Flyers 2023 Entry Level Draft - 7th overall (confirmed)

[flyercanuck]

3 minutes ago, BobbyClarkeFan16 said:

Lol.... Did anyone see Fletcher's comments about getting fired? I'll have to post that article.

 

Please do...I will covet it forever.

[BobbyClarkeFan16]

https://www.flyersnation.com/fletcher-discusses-flyers-tenure-points-to-niskanen-as-vital-loss-team-wasnt-able-to-recover-from-injuries/

 

It's 100% Niskanen and injuries that caused the Flyers to collapse as per Schmuck. None of his ****** moves helped contribute to things. What a tone deaf idiot.....lol

[pilldoc]

1 hour ago, BobbyClarkeFan16 said:

https://www.flyersnation.com/fletcher-discusses-flyers-tenure-points-to-niskanen-as-vital-loss-team-wasnt-able-to-recover-from-injuries/

 

It's 100% Niskanen and injuries that caused the Flyers to collapse as per Schmuck. None of his ****** moves helped contribute to things. What a tone deaf idiot.....lol

 

Fletch is an idiot and totally blind to his own inadequacies ..... 

[flyercanuck]

2 hours ago, BobbyClarkeFan16 said:

https://www.flyersnation.com/fletcher-discusses-flyers-tenure-points-to-niskanen-as-vital-loss-team-wasnt-able-to-recover-from-injuries/

 

It's 100% Niskanen and injuries that caused the Flyers to collapse as per Schmuck. None of his ****** moves helped contribute to things. What a tone deaf idiot.....lol

 

The guy was GM for FIVE F***ing YEARS!!!! Niskanen played ONE SEASON.

 

As for the quality he left Briere with...the only reason there's quality is because despite blowing $34 million of capspace on a pile of crap Briere now has to try and get rid of, Fletcher built a team that sucked so bad (while he was trying to win) that theres a 5th and a 7th overall pick in the bank. 

Edited June 23, 2023 by flyercanuck

[BobbyClarkeFan16]

Craig Button also did his mock draft for TSN today and he thinks the Flyers will select Ryan Leonard at 7 and Ethan Gauthier at 22. Never really considered Gauthier, but he fits the work ethic and effort profile. Craig Button is usually pretty bang on with these and he seems to hit on the Flyers picks, so if this is the way they go, that's not bad. Two bull rush wingers with non stop motors and work ethic to match. 

[pilldoc]

Can't remember if I posted a scouting report on Ryan Leonard or not .... here you go

 

 

 

For Ryan Leonard, his future in hockey will likely be decided by his versatility. Few players can play one position at a top level, yet Leonard has played at Center, Right, and Left Wing throughout the season for the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP). He is also a threat both in the defensive and offensive zones, as he will play hard against the boards to win a puck battle behind his net, only to turn around and bring it back up the ice to create a scoring chance at the other.

 

During the 2022-23 season with the US National Under-18, Leonard posted 39 goals and 73 points in 45 games played. Then, in 15 games played so far with the USNTDP, he scored 10 goals and 19 points. So, he is no slouch when it comes to scoring, even if he isn’t expected to be a major offensive driver.

 

Defensively, Leonard is already showcasing the skillset of a dominant two-way forward. He has a strong ice presence and is able to put himself in the position to make the right play on the puck to generate opportunities for his team. Also, while he doesn’t have the biggest frame at rough 6-foot tall, he plays strong on his skates and is showcasing the ability to knock players off the puck.

 

For 2023-24 and beyond, Leonard is committed to playing hockey at Boston College. This will be the perfect place for him to develop his game over the course of the next three to four years, before taking that next step to the NHL. Given his toolkit, it wouldn’t be surprising to see in break into the league before his 21st birthday.

 

Ryan Leonard is a high energy winger who never takes his foot off the gas in terms of both speed and effort. He uses his speed and skill to blow by defenders in the neutral zone and pressure in-zone defenders who struggle to anticipate his next move. His playmaking and shot aren’t exceptional, but they’re both good enough to be reasonably sure that his offense would translate to the NHL some day.

