This is the third installment of trying to map out an aggressive retooling of the Philadelphia Flyers as this disastrous season keeps chugging along. Parts one and two can be found in the respective links if you want to play catch up on what you’ve missed so far We’ve moved on from the trades for now in the previous two legs and will be focusing on the 2022 NHL Draft and what could be in store for the Flyers.
DISCLAIMER: This is pure fiction. If this upsets you or your fanbase or the city you live because my valuation is incorrect, please accept this heartfelt apology (looking at you Sicko Sens fans). This is not real. This is merely a fun exercise to distract us from the Flyers’ lost season and the natural existential pain that hampers us on a daily occurrence.
2022 Flyers NHL Mock Draft
1st round
5th overall – Matthew Savoie, C, Winnipeg (WHL), 5’9”, 179lbs
Stats – 52 games, 26 goals, 47 assists, 73 points
Reasoning: Savoie would be the runaway top pick if he was 2 inches taller. Savoie is my top overall prospect in this draft, and he falls to 5th overall. His size shouldn’t matter because he has the skill and skating ability to be a number 1 center in the NHL. Savoie automatically becomes the Flyers’ top prospect at a much-needed position of Center.
Comparison: Brayden Point, underrated due to size but is a plus point producer
2nd round
52nd overall (from NSH, Braun trade) – Sam Rinzel, RHD, Chaska HS (USHS-MN)/Waterloo (USHL), 6’4”,181lbs
Stats – 27 games, 9 goals, 29 assists, 38 points (Chaska), 8 games, 1 goal, 3 assists, 4 points (Waterloo)
Reasoning: Rinzel is committed to the University of Minnesota. He has a good chance at being Mr. Minnesota which is the top prep hockey award in the State of Minnesota. Rinzel will not be 18 years old until after the 2022 NHL Draft. He is a plus skater and already has NHL size. Rinzel will take time to develop, but if he pans out the Flyers are getting a top 4 NHL defenseman that can play shutdown minutes. Right-handed defensemen are a big need for the Flyers.
Comparison: Brian Dumoulin, drafted out of the EJHL, he took a while to develop but is now a top pairing defenseman on an elite team.
3rd round
70th overall – Tucker Robertson, C, Peterborough (OHL), 5’10”, 190lbs
Stats – 53 games, 33 goals, 33 assists, 55 points
Reasoning: Robertson is an overager. He was passed over in the 2021 NHL Draft and was invited to Carolina’s rookie camp. He won’t be 19 years old until about a week before the draft. He is a natural center. He is dominant in the faceoff circle (57%) and he will no doubt be seen by Flyers’ scouts. Flyers prospect property JR Avon and Brian Zanetti are teammates of Robertson. He is Peterborough’s leading goal scorer. Robertson started the year on such a big hot streak that he was projected to be a first-round pick. He has cooled off a little and Peterborough is one of the worst teams in the OHL. Robertson can spend another year in the OHL and then go straight to the AHL and play with the Phantoms.
Comparison: Tanner Pearson, drafted as an overager but really shined and was a middle 6 forward who had a solid career.
4th round
102nd overall – Cruz Lucius, RW, US National U18 (USDP), USNTDP (USHL), 5’10”, 176lbs
Stats – 11 games, 4 goals, 3 assists, 7 pts
Reasoning: Lucius has been injured for most of the season. He had close to a point per game in the US U17 National Team last year (60 pts in 68 games) where he scored more points than players that will most likely be first round picks (Cutter Gauthier, Jimmy Snuggerud). Lucius is the younger brother of 2021 Winnipeg 1st round pick, Chaz Lucius. Cruz is committed to the University of Minnesota in 2022 and will play with his brother. Lucius is a long-term project and his best attribute is his shot and his ability to get it off from anywhere in the offensive zone. Lucius could pay off big in three to five years and that is something that the Flyers should be targeting from rounds 4-on. High upside players with an elite attribute that can round out their game as they develop.
Comparison: Tyler Motte, a USDP alumni, a bottom 6 forward that can chip in some offense
5th round
130th overall (from ARI) – Raul Yakupov, LW, Reaktor Nizhenkamsk (MHL), Neftekhimik Nizhenkamsk (KHL), 6’1”, 168lbs
Stats – 54 games, 30 goals, 16 assists, 46 points (MHL), 1 game, 0 points (KHL)
Reasoning: If the last name seems familiar, that’s because it is. Raul is the younger cousin of Nail Yakupov, former 1st overall pick in 2012 by Edmonton. Yakupov is the leading goal scorer and points per game player for his Junior team. The MHL is the top junior league in Russia. Yakupov has some nasty in his game with 62 penalty minutes. He is one of the top goal scoring U18 prospects in the MHL. Yakupov has translatable skills for the next level. The Flyers will also own his rights forever unless they trade him.
