The NHL Draft is rapidly approaching, marking the second draft of the Flyers' rebuilding plan under their new regime.
The front office made a big decision last year by selecting Matvey Mishukov with the seventh overall pick, and 10 players will be selected in this year's draft on June 28, including the 12th overall pick.
General manager Danny Briere met with the media on Thursday to discuss draft philosophy, recent trade speculation and the Flyers' plans regarding restricted free agency. Here are some key takeaways from Briere's remarks:
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Flyers that want to move up or down
The Flyers held onto the No. 12 overall pick in the draft lottery, but they won't be sticking around there next week in Las Vegas. Briere said moving down is still an option.
“If we move up, we might have to give up a pick or two, but if it's worth moving up and giving up a late pick to pick a guy we really like, we'll jump on it,” he said. “Conversely, if we have a group of guys that we're comfortable with, we might be willing to move down to get more assets.”
He said having 10 picks each in the 2024 and 2025 drafts gives the Flyers more flexibility. The parity of first-round picks this year also makes things more flexible.
“There are a lot of good players in the top 16 or 17 of the draft,” Briere said. “We [going to] “You get good players. That's the mindset. The player you get at No. 7, No. 8, No. 9 might be the same player you get at No. 12, and maybe No. 15, No. 16. It's really hard to predict. It's probably harder than it's been in the past.”
As for his philosophy on the draft, Briere said he will look for the best prospects available early in the draft and then focus on the organization's needs as the draft progresses.
“Hopefully we can diversify and bring in all types of players,” he said. “Small guys, big guys, fast guys, guys with hockey sense. Those are probably some of the things we'll look at. Hockey sense is important. Speed is very important. We try to have as much diversity as possible with the positions.”
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A deal is not “imminent”
Last year, Briere traded Kevin Hayes to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for a sixth-round pick ahead of his first draft as general manager, and there was speculation Wednesday that Briere could be in action this week as well, amid unconfirmed reports that a trade was in the works between the Flyers and Ottawa Senators.
Briere downplayed those reports Thursday but stressed that the Flyers remain open for business.
“I wouldn't say there's anything imminent going on in our case at this point,” he said, “but we do expect things to continue to get worse. If that makes sense, we're going to jump on it.”
Briere said the Flyers don't expect “a lot” when free agency begins on July 1.
“The reality is, going into year two of my tenure, we have a lot of dead money left,” he said. “But that was the plan. We'll also acquire assets, picks and things like that that will help us in the future. So, this summer will be tough. Next summer will be a little easier, but it's still going to be a little tough. But looking forward, as the cap goes up, I think things will get easier.” [and] If possible, I would like to do it again next summer.”
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Waiting for Guidance on the Heart
Briere confirmed that the Flyers intend to make qualifying offers to restricted free agents Egor Zamula and Bobby Brink, but that the “sole condition” would be Carter Hart.
Hart, who is also a restricted free agent this season, was granted an indefinite leave of absence by the Flyers for personal reasons on Jan. 23 after he, along with four other players from Canada's 2018 World Junior Team, were charged with sexual assault in connection with an alleged incident in London, Ontario. The NHL teams those players were under contract with last season – the Flyers, New Jersey Devils and Calgary Flames – received salary cap relief from the league.
Hart and his co-defendants are awaiting a trial date, which could happen in April 2025. None of the five players have been suspended by the NHL, and Briere said the Flyers are waiting for guidance from the league before deciding whether to extend a qualifying offer to Hart.
“The situation right now is that all of the rights that the CBA provides for the clubs and the players will be respected,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said at a joint press conference with commissioner Gary Bettman on June 8. “We've had general discussions with the players' association about potentially revisiting those rights in some capacity, but we've made no commitments on that. So it's entirely possible that clubs will have the power to decide whether or not they want to be eligible by the end of this month.”
Bettman then answered a question in the affirmative, clarifying that the decision to play a player was up to the club.
“I've seen it,” Briere said when asked about Daly and Bettman's comments, “but we haven't received any guidance. That's what's been said publicly. We haven't been told to do that yet. So we're still waiting for guidance as to what we can do and what that is and how it's going to work.”
Any restricted free agent who does not have a qualifying offer extended by June 30th will become an unrestricted free agent.
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