Considering the Flyers aren't currently playing in the postseason, there's quite a bit of news surrounding the Orange & Black. 

That news is currently coming on two fronts.

First, there's the reaction to the Flyers landing the second-overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft at last week's lottery – essentially Christmas in May for general manager Ron Hextall. Who will they pick? And what does that mean, if anything, for the players currently on the roster? 

The other news is coming from across the Atlantic, where some Flyers are still playing competitive hockey as part of the IIHF World Championship, which is currently taking place in Germany and France.

Here's a look at the latest in today's version of What They're Saying, starting with next month's draft:

Which prospect is the better fit?

According to Sam Carchidi of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Hextall can't go wrong with either Nolan Patrick or Nico Hischier:

The 6-foot-2, 198-pound Patrick models his game after Anze Kopitar, a terrific two-way player. In addition to having size, speed, and skill, Patrick has a quick, hard, and accurate shot, and is considered a better defensive player than Hischier.

Hischier is more exciting and dynamic and has been compared to a young Pavel Datsyuk, who happens to be his idol. Hischier (6-1, 176) is quick, shows amazing poise with the puck, and was arguably the best player at the World Junior Championship.

In other words, the Flyers cannot go wrong. Neither player is regarded as highly as McDavid or Auston Mathews, but both look like future stars. Whichever player slips to them - assuming the New Jersey Devils, who have the first overall pick, select one of the two can't-miss centers - will instantly become the Flyers' best young forward.  [philly.com]

Couturier in danger of being dealt?

Now that the Flyers have the second pick – and because Patrick and Hischier are both centers – some have started to speculate that could mean trouble for Sean Couturier.

Recently, Tom Dougherty, Jordan Hall and Greg Panone of CSNPhilly.com offered their thoughts on whether or not the Flyers big lottery win makes the veteran center more expendable. 

Tom Dougherty

This is an interesting question because, in Nolan Patrick or Nico Hischier, the Flyers will be getting another top-six center to build around and eventually take over for Claude Giroux. It also is an interesting question because there appears to be a certain sector of Flyers fans and the media that has soured on Couturier and want to move on from the 24-year-old. Perhaps it’s because Couturier has yet to blossom into an elite scorer at this level. Perhaps people see his draft position and want more points. Whatever the reason is, I don’t get it. …

I don’t think landing the No. 2 pick makes Couturier any more available than he was before. But that’s also because I don’t think he is a guy the Flyers should want to trade anyway.

Jordan Hall

Some may think Couturier is what he is after seeing him for six seasons. But I feel like the Flyers believe there's bigger potential for him to reach and Hextall isn't ready to throw that away just because they've landed a prominent draft slot and will add a prospect that plays Couturier's position. ...

Maybe Hextall will be more open to the thought of trading Couturier, but the still-maturing center is locked up by the Flyers through 2021-22 and I don't see that changing. 

Greg Paone

Teams like to build these days with strength down the middle at center. A triumvirate of Giroux-Nolan Patrick/Nico Hischier-Couturier down the middle of the lineup would be the envy of a lot of teams around the NHL.

So do I think Couturier is more available now? Yes, probably so. Do I think he will get moved prior to when the new season starts in October? No, I believe he'll be here. He's still just 24 years old and the Flyers shouldn't be ready to move on just yet. He brings a two-way dynamic that can be invaluable. Consistency, especially at the offensive end, is the missing ingredient.  [csnphilly.com]

If anything, it gives Hextall some more – what's that word again? oh, yes – optionality.

So what does the Flyers GM think?

On Monday, the Flyers general manager said that where the Flyers are picking in next month's draft – as well as which player they select – won't change his offseason decision-making process.

Here's more from CSN Philly's John Boruk: 

Hextall on Monday said the decision to draft Nolan Patrick or Nico Hischier will not affect the team's priorities or offseason plan, regardless of whether either player is NHL ready.

"We would like to think we know that, but until the kid comes in and shows you what he can do," Hextall said. "You make an educated judgment and then you go from there. A player has to come in and prove that he's ready and at this age not many are, so we'll wait and see which way he goes from there."

The draft is just one of many items on Hextall's offseason checklist that includes new contracts for RFA Shayne Gostisbehere and UFA Jordan Weal, the expansion draft in June, free agency in July and the search for a new assistant coach to replace Joe Mullen.

When asked if any of these events are connected to his decision-making process, Hextall said, "I guess the expansion draft and free agency possibly. I don't see how any of the other stuff with your entry draft can be intertwined. We're going to take the best available player in the amateur draft. There's a little bit of uncertainty in the expansion draft. Trying to figure out who we're going to lose, what position we're going to lose. We have no control over it."  [csnphilly.com]

Dean Lombardi, anyone?

On Monday afternoon, there was a report from Dave Isaac that Hextall has expressed interest in reuniting with his former boss in Los Angeles, Dean Lombardi. The ex-GM had been with the Kings since 2006 and won two Stanley Cups there before being fired last month.

Lombardi, who was a scout with the Flyers before being hired by the Kings, also comes with some baggage, both on the ice and off. That led Travis Hughes of Broad Street Hockey to write a lengthy column detailing Lombardi's resume (the good, the bad and, most definitely, the ugly) titled, "I don't want Dean Lombardi anywhere near my hockey team."

Hughes touches on several different areas of Lombardi's past, but here's his conclusion:

Lombardi obviously has some good ideas on how to run a hockey team. He’s obviously a mentor to Ron Hextall. I also don’t really give a shit.

Forget the on-ice stuff. It’s not great, and I don’t want it in Philadelphia.

But the off-ice stuff is a complete non-starter for me. I can’t respect a guy who was so willing to quickly cut ties on a player with a drug violation, yet also so willing to violate a league suspension to welcome back a player who had been charged with domestic violence. He valued a guy’s ability to play hockey over what’s so clearly, morally right.

That’s not the kind of guy who should have a seat at the table with the Philadelphia Flyers, and I’ll respect the team less if they give him one.  [broadstreethockey.com]

For more on how he got to that conclusion, you can read the whole thing, here.

On Monday, Hextall confirmed that he has indeed been in discussions with his former boss:

"I don't know," Hextall said. "I talked to Dean a couple of times. He's not doing anything right now as far as I know. I'm actually waiting for a call back from him. It's sobering where we are now in pro sports to win championships in five or six years and lose your job. In today's day and age, that's where we're at."  [csnphilly.com]

Stay tuned.

Flyers at the World Championships

With the exception of Claude Giroux, who was knocked out by Flyers teammate (and international foe) Radko Gudas over the weekend, it's been a good showing at the World Championships for the various members of the Flyers representing their respective countries (see: Pierre-Eduoard Bellemare's act of sportsmanship, or the fact that 19-year-old Travis Konecny is playing for Team Canada).

Things took a scary turn on Monday, however, when Flyers forward Jake Voracek had to leave the Czech Republic's game against Finland after taking an awkward hit from behind by Oskar Osala.

Voracek was hunched over as he left the ice and was later announced as out for the remainder of the game. Hopefully, it's nothing too serious.

Follow Matt on Twitter: @matt_mullin

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