Logan Horn – THW.com

Leonard is a highly energetic and lethal goal scorer that plays with a high level of intensity every time as he shows no quit to his game. He’s always in attack mode and displays a shooters mentality with a quick snap of his wrist. He has great velocity and accuracy and is always finding the back of the net as his 22 goals with the U18 squad shows. He displays soft hands in tight spaces, fooling both defenders and goaltenders.

Peter Baracchini – THW.com

Leonard has a way of making his own space on the ice. Sometimes he does that with his speed but a lot of times he does that by going through high-traffic areas and coming away with the puck. At 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, this centre is strong. He is in great physical condition, and he knows how to use it to his advantage.

Russ Cohen – eprinkside.com

 

Strengths

• Strong skater
• Understands how to utilize his body to make space on the ice
• Versatile
• Can play a heavier game, considering his size
• Great scoring instincts

 

Under Construction – Improvements to Make

• Doesn’t have the highest scoring ceiling for a 2023 first-round prospect

 

While he may not be the sexiest pick on draft day, Leonard is the kind of player that every team wants on their roster. With his two-way play, I could see him slotting into a team’s third line after developing at Boston College for a few seasons. He has top-six potential that could be reached if everything goes well in his development, but I wouldn’t expect him to be a first-line forward given where his toolkit is at right now.

 

With all that being said ....... what concerns me is he is not screaming top six .... he has 
"potential" from what the pundits are saying.  If I am drafting at #7 I want a player who has legit top 6 skills.  Now that is just my opinion and have not seen 1 second of him actually playing.  

[pilldoc]

Here is what I found for Ethan Gauthier

 

 

 

If there’s one player that you would want on your team, but would absolutely hate to play against, Sherbrooke Phoenix forward Ethan Gauthier definitely fits that description as he’s always a thorn in the opposition’s side. 

 

Gauthier was on a strong scoring pace to start the 2022-23 season with 40 points in 35 games. After December, his pace with his production declined as he was just under a point per game with 29 in 31. Despite that, Gauthier remains a strong and impactful forward whether he is producing or not.

 

The son of former NHLer Denis Gauthier, Ethan is always a dominant factor as he’s consistent every single shift. The first thing that stands out is his persistent and ruthless ability to get in on the attack and establish a forecheck. He’s constantly involved, digging for loose pucks in the corners, engaging in battles to separate the player from the puck to regain possession. The work ethic and drive that he possesses will have teams calling, that’s for sure.

 

Gauthier is very crafty and deceptive with the puck on his stick. He has great control and soft hands to make moves around defenders and has the awareness to always carry the puck to open ice for prime scoring chances or setting up plays. He displays great patience and doesn’t force plays if there’s nothing there. He’ll take the time to fall back and wait for help to arrive before he makes his move. He may not be the biggest player, but he isn’t afraid to make a hit and apply pressure in the offensive zone.

 

Gauthier is great at helping on the backcheck if the play is about to leave the zone. He’s constantly finding the puck carrier, making timely stick lifts and tie ups in order to force a turnover and regain possession. He’s always backchecking to the blue line in order to keep the play alive, showing his ability to play on both sides of the puck. He’s strong at clogging up the lanes, keeping players to the outside and uses well-timed stick checks to apply pressure.

 

Gauthier isn’t the quickest skater. He doesn’t have break neck speed and his stride can be worked on, but his skill and smarts make up for that as he’s still able to setup his teammates and maintain offensive zone time. He can find the back of the net as well as he hit the 30-goal mark this season and was the leader in goals (six) at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in the summer. Even if the offense doesn’t come as often, he can still make big time plays at key moments.

 

Gauthier’s overall play and smarts definitely has him as a first round selection. Teams will definitely take advantage and select him if he’s available. Where he can go is definitely up in the air. Some outlets have him as top-20 prospect, and rightfully so. Given the upside offensively, he may be a player that would be a strong selection between the 20th and 32nd pick of the first round.

