The Philadelphia Flyers had the 7th worst record in the NHL this season and have the 7th pick in the upcoming NHL draft. Philadelphia has plenty of issues to address in this draft.
This is a mock draft for the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Related: Arizona Coyotes
7. David Reinbacher, D, EHC Kloten (NL)
David Reinbacher’s fame has been steadily increasing throughout the 2022-23 season. Reinbacher is the most NHL-ready defenceman available in this upcoming draft. He is right-handed and has a good frame that NHL general managers covet in their defenders. Reinbacher also has an offensive flair to his game, making him a legitimate two-way threat. Reinbacher had 22 points in 46 games as an 18-year-old in a men’s league; for reference, Roman Josi had 8 points in 35 games in his draft year while playing in the same league. Reinbacher has an incredibly high defensive IQ. He always finds the open man and eliminates the threat in his zone. He is strong in front of his own net and aggressively moves opponents out of that high-danger area. Reinbacher makes great defensive reads and is rarely caught scrambling because he was out of position. He engages physically with opposing players but does not chase hits that would compromise his defensive positioning. Reinbacher is not the most dynamic offensive threat. He prefers to keep his offensive game simple, often getting shots to the net so that the forwards can pounce on ensuing rebounds. The Austrian-born defender is also an efficient passer and is good at pinching in the offensive zone to give support in the offensive zone. Reinbacher is not a top-end skater, but he has good speed, excellent positioning and just knows how to defend properly. Reinbacher’s floor is that of a top-4 defenceman with second-unit power-play duties. If he finds new gear in his offensive creativity, he could be a top-pair defender that way. Because Reinbacher is far and away the best defenseman available in this draft, it would not be shocking if he went in the top 5. After trading away Ivan Provorov, the Flyers need a defenseman who they can potentially build around and David Reinbacher is exactly that type of
defenseman.
22. Riley Heidt, C, Prince George Cougars (WHL)
If a team is looking for a dynamic playmaking center that is also a pain to play against, Riley Heidt may be exactly the prospect they seek. The Prince George Cougars forward has taken a major step this season and is widely projected to be a top-20 selection in this year’s draft. Whether it is his speed, playmaking skills, or willingness to get in on the forecheck, he has the ability to be a game-changer every time he steps over the boards. When Heidt has the puck on his stick, he is one of the most dangerous players in the Western Hockey League (WHL). A dynamic playmaker, his 72 assists this season tied Connor Bedard for the most in the WHL, while he led the league with 39 power-play assists. He also showed that he is not afraid to get the puck on the net, recording 25 goals and 170 shots in 68 regular season games. One concerning issue when it comes to Heidt is his ability to remain calm and composed in big moments. For the second straight postseason, he received a one-game suspension, with this year’s being due to an illegal check to the head. There is also a pattern of him disappearing late in games that his team is losing despite having a strong game up until that point. There is no question that Heidt is a first-round talent, however, because there will be at least two or three defensemen selected early than predicted, he should go in the early 20s. At the NHL level, I could see Heidt turning into a Bo Horvat-type player, with better offensive upside. With the Flyers in need of Center talent, this pick is a no-brainer, if he slides to the 22nd pick.
87. Aydar Suniev, LW, Penticton Vees (BCHL)
Penticton Vees fans have been treated to their own version of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl this season in Bradly Nadeau and Aydar Suniev. Nadeau finished the regular season with 45 goals and 113 points while Suniev countered with 45 goals and 90 points. The dynamic duo has continued its dominance in BCHL playoffs too with Nadau tallying 17 goals, 30 points, and Suniev tallying 7 goals and 17 points. Although Suniev has been criticized by scouts for being a poor skater, he possesses a wide array of shots, including a strong writer, and one-timer, and impressive motor. Suniev is a tenacious forechecking and backchecking as key components of his game as well. Opponents need to be constantly aware of him in the offensive zone – even when they have the puck. He is very good at forechecking and creating turnovers on the opposition, then setting up a goal for himself or his teammate. Aydar Suniev has all the tools to make it to the next level; he’s got the size, skills, and shot, along with high hockey IQ. He’s also committed to the University of Massachusetts for the 2024-25 season, which has produced NHL players like Cale Makar, Brandon Montour, and Connor Sheary over the years. Many scouts have Suniev projected to go in the mid to late 2nd round, but I think he could get passed over and fall to the third round because of teams picking defensemen and goalies, and because he is a poor skater. Aydar Suniev should be a top 6 forward in the NHL, whichever team gets picks is going to get a good jack-of-all-trades player.
This is a player that the Flyers are dying to get, even if it means trading up for him.
95. Albert Wikman, D, Färjestad BK (SHL)
Albert Wikman is a player who has been steadily rising on draft boards, and while he doesn’t have the upside or talent of the top 3 Swedish Defensive prospects, Wikman certainly is a very good prospect. His totals this season don’t jump off the page; he went scoreless in 11 Swedish Hockey League (SHL) games and put up 12 points in 43 games in the nation’s U20 circuit. After digging a bit deeper, there is some promise hidden between the lines. His 11 SHL games ranked ninth among all U18 players in the league, nine more than Willander. He also played in five SHL playoff games, which not only ranked first among U18s but was something that none of the Big Three accomplished this season. Wikman was a part of Sweden’s Blueline during the 2023 U18 WJC, where he played two games en route to helping Sweden capture a silver medal. While he’s no match for the graceful Willander, Wikman is no slouch on the ice. He glides effortlessly across, avoiding opponents with deft edgework and subtle changes in direction that throw off anyone trying to stop him. His puck control is just as pretty as he can maintain possession and composure in tight or way out at arm’s length. He’s also deceptive with his speed; at one moment, it looks like he’s coasting, and at the next, he’s flying at top speed thanks to a long, powerful stride. There are hints of a breakout next season for Wikman. He is always aware of his surroundings when on the ice, constantly looking for openings, points of weakness, and changes to the play. That awareness has made him a strong transitional defender and is likely why he got so many games in the SHL this season; despite his age, he can be relied on to make a smart play and doesn’t make many mistakes. With a bit more practice on making strong passes and improving his shot, he could become a capable two-way defenceman at the highest level. Wilkman would be an excellent pick in the 3rd round and could eventually develop into a steady two-way defenseman for the Flyers down the road.
