The upcoming NHL Draft has Flyers fans pumped and ready to go and for good reason, as the team has been linked to many trades throughout the course of this past weekend. But, fans are pumped to see who the Flyers will select with the 7th overall pick and number 22 in particular.
Will some of these picks help the Flyers get back to relevancy here in the near future? People can already hear the voice of the iconic Gene Hart saying, “Ladies and Gentlemen, the Flyers are going to win the Stanley Cup! The Flyers win the Stanley Cup! The Flyers win the Stanley Cup! The Flyers have won the Stanley Cup!.” This draft can be one key to the Flyers immediate success. Without further delay here is my seven round Flyers Mock draft. Let’s go Flyers duh-duh-duh-da-duh.
Round 1: (Pick 7) C, Dalibor Dvorsky
This pick makes even more sense with the Flyers looking to shore up the center position. The Flyers draft a stud with their first pick, finally the Flyers have drafted a cornerstone player. Dvorsky is a 6’1, Center/RW, with a booming wrist shot. The Flyers crave his lethal heavy, explosive wrist shot. For once, the Flyers have stocked the Flyers farm system at the very least with a positional need.
Dvorsky had a coming out party for HockeyAllsvenskan for the 2022-23 season. For the season, he amassed six goals, and eight assists for a total of 14 points in 38 games played.
He really showcased his skills in limited action, as he also played for the Junior National Team and what not. However, there are reasons he was shooting up the draft board. He’s an average to good skater, with a good pair of hands.
If a person has watched Dvorsky play this past year, then one would notice he is a solid skater even with his size. That’s what sets him apart from the rest of the pack. He’s a very good distributor with the puck, has good vision of the ice, and also has good defensive instincts. Dvorsky thrives in transition and has a booming one timer, a good comparable would be that of Bo Horvat.
This pick yet again shows the NHL that Flyers are trying to right the ship, as Dvorsky restocks the Flyers cupboard down the middle. The proud orange clad Philly fans will have plenty to cheer about when they announce Dvorsky’s name with the 7th overall pick, and there will be plenty of Let’s Go Flyers chants from the proud faithful inside of their homes.
The Flyers have made a trade Round 1: (12) RHD, Tom Willander (Via trade with the Arizona Coyotes)
The Arizona Coyotes also had two first round picks in the forward heavy draft, and Briere takes advantage to move up and grab a quality defensive prospect. According to Brent Flahr, it was slim pickings for defenseman in this draft, so the Flyers have to take advantage when they can. The Flyers have a rich trading history with the Coyotes to make this work. In return, Briere ships the 22nd overall pick, along with both third round picks (87&95) to Arizona to move up 10 slots to grab Willander.
Willander is a steady and smooth Roght-Handed Defenseman, and is willing to sacrifice his body parts to save a goal. His gap control is impeccable, and he is very creative with the puck believe it or not. Willander games played in two games for Rögle BK in the SHL this past season, and he did not a point in a men’s league. It’s pretty impressive he even made the week at the age of 18, but he played well internationally for Sweden with registering three goals and five assists in seven games played at the WJC U18 Tournament for Sweden. Obviously, he won a Silver Medal for Sweden, but he also finished with the most goals by defenseman in the tournament with three.
The Flyers could benefit from a fearless player that is willing to sacrifice his body to save a dirty goal, and one that has a high motor. Willander is an shifty skater that is excellent with breakouts. He has excellent vision of the ice, and his bread and butter is the Power Play. He spoke to Philadelphia scouts at the Combine, and it pays off with this selection by the orange and black.
Round 3 (87&95) Traded to Arizona to move up for Willander
Round 4: (Pick 103) RHD, Mazden Leslie
The 18-year-old in Leslie was born on April, 15, 2005, in Lloydminster, AB, CAN. This native of Canada found a passion and a love for the sport of hockey at a very young age, and as a matter of fact I’m sure he started skating when he was just two-three years old. His passion for the game found himself playing for the Vancouver Giants, where he torched the league en route to a career season (12g,38a in 66 games played). This young man in Leslie has not only done well with the offensive side of the puck, but defensively, as well.
His bread and butter is the Power Play, and most Flyers fans know they could use help with the man advantage.
Round 4: (Pick 120) G, Damian Clara
Clara is a tall, lumberjack goaltender, as he stands at 6’6. He appeared in two games for the BIK Karlskoga, while registering a 2.50 GAA, and a .936 Save Percentage.
The young prospect in Clara looked far more composed in net from the start of the year in 2022-23. Clara has a lot of size in net, and has the ability to cut off the angles well. He can improve his rebound control, and skating. However, Clara has the ability to be a draft day steal for the orange and black with stealing big games on the big stage (Bronze Medal Italy at the Worlds). The Flyers have no need to rush his development with the likes of a young promising netminder in Alexei Kolosov waiting in the wings, coupled with Felix Sandström and uncertainty to Ivan Fedotov.
Round 5: (Pick 135) RW, Cole Knuble
Knuble, is the son the former Flyer Mike Knuble. For the season, he registered 30 goals, and 36 assists for a total of 66 points in 62 games played for the Fargo Force in the USHL. Knuble needed a good draft season, and he provided that for the competition ahead.
At age 18, Knuble stands at 5’11, and weighs 185 pounds. He is a good reliable penalty killer, that thrives with short-handed goals. Knuble, believe it or not us good as springing his teammates with breakout passes, and he usually places himself in the right positions for a nice easy wrist shot on net. All in all this would be a high valued pick for the Flyers late in the draft.
Round 6: (Pick 167) LHD, Axel Hurtig
Hurtig finally gets drafted by the orange and black, and he has the billing to be a solid pick by the Flyers. He is a Left-Handed defenseman, and that
This young 18-year-old prospect in Hurtig is a speedster, physical, and transitions like the breeze of the wind. Moreover, Hurtig doesn’t sit around puck watching, has a killer wrist shot, and a darn good pair of hands. He’s a good Penalty Killer, and has great vision of the ice. Hurtig does not shy away from taking the body, and he closes gaps well. He stands at 6’4, and weighs a tough 203 pounds.
Hurtig can hit, and win puck battles along the boards. Most importantly he is very good in his own zone, and is effective with transitioning out of the defensive zone.
Round 6: (Pick 172) C, Tomasso De Luca WHL
This is the second Italian born prospect drafted by the Flyers in this draft. He’s an Excellent skater, and has high transition. De Luca’s hockey IQ is strong, and he is a good forechecker. He is raw, and can grow his physical aspects of the game much more. At this point of the draft, this is a high valued pick.
Round 7: (Pick 199) LW, Emil Kuusla U20 SM-Sarja
Kuusla is a Finnish forward who has appeared throughout the Finnish youth teams. He stands at 5’9 and weighs 167 pounds. Kuusla has a high motor and seems to be more of a playmaker than scorer. Unfortunately, as it stands right now he needs more talented linemates to produce even more. He is a project pick, but Kuusla does have the talent to crack the NHL at some point.
Extra Credit:
The original deal with the ST. Louis Blues involving Kevin Hayes and Travis Sanheim was dead, but Hayes was traded today for a sixth round pick, while the Flyers retained 50% of his contract to the Blues. His cap hit now is approximately $3.6 million for next season.
In addition, the Flyers are still trying to obtain another first round pick for tomorrow night’s draft, with a chance to either move up in the draft or use it for draft capital to speed up the rebuild.
