2023 Philadelphia Flyers Three-Round Mock Draft 2.0
The Philadelphia Flyers stole the show early in the offseason, but it’s been quiet for them since. With less than a week until the 2023 NHL Draft, the options that will be available to the Flyers on draft night, as well as Matvei Michkov’s future, are unclear as ever.
Despite the constant rumours surrounding the Philadelphia Flyers, Daniel Briere is yet to pull the trigger on another trade, lest one that would yield the organization another first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. The offseason is far from over, though, and Briere might be shifting his focus towards narrowing down which prospects he will be most interested in drafting on Wednesday. The narrative around the draft hasn’t changed much, if at all; Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, and Leo Carlsson are still expected to be the first three players off the board. The draft truly starts at pick four with the San Jose Sharks. After that, it’s anyone’s game.
With the seventh pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers select…
Pick Analysis. SKA St. Petersburg. player. 68. Matvei Michkov Scouting Report. W. Matvei Michkov. 7
Without question, Russian superstar Matvei Michkov is the most polarizing prospect in this draft class. Michkov is a supremely talented winger whose hockey IQ and vision are second to none amongst his peers, including Connor Bedard. For all his strengths, Michkov doesn’t come without risks. On the contrary, Michkov might come with more risks than strengths. For starters, Michkov is signed with SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL until 2026, which means three hockey seasons where Michkov is not in the building with the organization, coaches, and teammates. Then, teams selecting Michkov run the risk of the winger never actually coming over to North America. The NHL has also shown an abundance of bias against Russian players recently, with previous reports suggesting that teams will be less likely to sign or draft prospects due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Alex Mogilny, among others, was snubbed by Hockey Hall of Fame voters again, as well. For these reasons, it has been virtually impossible to get a gauge on where Michkov will go in the draft, and which teams are interested in him. The Flyers, however, might genuinely be interested in Michkov after all. Flyers amateur scouting director Brent Flahr said Thursday that “We’ve done a lot of our background and we’ll spend time with [Matvei Michkov] and his family. We’ll get a comfort level and make a decision real quick”.
https://twitter.com/HockeyNewsHub/status/1671167647470477315?s=20
If Matvei Michkov truly does fall in the draft, it would be a no-brainer for the Philadelphia Flyers to take a flier on him. As a player, Michkov’s only true weakness is his average skating ability, which can be worked on and corrected over time, if not by the time his KHL contract is up. Michkov is diminutive in size and isn’t explosive, but his ability to read the ice should allow him to make up for that and get him to the right places at the right times. Michkov has an elite shot, elite hands, and elite vision that will allow him to pile up the points at the NHL level if he develops. If the cookie crumbles the right way, the Flyers could end up with a top-10 talent in the NHL in Matvei Michkov.
Pro comparison: Patrick Kane
After selecting Matvei Michkov, the future of the Philadelphia Flyers’ wingers is in good hands. Alongside Michkov, the team also has Owen Tippett, Tyson Foerster, Joel Farabee, and Cutter Gauthier. Now, it makes sense to grab a big, strong center that can support them.
With the 22nd pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers select…
22. Calum Ritchie Scouting Report. C. Calum Ritchie. player. 68. Pick Analysis. Oshawa Generals
The Philadelphia Flyers desperately need to get better at both ends of the ice, and that’s exactly what Calum Ritchie‘s game allows for. Sean Couturier turns 31 in December and hasn’t appeared in an NHL game since December 18, 2021. Outside of Couturier, Morgan Frost, and Noah Cates, the Flyers have no depth at center. Cutter Gauthier is miles better as a winger than as a center, which leaves only Elliot Desnoyers and Jon-Randall Avon as the Flyers’ best center prospects. Essentially, the Flyers need to get younger and better down the middle and in a hurry.
Calum Ritchie, EP's No. 14-ranked prospect, is such a skilled passer, especially along the boards.
— Mitchell Brown (@MitchLBrown) June 11, 2023
Slips pucks under sticks, hooks them around, completes passes under pressure, off the backhand, and through opponents.
