Philadelphia Flyers Embrace Size at NHL Draft
The Philadelphia Flyers are making strategic moves that could reshape their roster into a formidable force reminiscent of the legendary Broad Street Bullies. With an eye on the future, the Flyers selected five players standing 6-foot-3 or taller during the recent NHL draft, signaling a clear intention to prioritize size.
Among their notable picks were Porter Martone and Jack Nesbitt, both first-round selections. Martone, a hulking winger chosen at No. 6, and Nesbitt, a towering 6-5 center acquired through a trade for the 12th pick, exemplify the Flyers' new direction. "It's a nice bonus that they're both tall and will bring us size," remarked general manager Daniel Briere. "It just kind of worked out that way. It wasn't a plan that we had in mind going into the draft that we wanted to get bigger. It just happened that way."
In addition to their first-rounders, the Flyers added 6-6, 232-pound defenseman Carter Amico in the second round, along with forwards Jack Murtagh, Shane Vansaghi, and Matthew Gard, all boasting impressive dimensions. Murtagh characterized himself as "a high-end workhorse," emphasizing his commitment to hard work on the ice.
Luke Vlooswyk, another second-round pick, described himself as "a big defensive defenseman," highlighting the Flyers' focus on bolstering their defensive lineup. He noted that Gard, his teammate from the Western Hockey League's Red Deer Rebels, shares a similar stature. This influx of size is particularly relevant for the Flyers, who have previously leaned towards smaller talent in their system.
With budding star Matvei Michkov already on the roster and 2024 first-rounder Jett Luchanko having played four games last season, the Flyers are balancing their prospect pool. The recent acquisition of 6-foot center Trevor Zegras further underscores their need for size as they look to enhance their competitive edge.
The draft also saw a wave of familiar names as sons and nephews of former NHL players were selected. William Horcoff, whose father Shawn enjoyed a lengthy career in the league, was picked 24th by Pittsburgh. Seattle made headlines by trading up to select Blake Fiddler, son of Vernon, early in the second round, while Eric Nilson followed suit shortly after, being drafted by Anaheim.
In the third round, Artyom Gonchar, nephew of Stanley Cup champion Sergei Gonchar, was chosen by the New York Rangers, and Blake Vanek, son of Thomas, was picked by Ottawa. The draft also marked a historic moment when Simon Wang became the highest-ranked China-born player selected at No. 33 by San Jose. Matous Jan Kucharcik made Italian hockey history as well; although Czech by nationality, he was drafted 103rd by Buffalo as the fourth player born in Italy to be selected.