 

“An exceptionally relentless forechecker with decent hands in tight and lots of creativity to his game, Gauthier has a solid base of skills, on top of an above-average stride and great physical habits along the boards. He has great overall instincts and can find opportunities to score where others can’t.” – Hadi Kalakeche, Dobber Prospects

 

“Gauthier is an excellent forechecker who works hard to pressure opposing defenders to force mistakes and turnovers. He has a nose for the net and can bury opportunities close to the goal mouth while also being capable of beating netminders from medium range with his strong shot.” – Brandon Holmes, FC Hockey  

 

Strengths 

• Work ethic and drive
• Puck pursuit and possession
• Hands and playmaking abilities
• Effective 200-foot game
• Puck skills

 

Under Construction- Improvements to Make

• Work on speed
• Offensive production

 

NHL Potential
Although he may not be a dynamic offensive producer like other players in the draft, Gauthier still has the potential to be an effective second or third-line player in the NHL. His work ethic and ability to track down pucks will attract a lot of teams as well as his ability to play in a variety of situations

 

 

[BobbyClarkeFan16]

6 minutes ago, pilldoc said:

Can't remember if I posted a scouting report on Ryan Leonard or not .... here you go

 

 

 

For Ryan Leonard, his future in hockey will likely be decided by his versatility. Few players can play one position at a top level, yet Leonard has played at Center, Right, and Left Wing throughout the season for the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP). He is also a threat both in the defensive and offensive zones, as he will play hard against the boards to win a puck battle behind his net, only to turn around and bring it back up the ice to create a scoring chance at the other.

 

During the 2022-23 season with the US National Under-18, Leonard posted 39 goals and 73 points in 45 games played. Then, in 15 games played so far with the USNTDP, he scored 10 goals and 19 points. So, he is no slouch when it comes to scoring, even if he isn’t expected to be a major offensive driver.

 

Defensively, Leonard is already showcasing the skillset of a dominant two-way forward. He has a strong ice presence and is able to put himself in the position to make the right play on the puck to generate opportunities for his team. Also, while he doesn’t have the biggest frame at rough 6-foot tall, he plays strong on his skates and is showcasing the ability to knock players off the puck.

 

For 2023-24 and beyond, Leonard is committed to playing hockey at Boston College. This will be the perfect place for him to develop his game over the course of the next three to four years, before taking that next step to the NHL. Given his toolkit, it wouldn’t be surprising to see in break into the league before his 21st birthday.

 

Ryan Leonard is a high energy winger who never takes his foot off the gas in terms of both speed and effort. He uses his speed and skill to blow by defenders in the neutral zone and pressure in-zone defenders who struggle to anticipate his next move. His playmaking and shot aren’t exceptional, but they’re both good enough to be reasonably sure that his offense would translate to the NHL some day.

Logan Horn – THW.com

Leonard is a highly energetic and lethal goal scorer that plays with a high level of intensity every time as he shows no quit to his game. He’s always in attack mode and displays a shooters mentality with a quick snap of his wrist. He has great velocity and accuracy and is always finding the back of the net as his 22 goals with the U18 squad shows. He displays soft hands in tight spaces, fooling both defenders and goaltenders.

Peter Baracchini – THW.com

Leonard has a way of making his own space on the ice. Sometimes he does that with his speed but a lot of times he does that by going through high-traffic areas and coming away with the puck. At 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, this centre is strong. He is in great physical condition, and he knows how to use it to his advantage.

Russ Cohen – eprinkside.com

 

Strengths

• Strong skater
• Understands how to utilize his body to make space on the ice
• Versatile
• Can play a heavier game, considering his size
• Great scoring instincts

 

Under Construction – Improvements to Make

• Doesn’t have the highest scoring ceiling for a 2023 first-round prospect

 

While he may not be the sexiest pick on draft day, Leonard is the kind of player that every team wants on their roster. With his two-way play, I could see him slotting into a team’s third line after developing at Boston College for a few seasons. He has top-six potential that could be reached if everything goes well in his development, but I wouldn’t expect him to be a first-line forward given where his toolkit is at right now.

 

With all that being said ....... what concerns me is he is not screaming top six .... he has 
"potential" from what the pundits are saying.  If I am drafting at #7 I want a player who has legit top 6 skills.  Now that is just my opinion and have not seen 1 second of him actually playing.  

Watch some video of Leonard of you get a chance. He's a fun player to watch. He's Brady Tkachuk-lite. 

