The Flyers remain in a rebuilding mindset despite performing better than expected for much of the 2023-24 season, and the club's decision-makers know they need more talent and the Entry Draft is the best avenue to get it.
“We still have to get there through a large part of our young players, primarily the draft,” general manager Danny Briere said in April.
The Flyers will have a golden opportunity to strengthen their future when the 2024 NHL Draft takes place at the Sphere in Las Vegas on June 28-29. The first round begins at 7pm ET on Friday, while rounds two through seven begin at 11:30am ET on Saturday.
The Flyers could have up to 10 picks, including two first-round picks, just like they did last summer. Barring a trade, the Flyers will have the highest overall pick at No. 12. Briere believes the Flyers can “get a very talented player” at that position.
The Flyers selected Matvey Mishukov with the seventh pick in the first round of the 2023 draft and took Oliver Vonk with the 22nd pick. The Flyers should also have two first-round picks in 2025.
We analyzed the Flyers' 12th pick target ahead of the 2024 draft.
Summary:
Liam Greentree
position: Winger
height: 6 feet 2 inches
weight: 215
photograph: left
team: Windsor Spitfire
Scouting Report
Greentree is a strong, versatile playmaker who is difficult to cover, he has a talent for putting himself or teammates in positions to score due to his ability to beat defenders with a variety of moves.
Greentree led the OHL's Spitfires in all major offensive categories and accumulated 90 points (36 goals, 54 assists) in 64 games this season. He had three or more points in 12 games, including a six-point performance that included a hat trick.
“Obviously, he has the size, the strength, the shooting ability, but his ability to take the puck to the net, create scoring chances, get the puck in scoring areas,” Windsor general manager and vice president of hockey operations Bill Bowler said in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia last Saturday. “Over the course of a game, over the course of a season, he's been very good at creating offense.”
Less than two weeks after his 18th birthday, the Spitfires appointed Greentree as their captain.
“He's a really good guy, very down to earth, very humble guy,” Bowler said. “You can't tell from the way he carries himself and his demeanor whether he's an NHL first-round pick or an advancement player. Once he starts playing, he's a special hockey player. But he gets along with everybody and treats everybody the same. … It's unheard of to be named captain at that age, but he deserves it.”
There are concerns about Greentree's skating, especially his acceleration, and he'll need to improve on his explosiveness in the NHL, where there will be much less time and space.
“Liam's going to have to work on everything to thrive in the National Hockey League,” Bowler said. “Skating is a cosmetic thing, and sometimes it may not look as smooth as other guys, but the reality is Liam's getting to where he wants to be. He can definitely get even better, but there's no indication he won't be able to thrive at the next level. With his length, size and strength, I think he'll get even better.”
He has been working on that area with Windsor skating coach Cathy McIlwain and others.
“That's another beautiful thing about Liam, we've spoken about his character and he's always looking to improve,” Bowler said. “Everything you see now is going to be even better in a few years.”
Greentree is ranked as the 14th best North American skater by NHL Central Scouting and is considered the 15th best prospect in the draft by EliteProspects.com. TSN's Bob McKenzie has him 18th overall and TSN's Craig Button has him 23rd.
Fits the flyer
When you watch Greentree play, you see a glimpse of Jamie Benn playing. They're both wingers with size, technique and intelligence. The Flyers would have no problem adding a player like him to their team. The Flyers need more potential, and Greentree has that.
Combined with Greentree, Michkov and Tyson Forster, the Flyers have three wingers under the age of 22 with 30-goal potential. In addition to Forster, the Flyers also have wingers under the age of 25 in Owen Tippett, Joel Farabee, Noah Cates and Bobby Brink who are already making an impact on the rebuilding team.
Do the Flyers have a center or defenseman higher on their list who they could still get at No. 12? It certainly could be, but if he's still around, Greentree should give the Flyers a good decision to make.
More Targets
• The Flyers should like Helenius: “One of the best talents in the draft.”
• Flyers draft target Catton has the “material” to be a first-line center.
• The Flyers could target Yachemchuk, a defenseman with a “rare combination.”
• Flyers draft target Iginla has a stellar NHL resume and “tremendous potential.”
• Is Yzerman, “the best goal scorer in this draft,” an option for the Flyers?
• “The full package” Connelly is an intriguing draft prospect for the Flyers
• “There are no major flaws in his game,” Ilicek will be the Flyers' No. 12 option.
• With Branseg-Nygard approaching the pros, could he have a shot at a spot with the Flyers?
• The Flyers have their eye on Senneke, a big winger who is expected to be explosive on the offensive end.
• Should Boisvert, a future “impact center,” be on the Flyers’ radar?
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