The Flyers currently have a whopping 10 picks in the 2016 NHL Draft, among some of the most that any team in the NHL has this year. They might grab one more before the Draft kicks off on Friday, too.
You all remember the brilliant trade from last year at the Draft, when the Flyers sent the Ghost of Chris Pronger and defenseman Nicklas Grossmann to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for forward Sam Gagner and a conditional 2016 or 2017 draft pick. Arizona did not hold a fourth round pick in 2016 at the time of the trade, so the condition was that the Flyers would get Arizona’s third round pick in 2017 unless the Coyotes were able to come up with a fourth rounder in 2016.
Today, they did that in a trade with the San Jose Sharks, acquiring the 111th overall selection.
Having acquired 2016 SJS 4, #Coyotes now can fulfill condition on trade with #Flyers last summer with that pick. pic.twitter.com/eeHQEYnqjG
— General Fanager (@generalfanager) June 20, 2016
It’s Arizona’s choice, basically. If they choose, they can send this fourth round, 111th overall pick to the Flyers this year, or they can send their third round pick to the Flyers next year. A third rounder is more valuable than a fourth rounder, so they’ll probably opt to give the pick to Philadelphia this year. That’s not to mention that San Jose is at the end of the fourth round while Arizona is likely to be near the top of the draft again next season. It’s potentially a near-60 spot difference in the draft order.
It’s going to be a busy weekend at the Draft in Buffalo for Ron Hextall and his scouts.
