By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor
For the entire offseason, since the gift of the lottery handed the Flyers the second overall pick, Ron Hextall has said time and time again that he doesn't foresee trading the pick, which means that one of the top two players should be coming to Philadelphia.
But with the NHL rosters frozen aside from moves involving the Vegas Golden Knights, could something be happening that could move the second pick to Vegas?
According to Matthew Sekeres, the host of a midday program for Vancouver's TSN 1040 AM, there are rumblings that the Golden Knights could acquire the second overall pick from the Flyers.
Not sure if this is out there, but rumblings that #VegasGoldenKnights could acquire #2 overall pick from #Flyers via their expansion bounty
— Matthew Sekeres (@mattsekeres) June 21, 2017
Sekeres adds that the move would send the second pick to Vegas for the sixth overall pick and likely involve other picks or players Vegas acquires through the expansion draft, including potentially two other first round picks in this year's draft
So, first thoughts? Take this with a grain of salt. This is really an unprecedented report. There have been no indications that Hextall wants to move the pick — especially since he has thrived on selecting players in his three drafts as GM — and for this to come out now, just two days before the draft, could be more noise to stir up conversation than anything else.
Still, stranger things have happened. But for the Flyers to be gifted with the chance at a superstar player at the top of his draft class and pass it up for two more additional picks, it just doesn't make sense. The Flyers should be looking to turn the corner with this selection, not continue adding to the prospect pool.
Adding the two additional picks in a decent class just wouldn't make as much sense unless the deal was also supplying a true starting goaltender, a potential superstar prospect and took an albatross contract off the Flyers hands.
Still, with the rumors swirling, it's something to keep an eye on.
Expansion Draft Result to Be Announced Tonight
We'll have to wait until 8 p.m. tonight for the NHL Awards to start before any announcement of Vegas' expansion roster come out, but the Flyers will lose a player as a result.
One player left unprotected that they don't appear to be losing through the selection process is Jordan Weal. Weal was available to be selected, but would need to be signed by Vegas before becoming an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Weal's agent JP Barry said that their talks with Vegas were interesting, but that Weal would be talking with other teams during the discussion period before signing.
Free agent speaking window opens next week to talk to all teams. Obviously door isn't closed for Weal in Philly I wouldn't think
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 21, 2017
It still remains likely he signs with the Flyers, as the two sides were nearing a deal as the July 1 deadline approached.