2023 NHL draft: Ranking 10 potential targets for the Flyers at No. 7 overall

With just a day remaining until Wednesday’s first round of the NHL draft, teams are finalizing their draft boards with the added wrinkle this year of conducting last-minute interviews with Russian winger Matvei Michkov.

Making final determinations on Michkov — largely based on his KHL contract and the political situation in Russia — will be one of the priorities this week leading up to Wednesday for many teams, including the Flyers, as general manager Danny Brière and assistant GM Brent Flahr acknowledged last week. But the disagreement, lobbying, and tough decisions on the draft floor won’t stop there. The Flyers will have several directions that they can go based on what happens in front of them or how they have players ranked on their particular board.

» READ MORE: NHL mock draft: Who should the Flyers take at Nos. 7 and 22?

In that vein, we present The Inquirer’s Draft Meter, in which beat reporters Giana Han and Olivia Reiner assign a composite 1-10 number value on the likelihood of the Flyers drafting a prospect at No. 7. Here are 10 prospects the Flyers could consider with their top pick, with a 10 rating being the most likely and 1 being the least likely.

There are likely only two reasons the Flyers wouldn’t pick Leonard: if Michkov is still available or if Leonard has already been picked. Leonard fits the Flyers’ mold in almost every way. He’s got size at 6-foot, 190 pounds, strength, competitiveness, and scoring capability. At the combine, he ranked fifth in power produced when benching 50% of his body weight. Leonard scored 51 goals in 57 games with the NTDP last season as well as the gold-medal-winning goal in overtime for the United States in the 2023 Under-18 Worlds. — Han

Draft meter: 9

» READ MORE: Ryan Leonard’s competitiveness comes from his family. Could it make him a draft fit for the Flyers?

Despite being one of the youngest players in the draft class, Dvorský is also on the larger end at 6-1, 200. His draft stock has been boosted by his international play — he tied Michkov in scoring (eight goals), helping Slovakia take home silver at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. The Flyers have struggled with their depth down the middle, and they also have a fondness for two-way centers. While he’s shown some inconsistency, he’s barely 18, possesses an NHL shot, and has upside the Flyers might want to bet on. — Han

Draft meter: 8

In a top-heavy forward draft, Reinbacher is likely to be the first defenseman off the board simply because of his solid all-around game. The 6-2, 194-pounder has a strong defensive foundation while possessing sound offensive instincts, especially as a puck-mover. While the Austrian isn’t the easiest defenseman to project into the NHL coming out of the Swiss league, he’s likely to develop into a top-four role. However, while the Flyers could stand to bolster the right side of their blue line, there’s a legitimate chance that Reinbacher will be off the board by No. 7. — Reiner

Draft meter: 7

Based on skill alone, Michkov would be long gone by the time the Flyers pick at 7. He’s been putting up numbers similar to what Alexander Ovechkin did as a junior player. But it’s everything else that might make him drop and that could make the Flyers hesitate about picking him even if he’s still around. He’s under contract in the KHL for three more years. While he has said he wants to play in the NHL, there’s always the risk he doesn’t come over and the political climate between the U.S. and Russia is hard to predict. The Flyers should seriously consider him because it would be hard to pass up on such a talent, but there are understandable factors that could make them shy away. — Han

Draft meter: 7

Benson put up impressive numbers in the WHL in his draft year, collecting 1.63 points per game. That clip was second to only Connor Bedard (2.51) among WHL 17-year-olds. Benson has stellar vision and playmaking abilities, but his competitiveness is what separates him from his peers in this draft class. His motor fuels his defensive game, helping him generate takeaways in his own end and disrupt plays on the penalty kill. Benson is 5-10, 170, and while he plays bigger than his undersized frame might suggest, players with his size and average skating profile have a tougher road to making it in the league. If the Flyers were picking in the middle of the first round, perhaps they would be more inclined to take him, but there may be too much risk associated with Benson to make him a surefire top-10 pick. — Reiner

Draft meter: 6

» READ MORE: Zach Benson is proof good things can come in small packages. Could he be the next Brayden Point?

Moore is as fast as they come in this year’s draft class, having leveraged his elite speed on breakaways and on the backcheck all season long as the second-line center for the NTDP. He also produced at a solid rate, posting 31 goals and 75 points in 61 games (fourth in points behind the NTDP’s top line of Gabe Perreault, Will Smith, and Leonard). Flahr even acknowledged that Moore could be a first-line center on the NTDP in any other year. But Moore’s hands are still catching up to his feet and he will have to learn how to harness his best trait while driving offensive play at the next level. As a result, and given the talent likely to be available on the board ahead of him, he would be considered a reach if the Flyers were to target him at No. 7. — Reiner

Draft meter: 6

Perrault produced eye-popping numbers with the NTDP, shattering Auston Matthews’ record of 117 points with 132 in a single season. But will that translate to the next level? Perreault will likely be a good player someday, but it’s a gamble whether he’ll be as much of a game-breaker in the NHL as he was at the U18 level. He’s got a smaller frame at 5-11, 163, which goes against how the Flyers have been trending. The game is getting smaller and faster, but the Flyers haven’t been. They certainly could use his playmaking and scoring abilities, but they may try to shoot for someone who currently seems like he has a higher ceiling. — Han

Draft meter: 6

As the youngest player in college hockey this year, Wood led UConn with 34 points (11 goals, 23 assists) in 35 games. The 6-4, 197-pound forward is known for his impressive shot and his strong hockey sense, but his below-average skating presents a concern at the next level. Can his skating improve to the point that he can replicate his junior and collegiate success in the NHL? That’s the question plenty of teams will be asking internally as they arrange their draft boards, but he poses too much of a risk for the Flyers to seriously consider taking him at No. 7 overall. — Reiner

Draft meter: 4

At 6-2, 186, Danielson proved to be a solid two-way player for the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings, putting up 33 goals and 78 points in 68 games. He’s a particularly strong skater and puck handler, but he doesn’t possess the high-end skill set that a team might be looking for in the top 10. While Danielson has the potential to play in the NHL, he projects more comfortably into a team’s bottom six. Simply put, there are going to be better players available to the Flyers. — Reiner

Draft meter: 4

If the Flyers do decide to shoot for a defenseman in the forward-heavy draft, they probably wouldn’t take Willander as a top-10 pick. Out of the 16 rankings Elite Prospects has listed on his profile, only one lists him as a top-10 pick. His play for Sweden at the U18 Worlds has improved his draft stock, though. He is a smooth skater, relentless defensively, and good with his breakouts, all things the Flyers could improve on. They have a number of offensive-minded defensemen, and since they’ve spent so much time defending recently, could stand to add a defense-first player. — Han

Draft meter: 3

» READ MORE: Two first-round picks gives Danny Brière and the Flyers a multitude of options