Flyers draft target Iginla has impressive NHL lineage and ‘very high ceiling’ originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Despite overachieving for the majority of the 2023-24 season, the Flyers still have a rebuilding mindset. The club’s decision-makers know there’s a need for more talent and that the entry draft remains the best avenue to acquire it.
“The bulk of it still needs to be done through our young guys, mostly through the draft,” general manager Danny Briere said in April.
The Flyers will have a good opportunity to augment their future when the 2024 NHL draft arrives June 28-29 at the Sphere in Las Vegas. The first round is Friday at 7 p.m. ET, while Rounds 2-7 are Saturday starting at 11:30 a.m. ET.
Like last summer, the Flyers have 10 picks, including two first-rounders. Barring a trade, they’ll make their top overall selection at No. 12. Briere believes the Flyers “can get a very talented player” at that spot.
In the first round of the 2023 draft, the Flyers took a swing on Matvei Michkov at No. 7 and grabbed Oliver Bonk at No. 22. They should also have two first-round picks in 2025.
Leading up to the 2024 draft, we’re breaking down targets for the Flyers at No. 12.
Next up:
Tij Iginla
Position: Winger/center
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 191
Shoots: Left
Team: Kelowna Rockets
Scouting report
Oozing with confidence and savvy, Iginla climbed plenty of 2024 NHL draft rankings this season by putting up 84 points (47 goals, 37 assists) in 64 regular-season games for the WHL’s Rockets.
His 47 goals were tied for sixth most in the WHL, while his nine playoff markers led Kelowna as he finished with 15 points over 11 games. Including the postseason, he recorded 11 multi-goal games, featuring three hat tricks.
And he did all of it as a 17-year-old. Iginla, who doesn’t turn 18 until August, has some Hockey Hall of Fame bloodlines to boot. His father Jarome Iginla is enshrined in Toronto after playing 1,554 career NHL games and producing 1,300 points (625 goals, 675 assists).
The young Iginla plays on the wing like his dad but can also chip in at center. He’s a strong skater with a knack for the puck and might project more as a winger at the pro level.
“I like to use the term dynamic because he’s got the skill and the speed to make things happen,” Dan Marr, the vice president of NHL Central Scouting, said over two weeks ago in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “And it has kind of continuously evolved and improved over the course of the year. He’s got a…