Comparison: Troy Terry (this year) if it goes right, Maxim Lapierre if it goes okay
134th overall – Cole Knuble, RW, Fargo (USHL), US National U18 (USDP), 5’10”, 174lbs
Stats – 48 games, 15 goals, 18 assists, 33 points (USHL), 1 game, 0 points (USDP)
Reasoning: Yes, this is the son of former Flyer Mike Knuble. Knuble is committed to the University of Notre Dame. His stats are not overly impressive, but Knuble is the 2nd leading scorer on Fargo. Knuble also will not be 18 until the week of the NHL Draft. Cole is not as big as his father, but he has his work ethic and rugged determination on the puck. Knuble is another player that will take 3 to 5 years to develop. His father was a 4th round pick in 1991 and did not play a full season in the NHL until 1997-98.
Comparison: Alex Killorn, a long-term project that can be a difference maker in time
142nd overall (from EDM) – Vinny Borgesi, RHD, Tri-City (USHL), 5’8”, 172lbs
Stats – 43 games, 3 goals, 22 assists, 25 points
Reasoning: Borgesi is committed to Northeastern University, who has been a powerhouse in college hockey the last couple years. He is also from Philadelphia and played for Team Comcast. He is another player that Flyers’ scouts should be aware of. Tri-City is one of the top teams in the USHL and Borgesi is fourth in plus/minus on the team with a +27. The Flyers are drafting heavily at center and right-handed defenseman. Borgesi is another piece that gives depth to areas of need.
Comparison: Jaccob Slavin, who Borgesi has nearly identical production in the same league in his draft year.
6th round
166th overall – Jacob Guevin, RHD, Muskegon (USHL), 5’11”, 188lbs
Stats – 46 games, 5 goals, 36 assists, 41 points
Reasoning: Guevin was the top scoring U18 prospect in the USHL last year and went undrafted. Guevin is our 2nd overager this draft (but not our last). He is in his 2nd year with Muskegon and is having another very solid year. He is committed to the University of Nebraska-Omaha next year. Guevin is another feisty and fiery right-handed defenseman. The Flyers not only need players that can contribute but players that can impact a game when they are not getting on the scoring sheet.
Comparison: Cody Ceci, a solid right-handed defenseman who can score but shouldn’t be counted on to protect a lead or top pairing minutes
7th round
198th overall – Valdemar Johansson, C, AIK (J20 Nationell/Allsven), 5’11”, 172lbs
Stats – 38 games, 20 goals, 20!assists, 40 points (J20), 17 games, 5 goals, 0 assists, 5 points (Allsven)
Reasoning: Johansson is another overager but will not be 19 years old until August 2022. He did not play a lot during his first draft eligible season due to COVID. Johansson is playing against men in the Allsven which is the Swedish AHL to the Swedish Hockey League. He has over a point per game in the top Swedish Junior league. He is a linemate of Dalibor Dvorsky, a possible top 10 pick in 2023 NHL Draft. Johansson is a sit and wait to see how he develops.
Comparison: Flyers prospect Olle Lycksell. See how he develops and if he can be a center at the next level. Lycksell has a real chance of making the Flyers next season. He has 26 points in 35 games in the Swedish Hockey League.
215th overall (from WSH – Yandle trade) – Gibson Homer, G, Chicago (USHL), 6’5”, 208lbs
Stats – 25 games, 3.33 GAA, .891 Save Percentage, 12-5-6
Reasoning: Goalies are voodoo, but they are the most important position in all of sports (hot take whatever, bad quarterbacks have won Super Bowls -see Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson, Eli Manning *ducks*). If you have this many picks you should take a shot at a goalie. Homer is a massive goalie who was the U18 USA starting goalie last year. He is not an overager but a late December 2003 birthday. He is committed to Arizona State next year. The Arizona State program has been heavily built up over the last couple years and will even share an arena with the Coyotes. The Flyers will own Homer’s rights for 5 years and can take a wait and see approach with him. Homer and Hart have a nice ring to it.
Comparison: Ben Bishop, massive goalie who takes up the whole net
Overview
The Flyers added 10 prospects (6 forwards, 3 defensemen, and 1 goalie). They focused on centers and right-handed defensemen that have high upside. Savoie becomes the Flyers’ top prospect and if he can turn into Brayden Point then this is absolute coup. Robertson will be the prospect that we will see the soonest and pretty much everyone else is 3 to 5 years away. That is okay because the Flyers in this scenario have a ton of depth that is ready to play now with the new acquisitions. We also have 21 draft picks in the next two drafts. All of which will not be used and can be used to go out and acquire more talent for today.
