We’ve got a trade, folks! Not terribly spicy, but the Flyers moved a couple of picks to move up and grab a second round pick. They sent the 2024 second round pick they received from Los Angeles (remember, they will be getting an extra as compensation for not signing Jay O’Brien), and this year’s 167th overall pick to Chicago in exchange for the 51st overall pick. And with that pick, they selected goaltender Carson Bjarnason from the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL.
🔸 WELCOME TO PHILLY! 🔸
With the 51st pick in the 2023 #NHLDraft, we are proud to select Carson Bjarnason. pic.twitter.com/EmvVCx6o6v
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) June 29, 2023
Bjarnason is a 6-foot-3 goaltender, coming off of a season with Brandon where he put up a .900 save percentage, with 21 wins in 47 games played. He was Central Scouting’s top ranked North American goalie.
And while this may not be the flashiest pick – as there isn’t a ton of flash in Bjarnason’s game – it’s a solid one. He’s a good player who was dependable for a somewhat up and down Wheat Kings team this season. And, what’s more, the Flyers felt the need to bolster their prospect pipeline with another goalie (which generally feels advisable, you never know how things are going to shake out with goalies), and they did what they had to in order to grab one of the best ones still on the board.
