2023 NHL Entry Draft: Get to know all of the Flyers' selections
Learn more about each of the Flyers' picks from the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports - 2023 NHL Entry Draft: Get to know all of the Flyers' selectionsThe Philadelphia Flyers were busy during the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, and they've added some exciting young talent to the pipeline as they begin the early stages of their rebuild.
Round 1, pick No. 7: Matvei Michkov, F, KHL
Michkov was one of the most divisive prospects eligible for this year's draft due to his contract situation with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL. He won't be eligible to play for the Flyers until 2026 (barring a dramatic, unforeseen development), but when he does, he has the potential to be a game-breaking talent.
Michkov is one of the best Russian prospects in recent memory, and the Flyers got a steal at No. 7.
Round 1, pick No. 22: Oliver Bonk, D, OHL
Bonk is a solid two-way defender who could compete for a middle-pairing role in the NHL one day.
The 6-foot-2, 176-pound defenseman logged 10 goals and 40 points in 67 games during the 2022-23 regular season with the Ontario Hockey League's London Knights.
Round 2, pick 51: Carson Bjarnason, G, WHL
The Flyers traded up into the second round to acquire the No. 51 overall pick from the Chicago Blackhawks. And with the pick, they nabbed Bjarnason.
Bjarnason was ranked No. 1 on NHL Central Scouting's list of top North American goaltenders.
The Manitoba native played in 47 games for the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League last season, logging three shutouts, a 3.08 goals against average, and a .900 save percentage.
Round 3, pick No. 87: Egor Zavragin, G, MHL
Immediately after selecting a goalie in the second round, the Flyers opted to draft another one with the No. 87 pick.
Zavragin appeared in 21 games in the MHL (Russia's top junior league) last season, posting an 11-6-1 record along with a .920 save percentage and 2.49 goals against average.
With Zavragin and Michkov now in the fold, it's clear general manager Danny Brière is not afraid to gamble on Russian prospects.
Round 3, pick No. 95: Denver Barkey, F, OHL
It's not hard to see why Barkey slid into the third round. Listed at 5-foot-9 and 154 pounds, he's one of the smaller centers available in this year's draft, and that surely turned a lot of teams off.
Not the Flyers, though.
Barkey is coming off a 22-goal, 59-point season with the OHL's London Knights.
It likely isn't a coincidence that he is teammates with the Flyers' No. 22 pick Oliver Bonk. The Flyers got to watch both players quite a bit, and they clearly liked what they saw.
Round 4, pick No. 103: Cole Knuble, F, USHL
Does that last name sound familiar? It should! Cole Knuble is the son of former NHLer Mike Knuble, who posted 118 goals and 229 points in 338 games with the Flyers and 548 total points in his 1,068-game career.
Knuble, 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, logged 30 goals and 66 points in 57 games during the 2022-23 season with the USHL's Fargo Force.
Round 4, pick No. 120: Alex Ciernik, F, HockeyAllsvenskan
Ciernik, a native of Slovakia, is an intriguing prospect from HockeyAllsvenskan, the second-highest pro league in Sweden.
The 5-foot-10, 179-pound forward logged three goals and 12 points in 25 games between Södertälje SK and Västerviks IK last season. He also logged two goals and three points in five games at the 2023 U20 World Junior Championship.
His journey to the draft wasn't an easy one.
Round 5, pick No. 135: Carter Sotheran, D, WHL
The Flyers opted to add some beef to the pipeline with their fifth-round selection.
At No. 135, the Flyers selected Sotheran from the WHL's Portland Winterhawks. Sotheran is 6-foot-3 and 203 pounds, and he just turned 18 on Monday.
The Manitoba native logged four goals and 23 points in 68 games with the Winterhawks last season.
Round 6, pick No. 172: Ryan MacPherson, F, BCHL
The Flyers added another forward with their sixth-round selection, taking MacPherson out of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.
The GOJHL isn't exactly regarded as an elite junior hockey league, but MacPherson logged 25 goals and 61 points in 49 games last season, so that's something to note.
He will play in the British Columbia Hockey League next season with the Penticton Vees.
Round 7, pick No. 199: Matteo Mann, D, QMJHL
The Flyers' final selection of the draft was a big one.
Literally.
At No. 199, the Flyers picked Matteo Mann of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Mann, 18, is 6-foot-5 and weighs 225 pounds.
The towering right-shot defenseman isn't going to put up many points — he posted just five (all assists) in 45 games last season with the Chicoutimi Sagueneens. But at that size, it's not hard to see why the Flyers were interested.