SUNRISE, Fla. Travis Konecny was strolling through his hotel in Ft. Lauderdale Thursday when he came across someone from the Flyers.

In passing, the Flyers front-office type told Konecny that if Philly wanted him, they’d have to trade up to take him in the draft.

“I didn’t think anything of it,” said Konecny, who interviewed with the Flyers twice, but not since the scouting combine.

As the first round wound down, the Flyers did trade up, although it wasn’t their idea. The Toronto Maple Leafs, who had the 24th pick, came calling and traded it to the Flyers for the 29th and 61st picks.

The Flyers used 24 on Konecny, a right wing from the Ottawa 67s of the Ontario Hockey League.

“I’m really happy to go to the Flyers,” the 5-foot-10 converted center said. “It’s one of the teams that I always liked when I was growing up. I got a chance to see the fans last year at the draft. I just can’t express how I feel right now. It’s really special.”

The Flyers had Konecny high on their draft board and general manager Ron Hextall “didn’t think we had a chance” at getting him.

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