PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Flyers have seemed to have found a formula for drafting players. This year the Flyers continued their recent trend of drafting players from the United States National Team Development Program. Last year, the Flyers selected Joel Farabee, Jay O’Brien, John St. Ivany, and Gavin Hain. In 2017 it was Noah Cates. This year the Flyers dipped back into the USNTDP with their top two picks in this year’s NHL Entry Draft.
With a solid group of centers and left wing prospects already in the Flyers system, the Flyers felt that right wing and defense were two positions that needed to be addressed in this year’s draft. The Flyers delivered by selecting three defensemen, three right wingers, and one goalie. Here is an overview of who they selected.
First round (14th overall): Defenseman Cam York – 5’ 11”, 172 pounds, U.S. National Team Development Program. York is a native of Anaheim Hills, Ca and had 65 points (14 goals, 51 assists) in 63 games. His Head Coach in minor juniors was Scott Niedermayer and plays like Brian Leetch. York is headed to the University of Michigan. Expect him to be there for two years then turn pro. Don’t expect him to play in the AHL. He’s as close to any Flyers prospect to making a roster spot.
Second round (34th overall): Right Winger Bobby Brink – 5’ 8”, 165, Sioux City (USHL). Flyers brass were excited to see him slide into the second round where the Flyers traded up to get him. Brink scored 35 goals and 68 points in 43 games in the USHL. The Minnesota native will attend the University of Denver in the fall. He could end up spending only one year at Denver before turning pro.
Third round (72nd overall): Defenseman Ronnie Attard – 6’ 3”, 208, Tri-City (USHL)
A right-handed shot who was bypassed in the 2017 and 2018 drafts. Attard had a breakout year with 30 goals and 64 points in 48 games and was named the USHL player of the year. Attard will attend Western Michigan. Being twenty years old he could be a one and done player as well in college.
Fourth round (102nd overall): Defenseman Mason Millman – 6’ 1”, 175, Saginaw (OHL) Millman is considered as a good puck mover and skater and more defense oriented then York or Attard. Millman had only three goals, 22 assists and was a plus -13 rating. In 2017-18, he was named the GOJHL’s (Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League) most outstanding first-year defenseman.
Sixth round (No. 165): Right Winger Egor Serdyuk 5’ 11”, 165, Victoriaville (QMJHL)
The Russian born Serdyuk led all QMJHL rookies with 65 points and had 25 goals. He also had six points in 11 QMJHL playoff games. In 2017-18, Serdyuk had eight goals and five assists in 30 games in Russia’s MHL. Serdyuk could turn out to be a dark hours to make the Flyers roster one day if he continues his progression.
Sixth round (No. 169): Goalie Roddy Ross 6’ 2”, 165, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
Ross played in only 25 games for Seattle posting a 2.76 goals against average and a .919 save percentage. Ross earned the WHL Rookie of the Month honor in January. Despite having solid numbers
Seventh round (No. 196): Right Winger Bryce Brodzinski 6’, 198, Blaine (Minn.) High. Brodzinski was passed over in the 2018 draft but this year Brodzinski had 36 goals and 55 assists 29 games for Blaine High School and was named USA Today’s All-USA Boys Hockey Player of the Year as well as winning the coveted Mr. Hockey award as the best senior player in Minnesota. In the USHL, Brodzinski had seven goals and 10 assists in 19 games. Central Scouting ranked him 89th among North American skaters. Brodzinski is headed to the University of Minnesota. Expect him to play 2-4 years at Minnesota.
Overview: The Flyers seemed to have struck gold again when they selected York and Brink. Both players should make the Flyers roster in the 2021-22 season after spending at least two years in college. If they continue on their present rate of improvement don’t expect either player to spend a day in Lehigh Valley (AHL). PHN projects both players go make the Flyers roster after both spend two years at their respective colleges.
The rest of their draft class is a bit of a mixed bag. Serdyuk will probably have the best shot at a roster spot given that he is a forward and the Flyers have only a limited number of roster spots on defense, but the salary cap and the Seattle expansion draft could give someone like Attard or Millman a shot down the road.
Overall I give the class a solid B grade but could become an A if someone besides York and Brink can contribute regularly for the Flyers one day.
Brian Jennings covers the Philadelphia Flyers for prohockeynews.com and can be found on twitter at @Flyersfan22.
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