While the Flyers sit idle in this year's Stanley Cup playoffs, they still have one claim to stake — and that's contingent on Tampa Bay's performance in this year's tournament.
The Orange and Black hold the Lightning's first-round pick in this year's draft, thanks to Ron Hextall's trade of Braydon Coburn. Naturally, that pick was set to be one of the last 16 in the first round. But when the Bolts took down Detroit last week in the last game of the quarterfinals, it had fans across the Delaware Valley and beyond cringing — as it guaranteed that the Flyers' second pick would be later in the round.
At present, the best-case scenario for the Flyers is that they would pick at 23rd overall. And if the Lightning advance past Montreal in their current series — which is well within the realm of possibility, thanks to their 2-0 advantage — that would give the Flyers one of the last four picks in the round.
You get the idea. The better the Bolts do, the lower the Flyers pick.
But even if the Flyers get a deeper pick, it wouldn't be a bad thing for the organization. For one, they're already picking at seventh overall, which all but ensures them having their pick of the litter for a quality prospect. The draft is also set to be one of the deepest in recent history, meaning that two picks in the first round is a good problem to have, no matter where they may be.
One could also point to captain Claude Giroux as a good example of talent taken late in the round, as he was taken with the 22nd pick in 2006. But on the converse, let's not forget that the Orange and Black took Steve Downie at 29th overall just a year earlier.
Of course, the draft order will change and adjust based on how the playoffs unfold. The Flyers won't be the only team with multiple picks in the round, and the weeks between the last game of the season and the draft will provide a whirlwind of activity.
Sure, it's always nice to pick soonest in the draft's first round. But when you hold the seventh-overall pick, and another within the first round, it's not the end of the world in a draft as deep as this one promises to be.
Follow Rob Riches on Twitter @Riches61
