2017
The picks: Nolan Patrick (2nd overall), Morgan Frost (27th), Isaac Ratcliffe (35th), Kirill Ustimenko (80th), Matthew Strome (106th), Maksim Sushko (107th), Noah Cates (137th), Olle Lycksell (168th), Wyatt Kalynuk (196th)
The elephant in the room. Nolan Patrick. Whether you choose to wholly believe Bob Clarke or not, I can’t fault the Flyers too much for making a move that was fully accepted at the time and drafting Patrick. If not for injury concerns, Patrick was the slam dunk #1 pick that year. Hextall weighed the risks and rewards, and he took him. It ended up being a mistake. They happen, but rarely are they as painful as this one. Everyone loves revisionist history, but let’s not think about Cale Makar in a Flyers uniform too much.
At this point, Frost has to be considered a disappointment to some degree as well. Also hampered by injuries, he really should be further along in his development by now. He’ll show occasional flashes of brilliance, but the Flyers are going to need to see a lot more in the next year or so to validate the high regard they’ve always seemed to hold him in. Ratcliffe is another guy who should have already cracked the Flyers based on his draft position. Maybe that day is finally coming soon.
We’re getting into the timeframe where it’s too early to make a final judgment on these players, as someone will occasionally break through and become a useful player five years or so after they are drafted. But I wouldn’t hold my breath on any of these guys.
Grade: D-
Picking second overall offers a huge opportunity to a franchise. And the Flyers blew it. If Frost ends up being good, this maybe maxes out at a C.