NHL mock draft: Who should the Flyers take at Nos. 7 and 22?

The anticipation continues to build, as in two days, all 32 NHL teams will converge on Nashville for the 2023 draft. As with any professional sports draft, the allure is centered on the promise of hope, as teams queue up to select young players they dream will one day help change the future trajectories of their organizations.

The draft is an especially critical moment on the calendar for rebuilding teams like the Flyers. For now, this is their Stanley Cup Final, and general manager Danny Brière is not blind to that fact. After landing Cutter Gauthier at No. 5 overall last year, the Flyers need to continue to re-stock their prospect pool, and are armed with 10 draft picks, including two first-rounders, in that aim. The Flyers could yet add more picks with trade rumblings surrounding several key veterans including Kevin Hayes, Travis Konecny, and Scott Laughton.

» READ MORE: For draft prospect Gabe Perreault, hockey is truly a family affair

Months and years of scouting, interviewing, and lobbying for prospects will culminate Wednesday and Thursday with a new class of NHL hopefuls. But which players will the Flyers pick?

We asked our experts Giana Han, Olivia Reiner, and Gustav Elvin to put their GM hats on and make mock selections for both of the Flyers’ first-round picks at No. 7 and no. 22. These picks were made under the assumption that Connor Bedard will go No. 1 to the Chicago Blackhawks and that top prospects Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson, and Will Smith will be off the board by the time the Flyers are on the clock at No. 7.

We also excluded high-scoring winger Matvei Michkov, who is a top-three talent in this class but could slide given his KHL contract — which runs through 2026 — and concerns regarding his availability due to the geopolitical situation surrounding Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. All three of us agree that if Michkov is available, and the Flyers are comfortable with his interviews this week in Nashville, his talent is worth the gamble for an organization that is craving a star. Lastly, we each picked a different player for variety and how each of us picked at No. 7 factored into how we made our individual selections at No. 22.

With all that said, we present The Inquirer’s 2023 Flyers first-round mock draft:

Ryan Leonard, RW, United States National Team Development Program

With his strength and physicality, Leonard suits the Flyers’ style to a T. They’ve been prioritizing adding size in recent drafts and trades in an attempt to get tougher, and while Leonard isn’t the biggest, he’s one sturdy and tough kid at 6-feet, 190 pounds. He also provides something the Flyers are missing: scoring ability. Leonard, 18, was one of the NTDP’s three 50-goal scorers, and he pairs that with a physical, two-way game. While his playmaking ability could use some improvement after being able to ride along with Will Smith and Gabe Perrault’s skill last season, that’s something the Flyers could add with other picks. Overall, Leonard brings a unique combination of power and skill that some have been comparing to the Tkachuk brothers. The Flyers should not pass him up at No. 7 if he gets by Montreal and Arizona ahead of them. — Giana Han

» READ MORE: Ryan Leonard’s competitiveness comes from his family. Could it make him a draft fit for the Flyers?

Dalibor Dvorský, C, IK Oskarshamn (Swedish Hockey League)

With their top pick, the Flyers are in perfect position to land one of the best two-way forwards in this year’s draft. Dvorský’s defensive game is his calling card, using his mature 6-1, 200-pound frame to engage physically and backcheck hard to kill plays. But even though his offensive game might not be considered particularly dynamic, the 18-year-old Slovakian possesses a high-end shot and has strong puck skills. Dvorský isn’t a finished product and he’s signed in the SHL for the next two seasons, but he plays a complete game that the Flyers are currently lacking up the middle and would welcome (eventually in their top six) when it’s time for him to make the jump. — Olivia Reiner

David Reinbacher, D, EHC Kloten (Swiss National League)

I’d be really tempted to swing big — or small — and take undersized but highly-skilled Winnipeg ICE playmaker Zach Benson here. But if Reinbacher’s still on the board, I think the Flyers pounce and take the clear No. 1 defenseman in this draft. The Austrian has size at 6-2, 194 pounds, closes gaps well defensively, has a good stick, and is an above-average skater, all traits that should translate at the NHL level. He’s also fresh off an unprecedented pro season in Switzerland, where he averaged 20 minutes a night and not only played but was a difference-maker (three goals, 22 points in 46 games) as an 18-year-old against grown men. Reinbacher isn’t the most dynamic player offensively — he won’t be confused for Cale Makar or Miro Heiskanen — or a huge hitter, but he’s rock solid across the board and has No. 1 shutdown defenseman potential. The Flyers need a young, right-shot defenseman to build around and Reinbacher, who has a low floor as a prospect, could form a nice top-pair partnership with Cam York. — Gustav Elvin

Brayden Yager, C, Moose Jaw Warriors (Western Hockey League)

The Flyers have struggled organizationally with depth at center, and the 5-11, 170-pound Yager could help address that. The Moose Jaw Warriors’ alternate captain scored 78 points in 67 games this season, a significant jump from his 59 points in 63 games the year prior. Yager, 18, focused specifically on improving his playmaking ability this season and went from 34 goals and 25 assists to 28 goals and 50 assists. There are concerns about whether that playmaking will translate to the next level, but either way, a team will get a smooth skater with a quick release and 30-goal upside, all things that could appeal to the Flyers. Once viewed as a potential top-10 pick, Yager has seen his stock fall a bit which might give the Flyers a chance to snag him at No. 22. If he’s there, he would add another strong piece to Brière’s rebuild. — Giana Han

Oliver Bonk, D, London Knights (Ontario Hockey League)

At No. 22, the Flyers could have an opportunity to bolster their blue line by selecting the 18-year-old Bonk, who is one of the better defensive-minded defensemen in this draft. At 6-1, 180 pounds, the right-shot Bonk is steady and reliable in his own end, killing plays and taking away the most dangerous areas of the ice from his opponents. Although he served as a quarterback on London’s power play and collected 40 points this season (10 goals and 30 assists), Bonk’s offensive game is not his strongest suit and he’ll need to continue to develop his playmaking ability if he wants to raise his ceiling. However, he has top-four upside thanks to his defensive toolkit and should be a contributor on the penalty kill at the next level. — Olivia Reiner

Calum Ritchie, C, Oshawa Generals (Ontario Hockey League)

After grabbing Reinbacher, the Flyers need a forward here, and adding a center makes the most sense. Insert Ritchie, a player with a lot of tools who I feel is being a bit undervalued. Ritchie’s case centers a lot around the production vs. traits debate, as his 59 points (24 goals) in 59 games — although he played through a shoulder injury — only ranked third on a middling Generals team. But he’s also 6-foot-2 and 184 pounds and possesses an elite hockey brain that shines through in his passing, responsible 200-foot game, and positioning. Ritchie just seems to do all the little things well, including taking faceoffs, and when you add in his competitiveness, puckhandling, and elite wall play, there’s a lot to like. The biggest knock is his speed but his anticipation helped him minimize those concerns in junior. Ritchie would seem to be a Tortorella-type and would give the Flyers a big, two-way center prospect with some playmaking upside. Swedish center David Edstrom is another player I’d consider here. — Gustav Elvin