Smart off-puck game, too. Always open, give-and-go style. pic.twitter.com/l0vq3Bregu
Calum Ritchie’s offensive game won’t blow anyone away, and he doesn’t always bring the ‘wow’ factor to every game. That is totally OK. Ritchie is a pure center with prototypical size at 6’2″ 187 pounds. Like Matvei Michkov, Ritchie’s strongest trait is his hockey IQ and game feel. At times, Ritchie has the individual skill to drive play, skate through players, and dunk on goalies for a goal, but he does a lot of things well besides that, too. Ritchie uses his size to his advantage, plays a defensively responsible game, and consistently supports his teammates in the offensive zone along the walls and in the dirty areas. Ritchie understands where he needs to go to score goals and create opportunities, and understands where he needs to be to deny opportunities and break up chances. Calum Ritchie is a winger’s dream, and if he falls to the Philadelphia Flyers at pick 22, he’s a slam-dunk top-six center.
Pro Comparison: Travis Zajac
Throughout this Philadelphia Flyers three-round mock draft, there’s been a recurring theme. That is, players who are smart, see the game well, and use their tools to take advantage of their knowledge. Even with two picks late in the third round, the Flyers can find more players as intelligent as Matvei Michkov and Calum Ritchie.
With the 87th pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers select…
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 87. player. 68. C. Malmo Redhawks. Anton Wahlberg
Like many players in the last six months, Anton Wahlberg has been a late riser up many draft boards. Wahlberg is seen as a safe and projectable draft pick thanks to his size (6’3″, 194 pounds), hockey IQ, and strong tournament production. Wahlberg was an excellent producer within his age group, which prompted his call-up to the Malmo Redhawks’ senior team from the J20s. Wahlberg played with the J18s, J20s, and the adults in the 2022-23 season, and produced at all three levels. In 2021-22, Wahlberg crushed the J18s as a full-timer. In 2022-23, Wahlberg crushed the J20s as a full-timer. At this rate, the sky is the limit for the Swedish center.
Wahlberg isn’t quick and has average hands, but can absolutely take over a game at the NHL level. Wahlberg can impose his size over his opponents and is aggravating to play against as a relentless defender and ruthless attacker. Offensively, Wahlberg’s upside is questionable, but he is determined to make things work in his favor. A bit of elbow grease and NHL-level skills training would do wonders for him. It would be an absolute blessing for Anton Wahlberg to be available this late in the draft for Daniel Briere and the Flyers as his stock has started to skyrocket towards the first and second rounds, but this draft has proven to be very tricky to get reads on with the constant stock changes.
Pro Comparison: Barclay Goodrow
Anton Wahlberg of Malmö Redhawks, another eligible player #LGRW should eye with a 2nd rounder.pic.twitter.com/lI0jNiGzpy
— Lars Thorsell (@LarsThorsell) April 20, 2023
With the 95th pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers select…
UNTDP. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. F. Danny Nelson. 95. 68
Danny Nelson is a former defenseman who transitioned to forward, and, as you might expect, plays pretty good defense for a forward. Nelson’s versatility is unmatched, and the 6’3″ Notre Dame commit loves to get into dirty areas and shoot the puck. Nelson is also an excellent skater for his size and will utilize the two together to advance the puck, retain it, and move it into a scoring position.
Nelson is also seen as a late riser, but hasn’t been as popular lately as he was in May. It’s possible that some teams don’t know whether or not he really is a defenseman, or if he’s a power forward, at the next level. Nelson is intelligent and skilled enough to play both positions though, and several great NHL players have managed to do both. Some of those include Phil Housley, Dustin Byfuglien, and Brent Burns. Like Burns, Nelson is a lethal shooter from all areas of the ice. With proper coaching and development, Danny Nelson can become the ultimate Swiss Army knife for an NHL club.
Pro Comparison: Brent Burns
Also. Cam York Is the NHL’s Best-Kept Secret. light
The suspense is building for the Philadelphia Flyers, and everyone is waiting for their next move. It remains to be seen whether that move comes before or after the 2023 NHL Draft.