2023 Philadelphia Flyers Three-Round Mock Draft 1.0

The great thing about drafting Ryan Leonard is that, because of his versatility, the Philadelphia Flyers can double-down at forward without having to worry about creating a logjam in their prospect pipeline. The Flyers appear set for the immediate future at defense with Ronnie Attard, Emil Andrae, Yegor Zamula, Will Zmolek, and the newly aquired Helge Grans all due for cracks at a full-time roster spot alongside Cam York, who graduated to the big club this past season. With top defenders like Axel-Sandin Pellikka and David Reinbacher off the board well before this pick, it’s better that the Flyers continue to build out their forward group anyway.

With the 22nd pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers select…

Samuel Honzek is a titan of a forward at 6’4″, and is a massively impressive athlete for his size. Honzek was one of the best performers in several different tests at the NHL combine, and Honzek parlays his size and athleticism into strong performances on the ice. Honzek is very fast and explosive as well as an adept skater, which makes him a total beast in transition. The Slovak forward also has a great feel for the game and can often recognize things going on around him as they happen. However, when Honzek is not doing that, he can get a little flat-footed defensively and become inactive in the play.

Honzek is at his best with the puck on his stick, even if his shots and passes lack the guile to consistently threaten for goals. In less stacked drafts, Honzek probably goes in the top-ten. This year, it seems Honzek’s stock has either been really high or really low, making 22 the sweet spot for him. If Honzek’s stock stays as-is, the Flyers could watch this physical specimen fall right into their laps.

Pro Comparison: Pavel Zacha

In sports, general managers don’t typically make their bread and butter with their top picks. Sometimes, all the difference can be made with the later picks. And, with a draft as deep as the 2023 draft, Daniel Briere and the Philadelphia Flyers will have plenty of opportunity to do just that. After passing on defense in each of their first two picks, the Flyers seize a chance to bolster their blueline here.

With the 87th pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers select…

Matteo Mann looks like he could be starting as an edge rusher for the Philadelphia Eagles, and instead, at 6’6″ 220 pounds, skates around the ice and knocks people over with minimal effort. Mann is a massive human being who understands how to use his size to disrupt his opponents on the ice. Aside from using his size and strength, Mann also uses his long reach to make accurate stick checks. Mann doesn’t have a lot of straight line speed, but is very agile for his size and has long strides that he can use in bursts to win races to the puck. Mann is an all-defense, no-offense defenseman who knows his role and plays it well.

Pro Comparison: Kevin Bahl

With the 95th pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers select…

The Flyers double-dip on Chicoutimi and scoop up Mann’s teammate Andrei Loshko. Loshko is a skilled winger with prototypical NHL size, standing at 6’1″ and weighing 170 pounds. Loshko is one of the older players in the draft this year with an October birthday, but still made massive strides on his 2021-2022 season nonetheless. The Belarusian winger is a great playmaker who has all the tools in his shed to create offense and reads the game very well. Loshko is a bit timid in the offensive zone and doesn’t always make his way into the sweet spots. If Loshko doesn’t develop as much as he should offensively, he could end up as a skilled bottom-sixer that can chip in some offense here and there and kill penalties if needed.

Pro Comparison: Kasperi Kapanen

Daniel Briere is heading into uncharted waters for the first time as the Flyers’ GM, but this is the perfect draft to make a name for himself. With a draft as deep as this, there’s no better time to get creative and be bold. Trust yourself and go and get your guy.