At pick 205 of the 2024 NHL Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers nabbed another defenseman and selected 6’4”, 194 pound Austin Moline.
Moline became the first Las Vegas native to be drafted into the NHL and it happened to come in his hometown at Sphere, which made the moment even more special.
“It’s cool to be a role model,” Moline said. “Maybe come down here, train young kids when I’m older. Help them out and tell them my story as well. Tell them that you have to work hard when people aren’t watching so it’s going to be great to help these kids out.”
Moline played at prestigious prep school Shattuck-St. Mary’s during the 2023-24 campaign. In 71 combined contests between the USHS-Prep and PHC circuits, Moline racked up 41 points (11g, 30a), in which 35 (8g, 27a) came in 35 games of USHS-Prep play.
The 18-year-old is advertised as a sizable two-way defenseman with a lot of raw talent, but he is definitely a project pick for the Flyers.
The Flyers definitely had size in mind when picking players this year, and both defenseman they chose (Spencer Gill at #59) stand at 6’4”. Moline won’t be a pro for a few years, but if he can steadily improve over time he can become an intriguing prospect.
The Flyers don’t have a ton of excitement in their pipeline on D. Oliver Bonk is a great player that represents their best option in the system, and then they have Emil Andrae, Helge Grans, and Hunter McDonald in Lehigh Valley. Adam Ginning and Ronnie Attard are past prospect status at this point, so the Flyers need to start stacking up on the back-end again.
EliteProspects commended Moline in their Draft Guide by stating,
“Moline’s range and 6-foot-4 frame is a real asset. He probes with his stick to make up space, reaching into puck carriers’ wheelhouses more than actually guiding them to the outside. An ever-willing activator on the rush, it’s rare not to see him sprint up the ice on the weak side or as a trailer in position for a drop. Workable four-way mobility and stable edges combined with his reach represent his biggest advantages.”
Moline was drafted by the Madison Capitols of the USHL in May, but he will likely spend the 2024-25 season with the Brooks Bandits of the BCHL before beginning his NCAA career at Northern Michigan in 2025-26.
