when you consider that historically, players third and fourth years are usually the years they make the jump. If he's not knocking down at least 60 points next season, then I think you start to look at moving on from Patrick.

Hello everyone and welcome to the HF.net annual mock draft. It was a struggle between selecting the physical mature and dominating Finnish winger in Kaapo Kakko or the dimunitive, but electrifying center in Jack Hughes. In the end, look at the needs of the team, the New Jersey Devils are proud to select from the US National Team Development Program, Jack Hughes. Just some quotes from three of the top scouts: “Hughes has tremendous first step which sets him apart; at times you don’t notice him cause he is small but when he gets the puck, watch out.” – Tyler Marshall,ISS Hockey “Turbo-charged center with blinding speed and fantastic vision who has dominated his peers at every level. Hughes’ skill is noticeable from the second he hits the ice, but his ability to make every single one of decisions seem calculated is what separates him from a very talented group of draft-eligible forwards. His sixth sense allows him to sniff out trouble before it’s within striking distance while simultaneously identifying weaknesses within the opponent’s scheme to stop him. It’s cliche to say he makes everyone around him better, but Hughes does so in more ways that one.” – Steve Kournianos, The Draft Analyst “We’re running out of superlatives for the electrifying 17-year-old. Hughes brings dynamic acceleration, top-end speed, edgework, puck skills… I can keep going but you get the idea. He’s been at his best when his USNTDP team has played high-end NCAA squads. Despite an injury slowing him down at the WJC, he still displayed his impressive skills against players two years his senior.” – Cam Robinson, Dobber Prospects In the end, Hughes is just a better fit for what the Devils are trying to rebuild.

Are we good to go to start?

I'm hesitant to believe that a hockey player was out of shape 3/4 of the way through a season before he was dealt. I remember when John Stevens said that about the guys after taking over from Hitchcock and same with Laviolette taking over for Stevens, Berube taking over for Laviolette, Hakstol taking over for Berube, etc......It's tired excuse when coaches say that. These guys are professional athletes and multi-millionaires to boot. They aren't going to do anything to jeopardize that. What I think about Hayes is that he's a big guy, but he's light. 6'5, 215 pounds? He's simply not heavy enough, which to me indicates he's not eating enough. A guy that big who plays a physical game needs to have more muscle on his frame. Not only that, having that extra muscle will help him on first step acceleration, especially if he's adding more muscle mass to his legs. He'll get a better push off and with the length of his stride, that's huge.