PHILADELPHIA, Pa – The Philadelphia Flyers will head into the NHL Entry Draft next month ready to continue General Manager Ron Hextall’s vision of building the core of the team through the draft. At last year’s event, Hextall focused more on centers and left-wingers. Scoring wingers have become more of a priority in recent years and at this year’s draft, right wing could get more focus than at left wing due to the lack over overall depth.
Center Dominik Simon (#12) of the Pittsburgh Penguins collides with Defenseman Andrew MacDonald (#47) of the Philadelphia Flyers
Depending on how this years’ draft falls into place, the Flyers two first round picks could both be scoring wingers. Too much focus by Hextall on center could come back to bite him in the future. For now, we focus our attention on the five right wing prospects in the Flyers system according to PHN.
Nicolas Aube-Kubel RW – Taken in the second round in the same draft as Oskar Lindblom in 2014, Aube-Kubel was a true goal scorer in the Quebec Major Juniors but so far, he is having trouble getting his scoring touch back. This season NAK had 18 goals and 28 assists for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, where in 2017 he only had nine goals and nine assists. Aube-Kubel could make the Flyers in training camp as a fourth or third line winger depending on what the team does with Dale Weise in the off-season. The former second round draft pick in 2014 has been shown plenty of patience. Here’s hoping that patience pays off for him.
Wade Allison – Allison is definitely one to watch in the Flyers system. In his junior season at Western Michigan Alison scored 15 goals in 22 games before his season was cut short. A second round pick in 2016 Allison is widely regarded by the Flyers and he could be fast-tracked to the Flyers roster sooner than you think later due to his scoring ability.
Maxim Sushko – Sushko has opened plenty of eyes in the Flyers circles, especially at last summer’s developmental camp. His junior career has only proven what the Flyers saw in him when the drafted him in the fourth round in 2017. This season Sushko had 31 goals in 60 games for Owen Sound (OHL). Once he goes pro, he could also be fast-tracked to the Flyers roster as well, but for now expect Sushko to spend at least one more season in juniors.
David Kase – Kase is a fifth round pick in 2015 and is starting to show some progress, but on a team with very few right wing prospects to speak up Kase is on our top five list. Kase had nine goals this year in 44 games in the Czech Republic. He should come overseas next season and could start next season in the ECHL.
Honorable Mention: None – No other right wing prospects were even considered to make it into our top five list by PHN. Now you know why we believe Hextall will make it more of a high priority at the upcoming draft, and having Wayne Simmonds become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
Brian Jennings covers the Philadelphia Flyers for prohockeynews.com and can be found on twitter at @Flyersfan22.
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