{"id":895384,"date":"2026-10-26T16:06:06","date_gmt":"2026-10-26T16:06:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/895384\/"},"modified":"2026-10-26T16:06:06","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T16:06:06","slug":"the-flyers-2023-nhl-draft-is-already-looking-like-a-franchise-altering-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/895384\/","title":{"rendered":"The Flyers\u2019 2023 NHL Draft is already looking like a franchise-altering success"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Flyers\u2019 2023 NHL Draft class has already produced four NHL players. That\u2019s tied with Chicago<\/a> for the most players in this class, and they got to pick first. Several teams have gotten zero. All four of these players are in the top 11 in points on the Flyers this year. With the goaltenders coming, this number could eventually climb as high as six. We talk a lot about missed opportunities at the draft, so we\u2019ll also look at the next few picks made at each spot that the Flyers very well could\u2019ve been thinking about as a comparison, but this was already a job well done by the scouting team under Danny Briere and assistant GM Brent Flahr.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re not going to pick in the top five, you better get the picks right. This is a good sign that they may be able to do just that.<\/p>\n

1st round, 7th overall: Matvei Michkov<\/p>\n

Michkov is the obvious headliner of this increasingly impressive class for Philadelphia. Hitting on a top ten pick won\u2019t earn any brownie points for most. It\u2019s certainly easier than drafting anywhere else. However, as we\u2019re very familiar with around here, you can absolutely get it wrong, and they smashed this one.<\/p>\n

MATVEI MICHKOV ON CLEANUP DUTY!!! 2ND OF THE GAME, 8TH ON THE YEAR. 5-4\u2026#LetsGoFlyers<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/xfGlXEo3e1<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Flyers Clips (@Flyers_Clips) October 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Michkov didn\u2019t come without risk; the talent was obvious, but the reports coming out of Russia left some concerned about how well he\u2019d fit in North America. He\u2019d told at least one other franchise that they shouldn\u2019t draft him. Would he even be allowed to leave the country? There were safer bets available to Briere, but today, the Flyers leading scorer has eight goals and two assists through 13 games thus far and looks primed for his breakout season as a true star in the NHL.<\/p>\n

Some of the mock drafts around this time had Michkov going to Montreal or Washington, but they didn\u2019t pull the trigger, and the Flyers got their guy over from the KHL much sooner than anyone expected. He\u2019s been their best player<\/a> through a pretty turbulent stretch for the team, and he just keeps getting stronger and faster. As his ice time increases, so does his ceiling, and as head coach Rick Tocchet increases his trust in Michkov, so should the ice. Or, he\u2019ll just lead the team in scoring all season and force his hand.<\/p>\n

If Michkov can bring this power play back to relevance, he can do just about anything. The rapport with future co-star Porter Martone is growing by the day, and they\u2019re going to score a lot of points together in this league.<\/p>\n

Next five picks in the draft:<\/p>\n

Overall PickTeamPlayerGames PlayedGoalsAssistsPoints per game#7PhiladelphiaMatvei Michkov (F)17454700.71#8WashingtonRyan Leonard (F)9425290.57#9DetroitNate Danielson (F)37270.24#10St. LouisDalibor Dvorsky (F)8414100.29#11VancouverTom Willander (D)825190.29#12ArizonaDaniil But (F)41560.27<\/p>\n

Ryan Leonard signed an eight year, $84 million extension after just 84 regular season NHL games. Leonard would\u2019ve been a fun Flyer, and was mocked to them multiple times<\/a>, but it seems like Briere and co. got this one spot on. Michkov is fourth in his class in goals and overall points despite not joining the league until his second year post-draft, unlike top picks Connor Bedard and Leo Carlsson. Michkov was the best available player here, depending on how much you like Zach Benson.<\/p>\n

1st round, 22nd overall: Oliver Bonk<\/p>\n

Bonk hasn\u2019t played many NHL games to this point. Even with the small sample size, it feels safe to say that the Flyers unearthed a top-four defenseman later in the first round. Bonk\u2019s size and puck-moving ability give him a nice floor to build from, and his point production in his short time in the league has been better than expected<\/a>; he\u2019s tied for second on the team in assists despite not playing in six of the games due to being in the AHL. <\/p>\n

