The NHL Entry-Level Draft is in Las Vegas this week, from June 28th to June 29th. The Philadelphia Flyers have ten picks in this year’s draft tentatively.
This is the second mock draft to give you insights into these phenomenal prospects. Due to the Florida Panthers winning the Stanley Cup, the Flyers now have the 32nd overall draft pick. The other draft pick that needs to be made aware of is the Columbus Blue Jackets’ second-round draft pick, which they can defer to next year’s draft.
12th overall: Trevor Connelly, LW, Tri-City Storm
Trevor Connelly is a fantastic skater and would fit in excellent with the Philadelphia Flyers in terms of skill on the ice. Howeve some problematic behaviors off the ice may hinder their confidence in making the pick. Connelly played 52 games this season with the Tri-City Storm, tailing up 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 an impressive shooter. Hemming can find himself in excellent positioning in front of the net. One aspect of his play that could be valuable to Philly is his ability to have breakouts in unsuspecting plays. Hemming has been described as having a heavy shot and an excellent two-way forward with his powerful skills.
36th overall: Tomas Lavoie, RHD, Cape Breton Eagles
Lavoie stands at 6’4 with a substantial physical presence on the ice. He has a good range, which scares away opposing players when facing him. While he doesn’t score much after recording only three goals this past season, he makes up for it with his challenging defensive play.
51st overall: Tomas Galvas, LHD, Bílí Tygři Liberec
A name that looks familiar to many in this mock draft is Tomas Galvas. He is one player that could be a steal at the 51st overall pick. Gavlas is not only a two-way defenseman but a skilled puck handler. With the smoothness of his game, there is a lot he can do to benefit Philadephia’s blue line.
77th overall: Simon Zether, C, Västerås IK / HockeyAllsvenskan
The Flyers are in need of centers. Simon Zether displays good skills when it comes to puck control, but he could still improve on his passing. One positive that Philadephia might take interest in is Zether being a penalty kill specialist, which the Flyers excel in. The Swedish center stands at 6’3 and uses his physical presence to generate big plays.
148th overall: Colin Ralph, LHD. Cloud State Univ.
Colin Ralph is another big defensive presence that Philadelphia could benefit from having. Ralph is skilled when rejecting breakaways and jumping into pass lanes of opposing players and is aggressive overall. The Minnesota Native plays in the NCAA with Cloud State University after spending numerous seasons with Shattuck St. Mary’s 18U Prep.
150th overall: Tomas Mrsic, C, Medicine Hat Tigers
Tomas Mrsic is a speedy center who capitalizes on his skating abilities. The most impressive skill Mrsic has is his shooting, which comes in handy during critical plays. This past season, with 63 games played for the Medicine Hat Tigers, Mrsic put up 62 points, 23 goals, and 39 assists.
173rd overall: Logan Sawyer, LW, Brooks Bandits
Logan Sawyer is a point machine and a solid two-way forward. His defensive skills should only get better over time, and at this kind of range, he brings a lot of upside to the table.
177th overall: Parker Von Richter, RHD, Mississauga Steelheads
Parker Von Richter is an impactful player on the blue line. Richter is able to stop rushes and powerful checks thanks to his great vision. The right-handed defender was able to put up 3 goals and 22 assists this past season, which is one of the reasons why he is projected to go later in the draft. With the right development, Richter could be a good third-pair player.
205th overall: Yegor Graf, C, SKA-1946 St. Petersburg
Yegor Graf is a center that plays better as a winger. While his skating needs work, he does have a good eye for the game, which adds a lot of value to his play. His playmaking and clinical passing are his strongest assets and if he can really indulge himself in the hard-working culture of the City of Brotherly Love, there’s no doubt he could be a good third or fourth-line center one day.
Flyers General Manager Danny Briere touched on the importance of having centers. With this draft having a lot of skilled forwards, it’s possible to find some talent that will exceed expectations later in the draft.
AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker
