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2023 Philadelphia Flyers Three-Round Mock Draft 2.0

By Jonathan Bailey

ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA - 2022/05/05: Matvei Michkov (No.39) of Russia U20 seen in action during the Liga Stavok St. Petersburg Cup, hockey tournament match between Russia and Russia U20 at Jubilee Arena in Saint Petersburg.(Final score; Russia 4:2 Russia U20). (Photo by Maksim Konstantinov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA - 2022/05/05: Matvei Michkov (No.39) of Russia U20 seen in action during the Liga Stavok St. Petersburg Cup, hockey tournament match between Russia and Russia U20 at Jubilee Arena in Saint Petersburg.(Final score; Russia 4:2 Russia U20). (Photo by Maksim Konstantinov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) /
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Calum Ritchie during the 2023 Kubota CHL Top Prospects Game practice. (Photo by Dennis Pajot/Getty Images)
Calum Ritchie during the 2023 Kubota CHL Top Prospects Game practice. (Photo by Dennis Pajot/Getty Images) /

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’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

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