The 10 Best Draft Steals by the Flyers

Now we all know the Flyers are notorious for trading away draft picks for players past their prime. (I still like the Pronge trade.) Usually high picks are traded. Here is a look at the best players for the Flyers who were taken after the fourth round in the draft. (Yes, I do understand the difference between the draft today, and the draft 30 years ago.) Let's go!

Honorable Mention: Johan Hedberg

He is only an honorable mention, because he has never played for the Flyers. He has been a very good backup who can fill in for a starter for a while. He was drafted in the 1994 Draft in the ninth round

10.) Neil Little

He has appeared in two games for the Flyers, so he qualifies for the list. The only reason he is on the list is because he guided the Phantoms to two Calder Cups in 1998 and 2005. He is now the global goalie scout for the Flyers. The only one in the NHL. He was drafted in the 11th round of the 1991 NHL Draft.

9.) Todd Fedoruk

The Flyers drafted him in the seventh round in 1997. He became an enforcer for the Flyers, but was traded after the lockout. The Flyers did receive a second-round pick in return, so that was good. He eventually returned to the Flyers, but Colton Orr broke his face.

8.) Roman Cechmanek

The goalie who thought he was Hextall, but wasn't that good was drafted in the sixth round in 2000. He played outstanding sometimes, but usually wasn't spectacular at all. His head exploded and he was traded to Los Angeles after the lockout.

7.) Dennis Seidenberg

Funny picture, I know. He was not good when he played for the Flyers, but somehow got a whole lot better when he played with Joni Pitkanen in Carolina. Seidenberg was drafted in the seventh round in 2001.

6.) Antero Niittymaki

He was a sixth-round selection in 1998 and proved to be much better than next year's first round pick, Maxime Ouellet. He won a Calder Cup in 2005 and was the Flyers' backup until this year. He sometimes was very consistent, but ultimately streaky. And i never will forget that he went about 11-0 against Atlanta.

5.) Pete Peeters

Peeters was drafted in the eighth round of the 1977 Draft. He replaced Bernie Parent and was a capable goalie, who played very well at times. His best season came in 1982-83 when he won the Vezina Trophy with Boston.

4.) Dave Schultz

I know he was drafted 52nd overall, but he was still drafted in the fifth round in 1969. He was arguably the best enforcer for the Flyers, by protecting Clarke, Barber, Leach, and others. The next player on the list was drafted to replace him.

3.) Paul Homlgren

He replaced Schultz as a fighter, but he could also score. That's right Homer was drafted in the sixth round in 1975. He proved to be even better in management as he is the current GM of the Flyers, and former coach of the Flyers and the Whalers.

2.) Rick Tocchet

The current head coach of the Tampa bay Lightning was a very versatile player. He could drop the gloves, score, finance gambling rings, and replace Barry Melrose as a coach. Including these wonderful talents, was that he was drafted in the sixth round of the 1983 Draft. He has alos collected 200 goals and 4,000 penalty minutes.

1.) Ron Hextall

Arguably the best goalie since Bernie Parent for the Flyers, Hextall was one of my favorite players ever. Having a reputation as a goalie, who acted as his own enforcer, Hextall was a very unique player in the NHL. He had great skills, by winning the Conn Smythe Trophy while losing the Stanley Cup. He was also a headcase, being only matched, barely, by Ray Emery. The Flyers also stole him out of the sixth round in 1982.