He\u2019s not being sheltered out there, either. With the injuries piled up on the back-end, Tocchet threw Bonk to the wolves, pairing him with unquestioned number-one defenseman Travis Sanheim immediately. <\/p>\n

There would be no McDelivery of the Game without Oliver Bonk. <\/p>\n

Pretty much does everything except score on the Dvorak goal \ud83d\ude2e\u200d\ud83d\udca8#Flyers<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/VcSZHoHWXW<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Flyers Nation (@FlyersNation) October 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Bonk\u2019s underlying metrics are strong, too. Per NaturalStatTrick, Bonk has an Expected Goals share of almost 55.5 percent through seven games this year. The only other Flyer above 44 percent at 5-on-5 with more than three games played is Denver Barkey at nearly 57 percent. He\u2019s looked good by the eye and the numbers back it up. It\u2019ll be interesting to see how things play out with the eventual return of Cam York, but Bonk is making it impossible to send him back to the Phantoms. <\/p>\n

Next five picks in the draft:<\/p>\n

Overall PickTeamPlayerGames PlayedGoalsAssistsPoints per game#22PhiladelphiaOliver Bonk (D)8150.75#23New York RangersGabe Perreault (F)6716180.51#24NashvilleTanner Molendyk (D)\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013#25St. LouisOtto Stenberg (F)35380.31#26San JoseQuentin Musty (F)\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013#27ColoradoCalum Ritchie (F)8015180.41<\/p>\n

We\u2019re getting into the range where many guys just aren\u2019t NHL players at all, though it\u2019s still early to write anyone off. Getting true NHL players, especially ones putting up good results in expanded roles, is a real win for anyone, and the Flyers are no exception here. Perreault would have been nice, but Bonk fills an immediate need here and there\u2019s a real path to him being vital over the next couple of years.<\/p>\n

Easton Cowan did go next at 28th overall, and he looks like a real difference maker. After a big AHL playoffs last year with 18 points in 22 games as a Marlie, the Maple Leafs forward is almost a point-per-game player this year in the NHL. Again, Bonk fills a big need as a defenseman here, so it looks like the Flyers won\u2019t ask for any do-overs with this one either.<\/p>\n

3rd round, 87th overall: Yegor Zavragin<\/p>\n

While Zavragin hasn\u2019t come to North America yet, most Flyers fans who are familiar with the Russian goaltender will tell you that this is an exciting pickup.<\/a> Zavragin was traded to Mettalurg in the KHL this summer with the hope that he\u2019d take on a bigger chunk of the starts in goal, though it\u2019s anyone\u2019s guess how things shake out over there. Through seven games, he\u2019s got a .938 save percentage, which is fourth among all goaltenders with that many games. <\/p>\n

#LetsGoFlyers<\/a> prospect goaltender Yegor Zavragin with a 24 save shutout in Metallurg 3-0 over Admiral.<\/p>\n

Zavragin’s 1st shutout of the season. 6th of his career. #MMG<\/a> #KHL<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/XODRYDwrPP<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Jeremy Garrett HNH (@HockeyNewsHub) October 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The only player drafted in the next five picks to play NHL games thus far is the New York Rangers\u2019 Drew Fortescue, who appeared in nine games last season but is back in the AHL to start the new year. It\u2019s probably premature to take any victory laps for a player who hasn\u2019t even signed a contract yet, but Zavragin is a big part of the Flyers future and continues to impress over in Russia.<\/p>\n

In fact, the only other player in the next 13 picks to make their NHL debut at all is next on the list.<\/p>\n

3rd round, 95th overall: Denver Barkey<\/p>\n

Barkey is still developing. All of these guys are, but with Barkey, it seems like the Flyers think he could play minutes at the center position, and for a guy his size, that\u2019s impressive. The former London Knights captain was the leading scorer at forward for a 55-11-2 team in the OHL, and it\u2019s hard not to love the intangibles with Barkey. The fact that he\u2019s generously listed as 5\u201910\u201d and 172 pounds speaks to the work ethic and heart that Barkey plays with.<\/p>\n

