The Philadelphia Flyers and new general manager Ron Hextall have already made a move this offseason by trading Scott Hartnell for R.J. Umberger and a 5th-round pick, but now it seems Hextall wants to make another move in the draft.
Hextall spoke at Flyers’ practice Tuesday and said he would like to make a move in the draft, but clarified there is no elite talent on paper.
"We'll look at trading up if we can, but we won't trade up if we're going to get a similar player at where we are drafting right now in the first round," said Hextall, whose team has the 17th choice in the first round. "There is separation from the top of the draft and where we are drafting, so we'll look to trade up.
"There's no [Sidney] Crosby or [Drew] Doughty in this draft, but there will be some good players taken. It's a decent draft but lacking high-end type guys that some drafts produce.”
The Flyers will host the NHL Draft Friday and will also select at No. 17 on the first night of the event. Hextall believes the team should covet defenseman as much as he does and thinks that it is incredibly hard for a hockey team to be successful without solid defensive play.
Hextall was asked if his commitment to defenseman would prompt a huge deal by the Flyers in the form of trading up for the No. 1 overall pick and top prospect Aaron Ekblad, but Hextall was mum on any inner workings.
The Flyers have six picks in total and havent selected No. 1 overall since 1975 when Philadelphia selected forward Mel Bridgman after acquiring the pick in a trade from the Washington Capitals.
[NHL]
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