It’s too early to call an official time of death.

Technically, mathematically, there is still a small sliver of hope that the Flyers win out the rest of their season and some combination of their divisional foes lose in such a way that they can narrowly sneak into the postseason.

Logic says this won’t happen and that the Flyers should be sellers at the Feb. 25 trade deadline, but it’s in no player’s blood to stop trying. And “tanking” for the first pick in June’s draft in Vancouver makes hardly any sense. Finishing dead last in the league offers only an 18.5 percent chance at drafting first overall, which every analyst assumes will be U.S. center Jack Hughes.

Typically there is a consensus No. 1 several months before the draft and it holds up whenever the first team steps up to the draft podium. That figures to be the case this season with Hughes and presumed No. 2 pick, Finnish right wing Kaapo Kakko (who might be the better fit for the Flyers, by the way).

Last Monday, the NHL’s central scouting department released its midseason rankings of the 2019 draft eligible prospects and Hughes was first among North American skaters while Kakko topped the European players.

A lot can change in a few months, however, and teams’ internal valuations aren’t always known either.

Last season, Jesperi Kotkaniemi was ranked sixth among European skaters by the NHL’s central scouting department and the Montreal Canadiens took him third overall.

The Flyers list two new European scouts on their front office list that were not part of the organization last season, former Finnish goalie Juuso Riksman, 41, and a 27-year-old ex-Czech defenseman named Jan Slansky. Both were hired by Ron Hextall before he was relieved of his duties as general manager and executive vice president in late November.

Perhaps Hextall and his right-hand man Chris Pryor, who was fired as well, planned to dip more into other parts of Europe the next time the draft rolls around. The team has seven prospects playing in Sweden, where Joakim Grundberg scouts for the Flyers, and two in Russia, where scout Ken Hoodikoff is based. None in Finland or the Czech Republic, however.

Considering the new regime hasn’t had its hand at drafting yet, it’s unclear where the Flyers will prioritize overseas scouting. The next few months leading up to June’s draft may answer that question.

With so much interest in the team’s prospect group, the Courier-Post will check in on the promising young players each week. Here’s the latest progress report with insights from a Europe-based scout who does not work for the Flyers and offered thoughts as long as it was done anonymously.

* all statistics through Friday, January 25.

Marcus Westfält, center/left wing, Karlskrona (Allsvenskan)

Age: 18

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 203 pounds

Acquired: 2018 seventh-round pick (205th overall)

This season: 7 games, 1 assist in Allsvenskan; 19 games, 1 assist in SHL

The skinny: The Flyers’ last pick in last season’s draft might not get the typical seventh-round treatment. Westfält has all the tools, including size, to be a player in North America. He’s early and he did not make Sweden’s World Junior roster this time around, but he might have a higher ceiling than most of their Swedish prospects.

Scout’s take: “Westfält is playing OK but has not improved lately. Started the season with Brynäs, where he played both on the SHL-team (one assist in 19 games) and the junior team (four goals and six assists in 12 games) before he moved to Karlskrona in the minors in order to get more ice time and responsibilities. A reliable, solid hard-working two-way player with a very good attitude. Power-forward with some skills but needs improvement in all areas.”

Linus Högberg, defense, Växjö Lakers (SHL)

Age: 20

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 176 pounds

Acquired: 2016 fifth-round pick (139th overall)

This season: 34 games, 2 goals, 3 assists

The skinny: Last season Högberg was part of Sweden’s silver medal team at the World Junior Championship but played very limited minutes. Like with Westfält, it’s unclear exactly what the future holds for him or what the strategy is for Chuck Fletcher as opposed to a plan that Hextall may have set out, but Högberg is under contract next season with Växjö.

Scout’s take: “Reliable stay-at-home type of D-man with a decent set of skills. Good understanding of the game. Solid, but needs to take the next step if he is thinking of a pro career in North America.”

David Bernhardt, defense, Växjö Lakers (SHL)

Age: 21

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 203 pounds

Acquired: 2016 seventh-round pick (199th overall)

This season: 19 games total, 1 assist

The skinny: With the drafting of another Swede, Adam Ginning, Bernhardt figures to fall down the organizational depth chart and it’s unclear how much communication there was with the Flyers for him to come to North America anyway. After a midseason trade to Högberg’s team, he is under contract through the 2020-21 season.

Scout’s take: “Bernhardt started with Djurgårdens in the top league, but did not play regular minutes and was, after 16 games with only one assist, sent to Växjö. OK player, but development is standing still.”

Dave Isaac; @davegisaac; 856-486-2479; disaac@gannett.com