[radoran]

2 hours ago, BobbyClarkeFan16 said:

https://www.flyersnation.com/fletcher-discusses-flyers-tenure-points-to-niskanen-as-vital-loss-team-wasnt-able-to-recover-from-injuries/

 

It's 100% Niskanen and injuries that caused the Flyers to collapse as per Schmuck. None of his ****** moves helped contribute to things. What a tone deaf idiot.....lol

 

Everything was going so great that their prize acquisition and lynchpin of their defense decided he didn't want to play hockey anymore.

 

Meanwhile, the longest tenured captain in team history was apparently overseeing the complete destruction of "Flyers culture" that was left in such a mess that they had to clean out the entire upper office and hire an outside firm to choose a coach.

 

But, honestly, they were THIS CLOSE.

 

We'll see if there's a Carrie Fisher out there to buy his "oh Jake" argument.

[radoran]

1 minute ago, pilldoc said:

If there’s one player that you would want on your team, but would absolutely hate to play against, Sherbrooke Phoenix forward Ethan Gauthier definitely fits that description as he’s always a thorn in the opposition’s side. 

 

#keepkonecny

[pilldoc]

2 minutes ago, radoran said:

We'll see if there's a Carrie Fisher out there to buy his "oh Jake" argument.

 

[RonJeremy]

3 hours ago, BobbyClarkeFan16 said:

Everything depends on what player is drafted at 9 or 10. At the same time, Konecny has scored 30 goals in a season once and 20 three times. The rest are 11, 14 and 17 goals. In fairness, when Debrincat was traded, he had two seasons of 40 goals, 1 season of 30 goals, 1 season of 20 goals and 1 season with 18 goals. Regardless of our opinions on Konecny (and just to let you know, I really like Konecny), his seasons just don't measure up to what Debrincat has done in less time and GMs recognize things like that. 

 

Now do I think a player drafted at 9 or 10 can be a 30 goal scorer? Absolutely. If a GM isn't thinking that, then they need to be fired. If you're picking that high, the thinking it's that you're getting a top six forward (wingers in particular) or a top 4 defenseman that will put up numbers on the power play. 30 goals in a top six role isn't an unrealistic expectation. Of course, development is everything. If the development path is checking and defense and ignoring offense (which for the longest of time was the Flyers development plan), players will fail. I have high expectations that Briere and company will addresses the development issues .

 

Sorry about the long winded answer.

Detroit may want that 30 goal scorer now, not in 3 years. Konecny missed 30 games and played on a horrible team with the worst PP on a good team he probably would have close to 40 goals. 

[pilldoc]

12 minutes ago, RonJeremy said:

Detroit may want that 30 goal scorer now, not in 3 years. Konecny missed 30 games and played on a horrible team with the worst PP on a good team he probably would have close to 40 goals. 

I get DB about not going scorched earth policy but if you can get Detroit’s #9 overall this year for Tk…. I would be hard pressed not to take it….

 

For the record I don’t think this occurs but if offered ….DB would have yo think long and hard about this one….

[OccamsRazor]

1 hour ago, pilldoc said:

 

Fletch is an idiot and totally blind to his own inadequacies ..... 

 

Who???

[OccamsRazor]

1 hour ago, BobbyClarkeFan16 said:

Ethan Gauthier at 22.

 

Another RW why??? Can't be the best player available at that spot. Can't.

 

Do they even value centers anymore???

 

You can always trade back if you don't like the selection...or should be able to.

 

Edit

 

Reason i say that is Leonard already said he isn't or doesn't want to try and play center.

 

You got only 4 RW spots on a team dear gawd and you have 3 in the last draft. At some point they going to have to move some of these guys...

Edited June 23, 2023 by OccamsRazor

[flyer4ever]

5 minutes ago, OccamsRazor said:

 

Another RW why??? Can't be the best player available at that spot. Can't.

 

Do they even value centers anymore???

 

You can always trade back if you don't like the selection...or should be able to.

Skate, work ethic, high IQ. Leonard and Gauthier both have these. The chucktard didn't value these traits. He preferred old, broken, stupid. I'm good with both these picks. Sadly, bobbleheads NHL has 32 teams we have to share with.

[OccamsRazor]

8 minutes ago, flyer4ever said:

Skate, work ethic, high IQ. Leonard and Gauthier both have these. The chucktard didn't value these traits. He preferred old, broken, stupid. I'm good with both these picks. Sadly, bobbleheads NHL has 32 teams we have to share with.

