Flyers have draft flexibility with three first-round picks

VOORHEES, N.J. – Even though the Flyers dropped from No. 4 to No. 6 in last month’s NHL Draft lottery drawing, general manager Daniel Briere likes where things stand.

He knows he’s going to get an outstanding player. For proof, just refer to the 2023 NHL Draft, where the Flyers landed the very talented Matvei Michkov at No. 7.

Was Briere extremely disappointed with falling two places?

“Not anymore,” he responded during Tuesday’s pre-draft press conference at the Flyers Training Center. “Not after spending the time that we’ve done the last few weeks watching video on those guys.

“We feel more and more comfortable and confident. On the night it happened, falling back two spots (possible disappointment) – but after the last couple weeks I feel good about it.”

According to The Hockey News, here are the projected top 10 picks:

>1. Matthew Schaefer, D, Erie (OHL).

>2. Michael Misa, C, Saginaw (OHL).

>3. Porter Martone, RW, Brampton (OHL).

>4. James Hagens, C, Boston College (HE).

>5. Anton Frondell, C, Djurgarden (Swe. 2).

>6. Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton (QMJHL).

>7. Victor Eklund, LW, (Swe. 2).

>8. Roger McQueen, C, Brandon (WHL).

>9. Kashawn Aitcheson, Barrie (OHL).

>10. Jackson Smith, D, Tri-City (WHL).

The Flyers could certainly use a center or two and assistant general manager Brent Flahr, who oversees the scouting department, confirmed the surplus of pivotmen in the first 10.

“In the top 10 there are a number of centermen,” Flahr said. “Which isn’t always the case. There are a few defensemen, high-end wingers.

“We’re well aware of our own needs. But at No. 6 we’re going to go with the best player on the board.”

That same thinking probably holds true for the projected No. 22 and No. 31 or 32 picks as well.

>Goaltending situation

The Flyers haven’t taken a goaltender in the first round since Maxime Ouellet in 1999.

Although there are some questions about current starter Samuel Ersson, it usually takes a goalie a few years to develop, so a pick this year won’t help the pending situation.

The highest ranked goalie in The Hockey News chart is Joshua Ravensbergen (Prince George/WHL) at No. 26.

“There are a number of goalies as the draft goes along that our guys are high on,” Flahr said. “They think there’s also a lot of potential there for a positional player rather than a goaltender in that spot. We’ll manage that as the draft goes along.”

>Center position outlook

For the past year, Briere has made it known the Flyers would like to improve the overall size of their team, both at forward and defense.

That could play into the way the Flyers analyze potential draft picks but Briere said there are other aspects to think about as well.

“It (size) is something to consider,” he said. “Just like the skating, the hockey sense, the competitive edge. It (size) is part of it.”

The Hockey News has center Caleb Desnoyers ranked No. 6 overall, the same spot the Flyers currently are pegged. Philadelphia already has Caleb’s older brother, Elliott, is its development system.

Neither brother is all that intimidating when it comes to size. Elliott is 5-feet-11, 178 pounds and Caleb is 6-foot-1, 178 pounds.

“Size probably doesn’t play into it as much as how competitive he is,” Briere said. “And the hockey sense. Those things are probably more important. We’re aware of size but at the same time we want to be careful. At the end of the day, it shouldn’t sway us.”