2021 NHL Draft: Flyers select Ethan Samson 174th overall

Another pick, another defenseman. The Flyers are on a roll here, and they’ve picked up a third defenseman in a row with their sixth round, 174th overall pick in Ethan Samson.

A product of the Prince George Cougars of the WHL, Samson is a right shot defenseman with decent size (6’1”, 194 pounds). While the Flyers’ first two pickups of the day on defense brought a bit more of a dynamic offensive game, Samson falls more into the mold of a defensive-defenseman. He was able to get a bit of power play time this season on top of his even strength and penalty kill responsibilities, and was still able to bring a bit of scoring to the table, with 12 points in his 22 games played. So there is a bit of offensive upside there, but it’s really Samson’s defensive game that stands out.

He has a good motor and brings a nice bit of physicality. He anticipates plays well and brings a good defensive awareness, and we see that working well both in the defensive zone and at the blue line, as he works on breaking up entries. But he also still skates and passes well, so there is still a good bit of dynamic skill to his game, it’s not as though he’s just a one trick defensive pony, if you will.

And the pipeline fills out further at defense!