Report: Flyers meet with top rated prospect, ignore #2

The NHL Draft Combine, an annual event that showcases the physical attributes of the upcoming draft class, concluded this week, but not before one interesting development from Philadelphia Flyers general manager Ron Hextall.

The Flyers, who choose 2nd overall behind the New Jersey Devils, elected to meet with top rated prospect Nolan Patrick for a medical examination, but passed on meeting with #2 rated prospect Nico Hirschier. So, what does this mean? Well, it could mean that the Flyers either only have interest in Patrick at pick number 2, or that the Flyers already know that the Devils are choosing Hirschier at #1, so why waste their time? 

There’s also the possibility that the Flyers are simply doing their due diligence on Patrick’s health, given his injury history. In fact, Hextall hinted wanting to get “clarity” on Patrick’s situation this past week saying, "We all know [Patrick] had some injuries last year and we wanted to be clear on what they were and how severe they were and everything else. We now have clarity."

So, what do we make of this? Is this simply procedural? Or is there more beneath the surface? However you look at it, it’s intriguing stuff and as we draw closer to the NHL Entry Draft all eyes will be on the Devils and Flyers.