103. Jaden Lipinski, C, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
Throughout his hockey career, Jaden Lipinski has played the role of underdog. As a resident of Arizona, he grew up in a non-traditional market that is still developing its hockey culture, and he went undrafted in his Western Hockey League (WHL) Draft year. Despite this, he kept playing hockey and developed his game until he caught the attention of the Vancouver Giants, who added him to their roster. In his first season with the Giants, Lipinski played well but still clearly had room to grow into his game and his 6-foot-3, nearly 200-pound frame. However, the 2022-23 season was his coming out party, where he posted 19 goals and 51 points in 66 games played. Based purely on his skillset and potential, I would expect Lipinski to hear his name called at the 2023 NHL Draft somewhere in the late-third round to the early fourth round. He’s a hound dog on a bone with the puck. His ability to protect the puck along the wall is excellent. His ability to get the puck back along the wall is excellent as well. While Lipinski won’t be raking up a lot of points in the NHL, he should be an effective bottom 6 forward, who can be used on the penalty kill and on powerplay with a few years of development. This is exactly the type of player that the Flyers should be going for at this point of the draft because at worst he should be an effective role player.
120. Ian Blomquist, G, Vasteras IK (HockeyAllsvemskan)
For overage Swedish goaltender Ian Blomquist, the average is about where he falls as a goaltending prospect. Now, this isn’t a slight against his play or his future, however, as average prospects still get drafted and develop into legitimate NHL’ers all the time, they just often take a little more time. The positive for Blomquist is that the 2022 goaltending class is relatively weak, meaning that being average doesn’t actually put him that far down on draft boards. He has the size of an NHL starter, and while his toolkit isn’t exceptional, it still holds a lot of talent that could be developed by the right team. Blomquist started the 2021-22 season strong and was at the midpoint of the season the #2 European goaltending prospect according to NHL Central Scouting. When it comes down to it, Blomquist is a big, talented goaltender whose talent is raw and lacks consistency. This sort of player will need time to develop (and a lot of it) before they will be able to reach an NHL gig or even take over a starting role in the AHL. However, Blomquist is in a great position to get that time. He will be playing against men in Sweden, and once that contract finishes, he will be old enough to make the jump to the AHL if he is ready. If things go well, he could have a similar career projectory as Jordan Binnigton, who didn’t make his NHL debut until he was 25. The Flyers need a propect goalie in the system
so they can plan for the future.
135. Connor MacPherson, RW, Penticon Vees (BCHL)
Connor MacPherson was everything for the Leamington Flyers of the GOJHL during the 2022-23 season, helping his team win the GOJHL Championship, and winning the playoff MVP in the process. MacPherson also was named to the GOJHL Western All-star team and was the GOJHL Western Conference Most Valuable Player. In 43 regular season games with the Leamington Flyers, MacPherson put up 28 goals and 63 points, then in the playoffs, he elevated his level of play, putting up 20 goals and 34 points in 22 postseason games. MacPherson is a good-sized player at 6’0″, but weighs only 176 pounds, he’ll have to put on some weight to succeed at the next level. Connor MacPherson has a good nose for the net and is not afraid to drive the net with the puck or park himself in front of the goalie to create chaos. MacPherson has the potential to be middle-six power forward at the NHL level. The Flyers like drafting those hard-nosed, gritty forwards with some goal-scoring ability, and Connor MacPherson fits this description perfectly.
172. Cole Knuble, RW, Fargo Force (USHL)
Cole Knuble is a forward who is eligible as a re-entry prospect for the 2023 NHL Draft, and given the steps forward he’s taken in both his development and production, he is likely to hear his name called in the mid to late rounds. After posting 66 points in 57 games for the Fargo Force this season, a total which led his team by a margin of 11 points, Knuble scored six goals and added three assists in nine USHL playoff matches. His intelligence is evident on a shift-by-shift basis; delays, passes through pressure, and positional awareness are the main traits of his in which those smarts shine. He has maintained his intense nature but has also added some
composure to his game, which has seen his upside improve. His puck protection and skill in tight quarters have massively improved as well, making him lethal below the hash mark. The son of former NHLer Mike is far from the power player his father established himself as. He is still undersized, and a much faster and more agile skater than his dad. He hustles back and picks up his defensive responsibilities and loves to attack the middle and drive through open lanes to the front. The Energetic forward who plays bigger than his size; he’s Flashed some skill but his production at the NHL Level most likely won’t be good enough to fill out a top 6 role, therefore he would be best suited for being a bottom-six forward in the NHL. His father was a popular Philadelphia Flyer, so it makes sense to pick him here in the 6th round, there is little to no risk.
Draft Recap
B
David Reinbacher
Riley Heidt
Albert Wilkman
Aydar Suniev
Jaden Lipinski
Ian Blomquist
Connor Mac Pherson
Cole Knuble
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