Philadelphia Flyers load up at the blue line in seven-round NHL Mock Draft simulation

Okay, it’s time for an NHL Mock Draft via FC Hockey’s simulator, and one reason I’m fond of rolling with a simulation as opposed to manually writing these seven-round mocks is that I don’t have a chance to create some elaborate storyline for my prospects of choice to land with the Philadelphia Flyers. 

But even with that mentality in mind, I was still pleased to land an outstanding haul of talent, especially at the backend. While you may feel I took one too many defensemen early, these are all future two-way players at the NHL level, even if they don’t all end up with the Flyers big club.  

But in one of those top four picks, I did find a remarkable forward who I thought wouldn’t be there. And yes, it’s a winger who, if they landed with the Flyers, could very well stick around long enough to play for their NHL squad at some point when we reach the second half of the 2020s. 

So, which blueliners were I happy to land in three of those first four picks, and who fell to me in the middle and late rounds?

1A: Zayne Parekh, D/Saginaw Spirit

Currently the 12th overall pick, but keep in mind that there’s a chance that changes by the draft, so I’m putting a 1A here. Part of me wanted a forward, but I also knew a high-scoring blueliner with Zayne Parekh’s potential was too good to pass up with the 12th overall pick. If he had 96 points in the regular season, we know he’s going to create opportunities and score goals, so now, the time has come to start improving his defense. 

1B: Cole Hutson, D/USNTDP

This was the 32nd-overall pick at the time of this writing, so I went with a 1B as opposed to the former just in case the Edmonton Oilers complete what would be a historic comeback. Anyway, some may call this a reach, but I’m a big fan of Cole Hutson, who, like Zayne Parekh, is a high scorer, and his defensive play is also solid, even if it still requires some work.