Who the experts have the Flyers drafting in the first round

The first round of the NHL Draft is just over 24 hours away. With that comes final mock drafts from anyone and every one covering hockey. They vary from site to site as experts try to determine how teams will draft.

The Flyers have two picks in the first round. They have their selection (12th overall) and the Florida Panthers pick via the Claude Giroux trade (32nd overall). While it's easier to mock who their first pick may be, we're going to take a look at what the experts are saying about both first-round selections.

Flyers have a variety of options in the first round

Chris Peters (Flo Hockey) - Carter Yakemchuk, D

Many feel that the risks outweigh the benefits of Carter Yakemchuk. He has the offensive, putting up impressive numbers for the Hitman. But what he has in offense, he lacks in most other areas of the game. His aggressive style knocks him out of position most times and he's racked up the penalty minutes. One can hope he grows out of that, but most are hoping the Flyers look for a forward with their first pick.

Tony Ferrari (The Hockey News) - Zeev Buium, D

If Buium falls to the Flyers, grabbing a defenseman with their first pick wouldn't be a bad move. No one has Buium ranked below ninth heading in, so Philadelphia would be getting a steal if Buium drops this far. He tore up the NCAA as a defenseman, finishing with the most points (50) in his position. Partnered with Bonk, the Flyers would have quite the duo in their prospect pool.

Steven Ellis (Daily Faceoff) Berkly Catton

Catton comes in as the first forward mocked to the Flyers. He broke out in the biggest way for the Spokane Chiefs. He smashed past the 100-point mark, finishing fourth in the league with 116 points. His 54 goals were third in the league. Catton shined at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, captaining Canada to gold with eight goals in five games. Center is a position of need for the Flyers and Catton is one of the most skilled at the position in the draft.

Lyle Richardson (Bleacher Report) Konsta Helenius, C

Helenius would be a huge grab for the Flyers with their first pick. He has all of the skills to be successful at the next level. He's proven he can play with and against players over twice his age. His knowledge is off the charts as he can seemingly predict where the puck is going before it's passed, allowing him to cut it off and start things the other way. If the worst thing you can say about a player is that he doesn't excel at one thing, you know you've made the right pick.

Adam Kimelman (NHL) - Tij Iginla, LW

Similar to Buium, it is unlikely that Iginla fall out of the top 10. Iginla's offensive numbers are solid, breaking out in his second season in the WHL. His 47 goals led Kelowna, while his 84 points were second. Iginla is a strong playmaker and isn't afraid to use his body to separate his opponents from the puck. If he drops to the Flyers, they should be celebrating.

Chris Peters - Andrew Basha, LW

Basha is an interesting case. He has the offense and top-level speed to be a contributor at the NHL level. He scored 30 goals and had 85 points for the Medicine Hat Tigers. Basha could be considered one of the best playmakers available. But if he can't make it as a scorer, many believe that he could provide energy and physicality at the bottom of the lineup.

Tony Ferrari - Charlie Elick, D

Ferrari has the Flyers doubling down on defense in the first round. And he has mocked them with quite the physical defenseman. Elick punishes players with big hits and uses his size in board battles to help free the puck. Despite his size, he has smooth skating and finds a way to get back and cut off any opportunities in his zone.

Steven Ellis - Egor Surin, C

The Flyers have shown no fear in drafting out of Russia recently. Surin dipped his toes at the KHL level, but has primarily played in the MHL. He only got better as the season went on. Aggresiveness has been an issue as Surin often threw hits simply to do it. His 108 penalty minutes are a concern, but there is upside. He has a motor that never quits, showing off his playmaking skills in the playoffs.

Lyle Richardson - Andrew Basha, LW

Richardson also has the Flyers taking the speedy forward. When on his game, he can be quite the sight to see. We'll let the highlights do the talking.

Adam Kimelman - Eric Emery, D

Emery had everyone talking with his performance at the NHL Draft Combine. Out of the USA National Program, the defenseman won't stand out offensively. He had just 16 points in the NTDP. It's his defensive abilities that make him a decent pick. Emery keeps opponents wide with his reach and has the ability to poke the puck away with precision. He is another smooth-skating defenseman that will try to grow his talents of the University of North Dakota. He might be a safe pick, but it'll all depends on what the Flyers do with their first selection.