While he doesn\u2019t have a goal yet this season, Barkey\u2019s four assists through ten games ties him for second on the team with his former London teammate, Oliver Bonk, despite missing three games<\/a> due to injury. It\u2019s not poor play that\u2019s keeping him off the scoresheet\u2013 Barkey\u2019s Expected Goal numbers are excellent, some of the best on the team\u2013 and so it feels like a matter of time until that drought ends. <\/p>\n

Denver Barkey going from out of frame to scoring a goal beating the opposing team to the net is about the most Denver Barkey way to score a first NHL goal. pic.twitter.com\/MDPk4PjeHm<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) January 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s been 53 weeks since Barkey\u2019s first professional goal. He\u2019s since made himself a lineup mainstay, and his increasing versatility is a big help to a roster full of wingers.<\/p>\n

4th round, 103rd overall: Cole Knuble<\/p>\n

The next player taken after Denver Barkey to score an NHL goal is Cole Knuble, and he\u2019s got two. He\u2019s scored more NHL goals in his three games than any player in the remainder of the draft except for one, which goes to show how hard it is to find players in the middle to late rounds. <\/p>\n

Philadelphia goal!<\/p>\n

Scored by Cole Knuble with 05:11 left in the 1st. Assisted by Oliver Bonk and Denver Barkey.<\/p>\n

BUF: 0 | PHI: 1#PHIvsBUF<\/a> #LetsGoBuffalo<\/a> #LetsGoFlyers<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/BzJFjnlH66<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) October 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Knuble likely won\u2019t be a high upside player. This is probably who he is\u2013 a high-effort, hard nosed bottom of the lineup forward with enough skill to finish some chances\u2013 and that\u2019s as good a result as any from an overage college prospect who was passed in the draft entirely once. There could be more here, as he was the best player in an NHL training camp that included guys like Porter Martone and Matvei Michkov, but if this is all he is, the Flyers would be more than happy. <\/p>\n

Knuble, through 32 minutes of ice time, has an Expected Goals share of over 55 percent, adding two goals to almost single-handedly give the Flyers a big win against Buffalo. He\u2019s been good, but when the Flyers get guys back from injury, he\u2019ll almost certainly be a casualty of the roster construction. Whatever happens, Knuble is making that decision more difficult every day.<\/a><\/p>\n

Who\u2019s the one guy with more goals picked after Knuble? We have to go nearly 100 picks later, to the seventh round of the draft. In fact, these are all the players post-Knuble with an NHL goal.<\/p>\n

Overall PickTeamPlayerGames PlayedGoalsAssistsPoints per game#103PhiladelphiaCole Knuble (F)3200.67#105VancouverTy Mueller (F)8100.13#123San JoseLuca Cagnoni (D)17130.24#139CarolinaCharles-Alexis Legault (D)14110.14#201DetroitEmmitt Finnie (F)9317200.40<\/p>\n

Hard to say they missed on Emmitt Finnie, as he went un-picked 200 times. Finnie only had one year at point-per-game or better in the WHL, and it turns out he\u2019s a decent scorer in the NHL. He wasn\u2019t even a ranked skater<\/a> by NHL Central Scouting. Sometimes, you just get lucky. <\/p>\n

They weren\u2019t all great picks. Carson Bjarnason,<\/a> the number one ranked North American goaltender pre-draft, was chosen pretty early at 51st overall. Goaltenders can take a bit longer, but the Flyers have had their hands on him for a while now, so you\u2019d like to see some more encouraging numbers in Lehigh Valley. There\u2019s no Jason Robertson to point at three picks later as the glaring mistake, so it\u2019s not a big deal, but this draft class could be franchise defining if one or two of these goaltenders can be a difference maker.<\/p>\n

In a world of disappointing drafts, this won\u2019t be one of them. The Flyers have to continue to get results like this if they\u2019re going to be picking later in rounds, and this proves that they can identify talent where other teams may not see it.<\/p>\n

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