Finding Value and Building for the Long-Term Future – Philly Sports

The NHL Entry-Level Draft will take place this week from June 28th to 29th in Las Vegas. The Philadelphia Flyers have ten provisional picks for this year’s draft.

This is the second mock draft to give you insight into these phenomenal prospects. With the Florida Panthers winning the Stanley Cup, the Flyers now have the 32nd overall draft pick. The other draft pick to watch is the Columbus Blue Jackets’ second-round draft pick, which they can move to next year’s draft.

12th overall: Trevor Connelly, LW, Tri-City Storm

Trevor Connelly is a fantastic skater and would be a great fit for the Philadelphia Flyers in terms of his on-ice skills. However, some problematic off-ice behaviors could affect their confidence in being selected. Connelly played 52 games with the Tri-City Storm this season, scoring 78 points with 31 goals and 47 assists.

31st OR 32nd overall: Emil Hemming, RW, TPS/Liiga

Emil Hemming is only 17 years old, but he is an impressive shooter. Hemming can find himself in great positions in front of the goal. One aspect of his game that could be valuable to Philly is his ability to break out on unexpected plays. Hemming is described as someone who has a strong shot and is an excellent two-way forward with his power skills.

Standing at 6’4″, Lavoie has a significant physical presence on the ice. He has good reach that scares off opposing players when they go up against him. While he doesn’t score many goals, having scored just three last season, he makes up for it with his challenging defensive play.

51. overall: Tomas Galvas, LHD, Bílí Tygři Liberec

One name that many will recognize in this mock draft is Tomas Galvas. He is a player who could be a steal at the 51st pick. Not only is Gavlas a two-way defenseman, but he is also a skilled puck handler. With his fluid game, he can greatly benefit Philadelphia’s defense.

The Flyers need centers. Simon Zether shows good skills when it comes to puck control, but he could improve his passing. One plus that could be interesting for Philadelphia is that Zether is a shorthanded specialist, something the Flyers excel at. The Swedish center is 6’3″ and uses his physical presence to make big plays.

Colin Ralph is another strong defender that Philadelphia could benefit from. Ralph is adept at breaking down counterattacks and jumping into opposing players’ passing lanes, and is aggressive overall. The Minnesota native plays in the NCAA at Cloud State University after spending several seasons at Shattuck St. Mary’s 18U Prep.

Tomas Mrsic is a speedy center who takes advantage of his skating skills. Mrsic’s most impressive skill is his shot, which comes in handy on crucial plays. Last season, Mrsic recorded 62 points, 23 goals and 39 assists in 63 games for the Medicine Hat Tigers.

173. overall: Logan Sawyer, LW, Brooks Bandits

Logan Sawyer is a point machine and a solid two-way forward. His defensive skills will only improve with time and he has a lot of potential at that range.

Parker Von Richter is an impact player on the blue line. Thanks to his great vision, Richter can stop attacks and powerful checks. The right-handed defenseman was able to score 3 goals and 22 assists last season, which is one of the reasons why he is expected to be selected later in the draft. With the right development, Richter could be a good player for the third pair.

Yegor Graf is a center who plays better as a winger. Although he still needs to work on his skating, he has a good eye for the game that really adds value to his game. His playmaking and accurate passing are his greatest strengths and if he can really buy into the work culture of the City of Brotherly Love, he could undoubtedly be a good third or fourth line center one day.

Flyers general manager Danny Briere stressed the importance of centers. Since this draft includes many talented forwards, it is possible to find some talent later in the draft that will exceed expectations.

AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker