The Flyers pick at 13th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft. This article will highlight 10 possible draft prospects for the Flyers to target. The 2021 Draft Class is a unique class. There is not a universal top prospect that is slated to go number 1 overall. The closest prospect to that is a big left-handed defenseman from the University of Michigan, Owen Power. The top 15-20 picks are all very similar to me and either is solid all-around prospects without a true game breaking skill or talent or they have a great skill and have a red flag in their game. As we get closer to the draft, I will release more about my personal rankings for the 2021 NHL Draft. In this scenario, the top 4 defensemen (Owen Power, Brandt Clarke, Luke Hughes, and Simon Edvinsson), and top 3 forwards are off the board (William Eklund, Matthew Beniers, and Kent Johnson). Some of these prospects we talk about will not make it to the 13th overall, but I wanted to include them in case they do.
- RW, Dylan Guenther, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL), 6’2”, 181lbs
Stats: 12 games, 12 goals, 12 assists, 24 pts, 2 PIM, 2ppg (points per game)
Reasoning: Guenther has the least best chance of being available at 13th overall when the Flyers make their way to the podium. If Guenther went first overall in this draft I would not be surprised. He would be a trade-up a target if I was Chuck Fletcher. Guenther had 59 pts in 58 games as a 16-year-old in the WHL. He plays a power forward game but with above-average skating especially for someone of his size. Even though it was a smaller sample size, very CHL few prospects score 2 points per game in their first eligible draft year. That list includes Connor McDavid, John Tavares, Jonathan Drouin, and Sidney Crosby. Guenther also plays an excellent two-way game that the Flyers seem to target in the first round. Guenther is a complete prospect and will be in my top 5 prospects in this draft. He has top-line ability with projectable tools at a role that is getting harder to find at the NHL, a top-line power forward.
Style Comparison: Jamie Benn, a top-line power forward who can lead on the ice and in the locker room
- C, Mason McTavish, EHC Olten (Swiss League-2nd Tier), 6’2”, 207lbs
Stats: 13 games, 9 goals, 2 assists, 11 pts, 0.85 ppg. 4 games, 2 goals, 5 assists, 7pts in Playoffs
Reasoning: McTavish (no relation to former Flyer Craig McTavish) is an absolute bull of a human. He is the most physically imposing player in this draft. He played against men in the Swiss League and still almost put up a point per game. He had 42 points in 59 games in the OHL as a 16-year-old. He also will likely be gone by the time the Flyers are on the clock. He is a natural center and is extremely strong on faceoffs. He has a top 5 shot in this draft and can make his own space to get the shot off. He plays all situations and is a menacing player on the boards. McTavish is a player that all teams need. He also looks like Ogie Oglethorpe from the movie Slapshot in the best possible way.
Style Comparison: Jordan Staal with a better shot, is hard to play against, and is someone who suffocates the opposition with skill and strength.
- C/LW, Cole Sillinger, Sioux Falls (USHL), 6’0”, 187lbs
Stats: 31 games, 24 goals, 22 assists, 46 pts (USHL), 1.48 ppg
Reasoning: Son of former Flyer Mike Sillinger. Cole is probably my favorite prospect in this draft. He has a top-three shot in this draft, elite hockey IQ, and plays the 200ft game that the Flyers covet. I think Sillinger has the highest percentage of being the Flyers’ first-round pick. He is a natural center but also has the versatility to play the wing. Sillinger had 53 points in 48 games in the WHL as a 16-year-old in the 2019-20 season. In a draft where there is no sure thing, I would expect Sillinger to be a top 5 pick. He is an average skater and I think that keeps him out of the top 10 picks.
Style Comparison: Mark Stone, unbelievable talent with 30/30/60 and Selke potential but falls because of average skating
- RHD, Corson Ceulemans, Brooks (AJHL), 6’2”, 201lbs
Stats: 8 games, 4 goals, 7 assists, 11 pts, 1.38 ppg
Reasoning: the University of Wisconsin commit. Ceulemans is the lone defenseman on this list. He had 35 points in 44 games as a 16-year-old in the AJHL. Cale Makar had 55 points in 54 games as a 17-year-old with Brooks in the AJHL. I am not saying Ceulemans will be Makar but there is a close comparison between the two players. Both are right-handed smooth skating and dynamic players. The Flyers desperately need a right-handed defenseman on the NHL roster and in the prospect pipeline. Ronnie Attard is the only RHD in the pipeline with a possibility of making the NHL. You should not draft for need but it is possible that Ceulemans is the top player on the board at 13.
