It turns out Everett Silvertips goaltender Carter Hart didn’t have to wait long at all to hear his name called once the 2016 NHL draft hit its second day.
The netminder was selected No. 48 overall by the Philadelphia Flyers midway through the second round Saturday morning in Buffalo, N.Y. Hart was ranked No. 2 among North American goaltenders by NHL Central Scouting, but was the first netminder taken off the board.
“It’s a little surreal right now, going up there and shaking their hands,” Hart said in an interview that aired on NHL Network just after he was picked. “Just to hear your name called is a surreal feeling. There’s no words to describe it. I’m very honored and very excited to go to such a great organization like them.”
Hart told the NHL Network commentators he knows Flyers goalie development coach Brady Robinson. The commentators also made mention of Hart’s cardiovascular endurance as he led all players at the NHL combine in VO2 max – a test of aerobic fitness.
“I think you gotta be (in good shape). You’re out there for 60 minutes in the game so it’s not like the old days where you throw the chubby kid in net,” Hart said, eliciting laughter from the commentators. “I think I you gotta be in a little bit of good shape and be flexible.”
The Sherwood Park, Alberta, native augments his five-day-a-week workout regimen with yoga to help maintain flexibility. He is the 19th Silvertip selected in the NHL draft during Everett’s 13 seasons in the WHL, and the third goalie selected in team history joining Leland Irving (No. 26 by Calgary in 2006) and Kent Simpson (No. 58 by Chicago in 2010).
Hart was the second of Philadelphia’s three second-round picks. The Flyers also took forward Pascal Laberge from Victoriaville of the QMJHL at No. 36 and forward Wade Allison from Tri-City of USHL at No. 52 overall.
“His mental game is in order; his tools are in order,” Flyers general manager Ron Hextall told the Philadelphia Inquirer of Hart. “He ‘s the type of kid who bounces back from a bad game. He has all the makings of someone who has the potential to be a No. 1 guy.”
Hart isn’t the first Silvertip to join the Philadelphia organization. Currently on the Flyers roster is defenseman Radko Gudas, a former Silvertips defenseman (2009-10) who signed a multi-year extension with Philadelphia on Thursday. Gudas was a third-round pick by Tampa Bay in 2010.
Once Hart was off the board other top goaltenders went quickly. Tyler Parsons from the London Knights went No. 54 overall to Calgary, followed immediately by Swedish netminder Filip Gustavsson, who went to Pittsburgh. Evan Fitzpatrick of Sherbrooke of the QMJHL went No. 59 overall to St. Louis. Fitzpatrick was the top-ranked North American goalie available per NHL Central Scouting.
Bonney Lake native Dylan Gambrell, a center from the University of Denver was taken with the No. 60 overall pick by San Jose.
In all 94 Canadian Hockey League players were taken in the draft including 34 from the WHL. Everett Silvertips winger Patrick Bajkov went undrafted after being projected as a potential late-round selection.
For the latest Silvertips news follow Jesse Geleynse on Twitter @jessegeleynse.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
