The 'other' Shero will help mold Flyers' future

Fred Shero coached the Flyers to Stanley Cup championships in 1974 and 1975. Forty-two years later, his son, Ray, is indirectly going to play a huge role in molding the franchise's future.

Ray Shero, of course, is the general manager of the New Jersey Devils, whose team has the No. 1 selection in Friday's draft in Chicago. Shero has been busy taking phone calls from teams that want to acquire the pick, but he said he plans to keep it.

Barring some stunning last-minute developments, he will select either Nolan Patrick or Nico Hischier, the consensus top two picks in the draft.

That will leave the Flyers, who have the No. 2 overall selection, with whichever gifted center that Shero bypasses.

"We have a jump in our step; we're all excited," Shero, who grew up in South Jersey during the Flyers' heyday and attended Camden Catholic High School in Cherry Hill, told reporters recently. "We have 11 picks, and we have to take advantage of it."

Shero won't tip his hand on which player he will select No. 1.

He knows the center he doesn't pick will likely go to the Devils' Metropolitan Division rivals down the New Jersey Turnpike.

"Whoever we don't pick  … will be playing against us at least six times a year," Shero said to NJ.com. "If we get the pick right, we're going to be happy he's on our side. It can't be my concern about who we don't pick becoming good for somebody else."

Scouts are evenly split on whether Patrick or Hischier is better.

Patrick (6-foot-2, 199 pounds) has more strength and is better in the corners, Hischier (6-1, 179) has more speed and creativity. Both are excellent passers and reliable defensive players.

Some questions about Patrick's durability have arisen after he suffered two sports hernias and a leg injury in the last year.

"They're totally different players, but they both have passion, they both have hockey sense," Shero said.

Flyers general manager Ron Hextall agreed.

"They're both two-way players. They both make plays and can score goals. They both compete hard," Hextall said. "Hischier has a little bit more quickness and speed to his game. Patrick's looks for the right play and makes the right play. Both should be top NHL players."

That makes the Flyers and Devils, two teams that got lucky by climbing in the draft lottery, eager to cash in on their good fortune.

Breakaways

Hextall called it a "forward-heavy draft, but there are some good defensemen out there just the same." … The Flyers have several promising goaltenders in their system, and Hextall said "ideally" he will select one goalie among his 11 picks. "We're not going to pick a goalie if we don't see a goalie as a value pick," Hextall said. "If we get a guy we like, then we'll take a goalie. But we're not going to chase a goalie this year." … Hextall could make a trade for a goalie at the draft. "You know I don't talk about trades," Hextall said, "but I think there's a possibility it could go anywhere." … Las Vegas' expansion team and the NHL award winners will be revealed Wednesday night.  Calgary's Johnny Gaudreau (61 points, four penalty minutes), the pride of Gloucester Catholic High, is a finalist for Lady Byng Trophy, awarded for sportsmanship combined with a high standard of play. Former Flyer Sergei Bobrovsky is expected to win the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender. … Jordan Weal's agent has been talking with the Vegas Golden Knights about the unrestricted free agent, but the winger is expected to re-sign with the Flyers.