Flyers trade up, select Isaac Ratcliffe 35th overall
The Philadelphia Flyers drafted winger Isaac Ratcliffe with the 35th pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday.
This pick originally belonged to the Arizona Coyotes, but the Flyers swapped a few of their selections in order to move up.
UPDATE: The @ArizonaCoyotes have traded the No. 35 pick to Philadelphia for picks Nos. 44, 75 and 108
— Dave Vest (@davest4yotes) June 24, 2017
Isaac Ratcliffe
Position: Left Wing
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 200 lbs
Age: 18
Club: Guelph (OHL)
Nationality: Canadian
| GP | G | A | P | ES GPG | ES PPG | ES GF% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 67 | 28 | 26 | 54 | 0.31 | 0.55 | 52.14 |
(Even-strength stats courtesy: prospect-stats.com)
At 6-foot-6 and 200 pounds, Ratcliffe's appeal is quite clear.
Add in the fact that the 18-year-old can produce - he led the Guelph Storm in goal-scoring this season with 28 - and you have a player that will have some scouts salivating at his NHL potential.
After receiving a midterm ranking of 20th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting, Ratcliffe improved his draft standing over the final portion of the season, finishing in the No. 15 spot before the draft.
Ratcliffe competed for Canada at the 2016-17 Under-18 worlds, notching two goals in five games. If the hulking winger can continue to develop the finesse portion of his game and grow into his large frame, expect big things from the second-highest-ranked left winger in the class.