Style Comparison: a bigger, more physical Tyson Barrie
- G, Jesper Wallstedt, Lulea (SHL), 6’3”, 214lbs
Stats: 22 games, 2.23 GAA, 90.8 Save Percentage, 12 wins, 10 losses
Reasoning: A goalie nicknamed “The Wall” is a match made in heaven. Full disclosure, Wallstedt is going to be my top-ranked overall prospect in this draft. I do not want to hear that you should not draft a goalie in round 1. The people who believe this are cowards and lack resolve in their beliefs. Here is why: Goaltending is the most important position in all the team sports. Who is the worst starting goalie to ever win a Stanley Cup? Maybe Cam Ward in 2006 with Carolina, who played over 700 career games and had a save percentage of 90.8%. Trent Dilfer won a Super Bowl as a starting QB. Eli accidentally won two Super Bowls. Just because the Flyers have Carter Hart does not mean the Flyers should not invest in goaltending. Wallstedt might not be there at 13 but if he is, the Flyers should not hesitate to select him.
Style Comparison: Andrei Vasilevski, reads the game as well as anyone and is rarely out of position
- C, Chaz Lucius, US National Development Program (USHL), 6’0”, 172lbs
Stats: 25 games, 26 goals, 12 assists, 38 pts, 1.46 ppg
Reasoning: University of Minnesota commit. Lucius was hurt for about half the season with a lower body injury. Lucius had more goals than games played. Lucius has one of the best releases in the draft and is a top 3 shooter. Lucius is a natural center but is not an explosive skater. His skating needs work. Lucius will have plenty of time to work on his game with a powerhouse college program like Minnesota. The Flyers need exactly what Lucius is, a shoot first and natural center with a great name. His brother Cruz should be a first round pick next year.
Style Comparison: Sam Reinhart, sniper who needs to put other facets of his game together
- RW, Matthew Coronato, Chicago (USHL), 5”10”, 183lbs
Stats: 51games, 48 goals, 37 assists, 85pts, 1.66ppg, 8 games, 9 goals, 4 assists, 13pts, 1.63ppg Playoffs
Reasoning: Harvard University commit. When you score almost a goal per game over an entire season, you usually get more press. Coronato played for an absolute wagon of a team. Chicago won the Clark Cup (USHL Championship). Coronato along with Lucius and Sillinger have a top 3 shot in this draft. The Flyers have needed a sniper since Simon Gagne retired. He is a solid skater who has gotten better significantly each year. The sky could be the limit for him.
Style Comparison: Cole Caufield. There are many Flyers fans who wanted Caufield over Cam York (I might’ve been one of them). This is a chance to have the next best thing.
- RW, Fabian Lysell, Frolunda J20 (J20 Nationell), Lulea (SHL), 5’10”, 172lbs
Stats: 11 games, 3 goals, 10 assists, 13pts (J20), 26 games, 2 goals, 1 assist, 3 pts (SHL)
Reasoning: Speed, speed, speed! Lysell is a dynamic game breaking talent that every team needs, especially the Flyers. To combat the speed of other teams like the Islanders and Rangers, the Flyers need to start investing in players like this. Lysell’s competitive level is off the charts. If he was a little bigger or had a little more production in the SHL, he would be a lock for the top 8. His production is closer to Jesper Boqvist (2nd RD pick by NJ) than Alexander Holtz (1st RD pick by NJ) which means Lysell could fall far enough to be a trade down candidate or trade up candidate from the second round. If not in round 1, the Flyers need to invest in some speed in the next couple drafts. It is a noticeably big need for them.
Style Comparison: Filip Forsberg. Fell in his draft year and has the compete and skill level all teams need.
- C, Fedor Svechkov, Lada Togliatti (MHL/VHL), 6’0”, 187lbs
Stats: 15 games, 4 goals, 11 assists, 13pts (MHL), 38 games, 5 goals, 10 assist, 15 pts (VHL)
Reasoning: Svechkov is the Darkhorse of this group. I think he can go as high as 5th overall to Columbus or drop out of round 1 completely. He is signed with top KHL team SKA St. Petersburg through 2023. Svechkov played against men in the VHL, which is the KHL’s version of the AHL and against similar aged players in the MHL which is the top Russian junior league. Svechkov had a better points per game in the VHL than Vasili Podkolzin (10th overall pick by VAN in 2019) and Klim Kostin (31st overall pick by STL in 2017). Svechkov plays a two-way game and all situations. He is a natural center and has a solid and deceptive release. He would slot well in the middle six for the Flyers in a couple years.
Style Comparison: a more dynamic Jesperi Kotkaniemi
- G, Sebastian Cossa, Edmonton (WHL), 6’6”, 212lbs
Stats: 19 games, 1.57 GAA, 94.1 Save Percentage, 17 wins, 2 losses
Reasoning: I know, I know, another goalie. Listen, you play to win the game. Carey Price, Andrei Vasilevski, Marc Andre Fleury, and Semyon Varlamov all have two things in common, they were among the Conference Finals starting goalies and they were all drafted in the first round. Edmonton was the best team in the WHL. Cossa is a humungous goalie with a very sound technical game. He is not overly athletic but his size makes up for it. He never gets too high or too low and will be a stable force in the NHL. The Flyers found Carter Hart in the WHL, could they find his long-term partner there as well?
Style Comparison: a quieter and calmer Ben Bishop. Massive 1A starter that can be a 10-15 year starter
(Sources: eliteprospects.com, NHL.com, Dobber Prospects)