 

Let's hope they can clear some RW clutter this year Cam i hope shows he can bring some help before the deadline if they can't move him before the start of next season.

 

I'm afraid they may look to move on from Allison if he doesn't play well this upcoming season.

 

And then you're left with TK, Tippett, Forester and Brink left still. One of the top 2 may find they're way out soon too.

 

 

No way the Flyers can wait around and try and give Konecny 9 mill per season no effin way.

[BobbyClarkeFan16]

6 minutes ago, OccamsRazor said:

 

Another RW why??? Can't be the best player available at that spot. Can't.

 

Do they even value centers anymore???

 

You can always trade back if you don't like the selection...or should be able to.

 

Edit

 

Reason i say that is Leonard already said he isn't or doesn't want to try and play center.

 

You got only 4 RW spots on a team dear gawd and you have 3 in the last draft. At some point they going to have to move some of these guys...

Well, the way I look at it is that there's Tippett, Atkinson, Konecny, Foerster, Allison, and Brink. Atkinson will be moved at some point, especially if he's healthy this year. That's a trade deadline acquisition. We all know that Briere is taking calls on Konecny. Allison can't stay healthy. So that leaves Tippett, Brink and Foerster. Now, Tippett can also play the left side, so that's a bonus. Gauthier will more than likely be a left winger at the pro level and there's still Farabee. So, potentially, your left side could be Tippett/C.Gauthier/Farabee. The right side could be Leonard/Foerster/Brink/E. Gauthier. I'd love a center. Everyone knows that I want Riley Heidt at 22. But you can see what Briere is potentially putting together, piece by piece.

 

Now, nobody knows what's going to happen on draft day. It's possible Briere surprised everyone and selects two defensemen (Reinbacher and Dragicevic?). Hell, he could go completely off board and really do something that makes people go "what?!?!?". It's all just speculation at this point. With that being said, Button has hit on numerous Flyers choices, so he might be on to something. 

 

I do get where you're coming from with the over abundance of right wingers though. I absolutely love this time of year. Let the speculation run wild!!!!

[OccamsRazor]

9 minutes ago, BobbyClarkeFan16 said:

Now, Tippett can also play the left side, so that's a bonus.

 

Of all these guys right now who could turn into a Patrick Sharp is this kid so they need to see where his development goes if he was to even be a sign and trade him brings huge value i think...

[OccamsRazor]

11 minutes ago, BobbyClarkeFan16 said:

Hell, he could go completely off board and really do something that makes people go "what?!?!?".

 

I hope not they don't have time for that sh it...they have to hit on guys...

[OccamsRazor]

12 minutes ago, BobbyClarkeFan16 said:

I do get where you're coming from with the over abundance of right wingers though.

 

yes because they have still Gendron, Kaplan who had been said to already surpass Jay O'brien in development and Sulku (coming off an injured year) and Tuamaala all RWs not even delved into on yet.

 

And yes i know BPA but i get it at some point you want a chance with all that depth and take a gamble on a kid's possible upside BPA be damned.

[BobbyClarkeFan16]

You know what's strange? I've read numerous scoring reports on the players, but there's one thing missing. I remember when scouts used to identify players who hated losing more than they loved winning. What ever happened with those types of players? It's seems like they no longer exist. Those are players you win with.

[RonJeremy]

5 minutes ago, BobbyClarkeFan16 said:

You know what's strange? I've read numerous scoring reports on the players, but there's one thing missing. I remember when scouts used to identify players who hated losing more than they loved winning. What ever happened with those types of players? It's seems like they no longer exist. Those are players you win with.

The went the way of common sense , courtesy and being manly. 

[BobbyClarkeFan16]

12 minutes ago, RonJeremy said:

The went the way of common sense , courtesy and being manly. 

Just wait until they get rid of physicality all together in hockey. It's going to be like watching figure skating.....lol

[pilldoc]

2 minutes ago, BobbyClarkeFan16 said:

Just wait until they get rid of physicality all together in hockey. It's going to be like watching figure skating.....lol

 

They already do that with the damn shoot-out .....sigh