- Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer: Flyers GM Ron Hextall said they could use two of their 10 draft picks on goaltenders, and Matej Tomek is on their radar. Head coach Dave Hakstol recruited Tomek to play at North Dakota next season.
“We’re not going to pick a guy way ahead of where we should, just so we get a goalie,” Hextall said last week. “We want to get a guy at the right spot. But there’s urgency there for us; we need to get going.”
The Flyers could use their second round pick that they acquired from Chicago, 61st overall, on a goalie.
“You can pick good goalies in any round. But I think once you draft a goalie, he’s probably a good four years away.
“We need to get some goalies in our system, and it’s a focus of ours. I wouldn’t be opposed to drafting two this year.”
- Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer: The Flyers are a little thin in young forwards heading into the draft. It’s unlikely the Flyers will try to move up in the draft, using their first round picks – 7th and 29th. Mikko Rantanen and Ivan Provorov are two players that could be available when the Flyers draft at No. 7. GM Ron Hextall wants to build through the draft.
“I think it’s the only way to be successful over a long period of time,” he said. “Free agency is a tool, but it’s only a tool. You can’t build a team through free agency. We have a cap. We have a hard cap. I think you look at Chicago, you look at L.A., you look at Tampa, they’re built through the draft. Draft and develop. We’re not reinventing anything here. It is what I believe in and it’s what I’ve always believed in.”
- Randy Miller of NJ.com: The Devils select 6th overall on Friday, one spot ahead of the Flyers, and both teams could be targeting Ivan Provorov.
“The Russian defenseman has a complete game, but it’s his offensive skill set that got scouts excited,” North American Central Scouting president Mark Seidel told nbcsports.com. “He makes great passes, can rush the puck when opportunities present themselves and possesses a big shot from the point on the power play. The big question (is) if his size will prevent him from becoming a star in the NHL.”
Other possibilities for the Devils and Flyers are Mathew Barzal, Mikko Rantanen and Pavel Zacha. Flyers GM Ron Hextall suggested it’s unlikely they trade up.
“We would consider it at the right price, but I’m not sure it’s worth it just because I think you’re going to get a similar level player that you would at those other picks,” Hextall said.