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Flyers Missed Out on Cole Caufield!

AUTHOR
DATE
June 28, 2021

The Flyers are clearly stuck organizationally as we await major moves this offseason. Outside of Carter Hart, who needs to bounce back big time, there really isn’t a player that’s MUST WATCH. Also keep in mind that a goalie doesn’t move the needle the same way a goal scorer will. I love Claude Giroux and will die on the hill of defending his play, but he doesn’t pop the same way other stars do in this league.

Enter Cole Caufield.

This kid is a flat out stud and can put the puck in the net. Chuck Fletcher had a chance to draft him at #11 in the 2019 NHL Draft. He decided to trade down instead to #14 while grabbing the Arizona Coyotes’ #45 pick. I have no issue at all with that, but when Caufield is STILL SITTING THERE at #14, it’s a no brainer.

This town has been deprived of a legit sniper. Caufield recorded SEVENTY TWO GOALS in 64 games playing for the National Development Program back in 2018-19. His sophomore campaign at Wisconsin, he scored 30 goals in 31 games. That’s absurd production.

Let me repeat something because I can’t wrap my head around it. SEVENTY TWO GOALS!! In what universe can you pass up on that type of ability?

Ahhh! Maybe this is why? He is listed at 5’7 and 165 pounds.

Who the hell cares? It’s 2021, we’ve seen plenty of athletes succeed in this era of professional sports as smaller players:

Alex DeBrincat 5’7

Tyler Johnson 5’8

Cam Atkinson 5’8

Jonathon Marchessault 5’9

Brad Marchand 5’9

Johnny Gaudreau 5’9

Torey Krug 5’9

Brayden Point 5’10

The list goes on and on, I don’t have all day to list players.

I will admit, it’s easy to sit here today and criticize the Flyers defensive core after the horrendous play in their own zone this past season. So drafting Cam York with their selection instead sounds great in theory.

A little info on York: 5’11 & 180 pounds

He’s a 20-year-old defenseman who had a great career at Michigan in 2 seasons. He finished with 54 games played and 36 points.

He also spent recent time with the Phantoms, recording 5 points in 8 games before logging in 3 games with the Flyers after they were officially eliminated from playoff contention. He wore the “C” during the World Juniors gold medal run over this past Christmas, too.

Look, I believe York is going to help this franchise on the backend for sure as a top 4 role. It’s definitely harder to find top defenseman in this league and they aren’t as sexy or appealing to the eye as forwards. I am very understanding of that. So it’s not as if they picked a horrific prospect by any means.

With that being said, we are dealing with a special player in Caufield. Franchise changing. You HAVE to tune in to watch. ELECTRIC! He is so damn skilled and shifty with the ability to snipe from all angles. You can not leave that talent on the draft board TWICE. It’s just unacceptable.

After dealing with Ben Simmons drama all week, I find it refreshing to see an athlete fight through mental toughness to get over the hump. The Habs were not committed to their younger players during the early stages in this playoff run to the point where Caufield was a healthy scratch.

He received a chance and ran with it. Dominated! Changed the entire series!

He’s 20.

Enjoy these beautiful goals why don’t ya!