Flyers Eye Talented Winger Liam Ruck with 45 Goals as Draft Approaches

The Philadelphia Flyers are preparing for the 2026 NHL Draft with a renewed sense of optimism, following their recent playoff run. This marks a significant shift for the club, particularly for its amateur scouting staff as they gear up to make their selection at the 21st overall pick—their lowest first-round position since 2020. Despite the lower draft spot, the Flyers remain committed to building a competitive team for the long haul. General manager Danny Briere emphasized this approach, stating, “We’ve said it for a long time, we wanted to build a team that was going to be here for a long time; not just to go for it for a year or two.”

With only five picks in this year’s draft, scheduled for June 26-27, the Flyers know the importance of making their selections count. The first round kicks off Friday at 7 p.m. ET, with the following rounds taking place Saturday starting at 11 a.m. ET. As the Flyers look to solidify their future, TSN director of scouting Craig Button offered a candid perspective on the draft process. “I think it’s f—ing bulls–t when I hear about, ‘Oh, this draft isn’t as good,’” he remarked. “The teams that get good players from the draft say it was a good draft. The teams that don’t get good players from the draft say it wasn’t a good draft.”

Last summer, the Flyers made nine selections, including a standout pick in Porter Martone at sixth overall. Now, they are focused on finding a gem in the 20s, and one player who has captured attention is Liam Ruck, a 6-foot winger from Medicine Hat. Ruck has made headlines for his remarkable performance, leading all draft-eligible players with 45 goals in just 68 games this past season, amassing a total of 104 points, second only to his twin brother, Markus Ruck.

“This kid is a hell of a player,” Button said of Ruck. “He knows how to play the game everywhere—offensively, defensively, he’s a great competitor, he’s smart, he knows how to make things happen.” Ruck’s impressive skill set includes 16 power play goals, three shorthanded, and 10 game-winners, as well as six games where he registered four or more points. In the playoffs, he continued to shine, scoring eight goals and adding four assists in 14 games.

Though the Ruck brothers may not possess explosive skating speed, Button believes their overall talent outweighs these concerns. “I hear this all the time and I get asked this question: ‘What about their skating?’” Button noted. “If [Liam] was a little bit better of a skater, we’d be talking about him at the top of the draft. … He’s a damn good hockey player.” He ranks Liam Ruck as the 10th best prospect on his draft list, while NHL Central Scouting places him at No. 20 among North American skaters.

The potential fit for the Flyers is intriguing. If Ruck remains available at the 21st pick, it could present a difficult decision for the organization. His shooting ability, versatility, and hockey intelligence make him a compelling option to bolster the Flyers’ right wing alongside Martone and Matvei Michkov. As the draft approaches, all eyes will be on how the Flyers navigate their selections and whether Ruck becomes a part of their future.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.