Subj : Flyers' 2020 NHL Draft Targets: Goalies
To : All
From : The Hockey Writers
Date : Sat Jun 13 2020 04:40 am
The NHL has announced that training camps for the return to play will begin on
July 10. Much analysis will be done between now and then on the playoff
matchups and each team's chances. The draft has effectively been placed on the
backburner, but with so many prospects to dissect, we continue on to look at
some goaltenders. This year's crop is not especially deep in high-end talent at
that position but there are some prospects that have some intrigue as later
round picks. Here are a few goalies that the Philadelphia Flyers will be
considering in this year's draft.
Yaroslav Askarov
2019-20 Team: SKA Neva St. Petersburg (VHL), SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)
2019-20 Stats: 18 Games Played, 12-3-3 Record, 2.45 GAA, .920 SV% (VHL), 1 Game
Played, 1-0-0 Record, 2.00 GAA, .920 SV% (KHL)
Height: 6';3
Weight: 176 pounds
DOB: 06/16/02
The top goaltender in this draft and the only one projected to go in the first
round, Yaroslav Askarov has been heralded as a can't-miss super prospect
between the pipes. Drawing early comparisons to Carey Price, Askarov has
demonstrated his skill as he dominated the Russian junior league this past
season. He also saw a call up to the KHL, when he became the second-youngest
goalie in history to play in the KHL, a game he won 4-2 at the age of 17.
Team Russia';s Yaroslav Askarov (Russia Hockey/FHR.RU)
He has the desired size for modern goalies while being agile and composed in
the net. His maturity for his age is noteworthy and his game is well rounded,
combining smooth lateral movement, excellent puck tracking and high-level
athleticism. There isn't much to critique about his game, which is quite rare
for such a young goalie. For these attributes, he will likely be selected high
in this draft by a goalie-deprived team.
Related: THW';s 2020 Draft Guide
Given the emergence of Carter Hart and the overall positional depth that the
Flyers have in net, it is doubtful they invest such draft capital in yet
another netminder. The only exception would be in the unlikely event that
Askarov is still available at the end of the first round or into the second. At
that point, the value would be too good for the Flyers to pass up. If this
were to happen it would represent an outstanding backup plan should Hart get
injured or experience some drastic drop off in his performance, or a premium
trade chip, assuming Hart continues his ascension.
Nicholas Daws
2019-20 Team: Guelph Storm (OHL)
2019-20 Stats: 38 Games Played, 23-8-6 Record, 2.48 GAA, .924 SV%
Height: 6';4
Weight: 199 pounds
DOB: 12/22/00
A player that majorly improved his draft stock this past season, Nico Daws was
the top goalie in the OHL this season playing for the Guelph Storm. Part of
this improvement was the result of rededicating himself to his training and
losing 30 pounds in the offseason. He tracks the puck well, reducing the need
to make drastic sprawls across the net, he has good size and overall looks
smooth and composed in goal.
Related: Do You Know Your NHL Goalie Trivia?
Due to the unpredictable nature of goaltender development, teams have become
less and less willing to spend first-round picks on them. Case in point would
be Carter Hart, who was the top goalie in his draft, had a mature approach, and
very few flaws in his game, yet even he lasted until the middle of the second
round. This has bearing for Daws, who has some serious question marks to go
along with his talent.
Nico Daws of the Guelph Storm. (Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.)
The concerns about him as a prospect stem from a few different sources, none of
which can be completely brushed aside. First, he had some difficulty
corralling rebounds after making the initial save, second, his track record is
inconsistent, only producing one year of high-quality play, and finally, he had
his biggest struggles when the spotlights were on, having had rough
performances at both the World Junior Championships, where he lost his starting
job for Team Canada, and in the OHL playoffs.
Young goaltenders often have their ups and downs but it will be scouts' jobs to
determine the severity and how correctable these issues are. The Flyers have
more pressing needs than in net, so if they were to select Daws, it is doubtful
that it would be with one of their first two picks.
Drew Commesso
2019-20 Team: US National Development Program U-18 (NTDP), Team USA (USHL)
2019-20 Stats: 30 Games Played, 18-7-1 Record, 2.05 GAA, .920 SV% (NTDP), 11
Games Played, 8-2-0 Record, 2.01 GAA, .917 SV% (USHL)
Height: 6';2
Weight: 180 pounds
DOB: 07/19/02
The lowest-ranked goalie in this article is the one that may actually be the
most appealing to the Flyers. Drew Commesso spent this season as the starting
goalie for the US National Development Program team, attempting to fill the
void left by prized Florida Panthers prospect Spencer Knight, the team's
starter from the year before. Not the same caliber of prospect as Knight,
Commesso played well for the team, showcasing good puck tracking and body
control.
Drew Commesso of the USNTDP (Rena Laverty)
He has NHL size but he has some wrinkles to iron out in his game to make it to
the higher levels. He does not possess high-level athleticism and can lose his
composure a bit in scramble situations. He has also committed himself to work
on the psychological aspects of his game, mainly his approach and preparation.
Commesso was quoted as saying "This year, I started becoming looser before
games, interacting with my teammates but still staying focused.
"Finding that balance is important between staying too focused and staying
loose. You have to find that balance. I worked on that a ton this summer, what
makes me happy and calm before games."
This attitude not only demonstrates maturity, but also his coachability, which
should make him an easy sell to the coaching staff.
Related: Vladislav Tretiak - Goaltending Guru
What will also make him appealing for the Flyers is that he is not projected to
be a high draft pick, making him more of a bargain bin selection with some
decent upside and he is already committed to attend Boston University next
season, meaning that he will have several years to develop without needing to
be signed to an entry-level contract. Acquiring a goalie prospect that does not
require high-value draft capital to get and has a longer developmental path in
place would be a win-win for Philadelphia.
Replenishing a Rebuilt Pipeline
The Flyers have seen the light regarding goalie development compared to years
past. The past two regimes have invested in the position fairly heavily given
the unpredictable nature of goaltender progression, and it has begun to pay off
for the club.
With Alex Lyon set for free agency and several of the teams' other goalie
prospects set to duke it out for starting duties and primary call-up rights in
Lehigh Valley for the Phantoms next season, the Flyers would be wise to
continue to add depth in this area. The team can now afford to roll the dice on
more of a project player, with no immediate pressure to develop quickly.
The post Flyers'; 2020 NHL Draft Targets: Goalies appeared first on The Hockey
Writers.
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