- Dave Isaac of the Courier-Post: Flyers GM Ron Hextall would like to have their head coach in place by the draft. Five candidates that could be available for the Flyers: Mike Babcock, Todd McLellan, Claude Julien, Dave Tippett and Dan Bylsma.
- Randy Miller of NJ.com: 12 candidates for the Flyers next head coach:Best Bets: 1. Todd McLellan 2. Kevin Dineen 3. John Stevens 4. Pete DeBoer
Could be in the running: 1. Mike Babcock 2. Claude Julien 3. Jeff Blashill 4. Dan Bylsma
Long shots: 1. Mike Stothers 2. Paul MacLean 3. Ron Wilson 4. Guy Boucher
- Sam Carchidi: Flyers GM Ron Hextall hasn’t ruled out trading up in the draft. Doubts the Oilers will trade their pick. (Flyers have the 7th overall pick)
- Randy Miller of NJ.com: Available for the Flyers at the No. 7 slot will likely include Mitch Marner, Lawson Crouse, Ivan Provorov and Mikko Rantanen. GM Hextall said they will probably draft a forward over a defenseman if they had both players ranked equally. The Flyers also have the Lightning’s 1st round pick. Hextall hasn’t ruled out packing both first round picks to possibly move up in the draft, possibly to the third or fourth spot, which would land them one of Dylan Strome or Noah Hanifin.
“Once we get through our meetings, that will tell a little bit more whether it would be worth it,” Hextall said. “You try to put two faces on two (No. 1) picks, and then you put those two faces against the one and make that decision, assuming the other team is willing to do something. We’ll always look at moving up and moving back every year. Whether it’s possible or not, who knows?”
