2019 NHL Draft: Biggest winners and losers from Vancouver

Winner: Philadelphia Flyers

Philadelphia Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher probably had no idea he would leave Vancouver with such an amazing draft haul. The first big move was landing ultra-talented American blueliner Cameron York with the No. 14 selection.

Somehow, another elite prospect — forward Bobby Brink — fell to Philadelphia in the second round at No. 34 overall. Brink is one of the best all-around playmakers and goal-scorers in this draft, and he promises to produce nice results in Philly.

Fletcher also found tremendous value with his third and fourth-round picks in blueliners Ronald Attard and Mason Millman. Following a terrific draft, Fletcher now enters free agency with just over $21.396 million in projected cap space. It’s going to be one special offseason in Philly, to say the least.

Loser: Arizona Coyotes

The Arizona Coyotes drafted up so they could get Swedish defenseman Victor Soderstrom at No. 11 overall, but I think general manager John Chayka needed a forward. Otherwise, the aforementioned York would have been the safer and better pick here.

Chayka’s wheeling and dealing left him without another draft pick until the third round, where the Coyotes selected center John Farinacci at No. 76 overall. Not a bad pick, but again, Chayka should have gone with a forward and then a defenseman with his first two selections.

And despite the opportunity to weaponize his cap space and/or make other big splashes in the trade market, Chayka simply decided to stay put. Arizona hasn’t made the playoffs since 2012, and after a lackluster showing at the draft, it’s hard to see where they got better.