(Photo by Michael Miller/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
The 2026 NHL Entry Draft is approaching. On June 26th at 7pm/ET on ESPN, the first round will begin. Then, rounds two through seven will take place on June 27th at 11am/ET on the NHL Network.
After Daniel Brière dealt Samuel Ersson, Emil Andrae, and a 2026 third-round pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit, the Flyers’ overall draft capital in 2026 was reduced from five picks to four. It’s a net positive for Philadelphia. Brière upgraded the goaltending duo, and Andrae could see his role expand with the Maple Leafs. Now there’s a wide-open opportunity for Benoit, Oliver Bonk, or David Jiříček to slot into the lineup.
Overall, the Flyers are equipped with a first-round pick (21st), a second-round pick (53rd), a sixth-round pick (181st), and a seventh-round pick (213th). Brent Flahr and Brière collectively said they’re interested in a spread of philosophies when making selections. Flahr knows that no prospect is going to be ‘the perfect player that’s completely polished and finished.’ However, Philadelphia is partial towards a left-handed defenseman, a versatile center who could be a wing, and Flahr admitted he’ll draft a goaltender if the opportunity makes sense with their pick. While no prospect will be ‘completely polished and finished,’ Flahr is looking for dynamic features.
Bonk (22nd; 2023) was the most recent prospect taken late in the first round by the Flyers. Tyson Foerster (23; 2020) found his role with each head coach he’s played for, proving his value.
Eric Reese: Ilia Morozov; C; Miami University [OH] (NCAA)
Let’s get an obvious disclaimer out of the way: it depends on what happens before Philadelphia is on the clock.
Alexander Command and Xavier Villenueve make a lot of sense with the 21st overall pick. However, the Flyers’ front office should be prepared for both of them to be off the board. Ilia Morozov could be the next best center in the layer of prospects Flahr is filtering.
Remember when Brière chose Jett Luchanko? He sided with youth and upside when taking him at 13th overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Except in 2024, that idea wasn’t executed correctly, with the risk on the line, trading backward to evade Zeev Buium while still not selecting Konsta Helenius. At 21st overall, the risk isn’t as great.
Morozov, 17, was the youngest to play NCAA Division I Men’s Hockey in 2025-2026. He’s got a strong two-way, 200ft game, tallying 20 points (8G, 12A) in 36GP.
Lately, Philadelphia has added right-handed defensemen in its draft classes. Additionally, it’s easier to draft centers who later translate to the wing than vice versa. There’s no real reason to take a winger at 21st overall unless the draft philosophy is specifically selecting the best prospect available. Yet, a center is a very real route. It’s highly unlikely to find a C1 at 21st overall, which isn’t the projection on Morozov.
Jake Modugno: Ilia Morozov; C; Miami University [OH] (NCAA)
In a perfect world, Tynan Lawrence ends up with the Flyers by either falling or they trade up for him, but for the sake of this exercise, I have them taking Ilia Morozov with their first-round pick.
Morozov entered college hockey as the youngest player in the NCAA last season at 17 years old. He recorded 8 goals and 12 assists for 20 points with the RedHawks in his freshman year. He tied for fourth on the team in assists and fifth on the team in points. Morozov’s size (6’3” and 201lbs) along with his defensive abilities make him an attractive asset for the Flyers, who need all the center depth they can get their hands on.
Morozov probably won’t become a true number one center in the NHL, but a second line center who can help both kill penalties and chip in on the power play would be a valuable asset for the Flyers to have.
Round 2; 53rd Overall
Eric Reese: Vladimir Dravecký; LD; Guelph Storm (OHL)
This selection could change with the wind. Assuming Villenueve is off the board and unavailable in the first round for the Flyers, and Philadelphia chooses Morozov, or maybe Command, then a left-handed defenseman makes all the sense in the world in the second round. If Brière nabs Villenueve in the first round, then keep an eye on Beckham Edwards here.
Vladimir Dravecký fits a profile. He can play either side of the ice and is a true all-around defender. Dravecký seems like an insurance option to fulfill the LD demand, though he is right-handed. He’s a versatile playmaker, and some scouts high on him would sell you on Dravecký going as early as late in the first round.
In 2024-2025, Dravecký notched a few assists in 5GP en route to a Hlinka Gretzky Cup Silver Medal. Dravecký could have top-four potential in the NHL. He’ll want to tidy up turnovers in the neutral zone throughout his development, but that comes from his confidence to escape the opposition. Turnovers create limited ice to recover and defend, which is a flaw in Dravecký’s game. He has soft hands and the hockey sense to create more efficient zone entries.
Dravecký has dynamic traits in the second round to boost the Flyers’ prospect pool on defense.
A sizeable, right-handed defenseman who can move the puck and make plays, Samu Alalauri checks off a lot of boxes for the Flyers.
Alalauri is 6’2” and 220 pounds and spent the majority of his draft season with Pelicans U20 in U20 SM-sarja. In 40 games, the 18-year-old racked up 6 goals and 19 assists for 25 points. He ranked second among all team defensemen in each of those categories. Alalauri also led the team in plus/minus with +19.
Alalauri also shone at the international level this past year, racking up 20 points (8G, 11A) in 18 games with Finland’s U18 squad. That includes 4 points (1G, 3A) each at the U18 World Junior Championship and the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Alalauri’s skating is revered, especially for his size. The type of footwork and two-way prowess in a defenseman of his stature is something the Flyers should be all over as they clearly want to identify themselves as a bigger team on the back end, and he’ll provide an extra element of skill as well.
Alalauri is committed to the University of Massachusetts for the 2026-27 season.
Round 6; 181st Overall
Eric Reese: Martin Psohlavec; G; HC Energie Karlovy Vary U20 (Czechia U20)
Perhaps Czechia is a goaltending pipeline Philadelphia should explore. Martin Psohlavec doesn’t rely on his 6’5″ frame because he prioritizes positioning. He’s a hybrid goaltender who helped secure a World Junior U18 Bronze Medal, going 3-1-0 in 4GP with a 92.6%SV and 1.68GAA.
Last season with HC Energie Karlovy Vary U20, Psohlavec went 31-11-0 in 42GP with a 92.8%SV and a 1.92GAA. In the Czechia U20 Playoffs, Psohlavec continued to a 5-3-0 record in 8GP with a 92.5%SV and a 1.78GAA.
The son of former pro goalie Manon Rhéaume, the left-handed defenseman just wrapped up his sophomore season at Michigan.
Dakoda Rhéaume-Mullen is a strong skater who is positionally sound, and he can move the puck well, also. He racked up 18 points (4G, 14A) and was +11 in 40 games with the Wolverines this past year. At 19 years old, he also appeared at the World Junior Championship for Team USA.
With the departure of Andrae to Toronto in the Woll trade and without a surplus of left-handed defensemen in their system, the Flyers could look to Rhéaume-Mullen as someone who could help them down the road.
Round 7; 213th Overall
Eric Reese: JJ Marthaler; LD; University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA)
Steady on defense, JJ Marthaler is the type of defenseman to clear the porch for his goaltenders. He has an active stick, too. In 25GP with the USNTDP Juniors in the USHL, Marthaler tallied four assists.
In 2027-2028, Marthaler will begin at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
Jake Modugno: Ben Hrebik; G; Providence (NCAA)
The Flyers have not drafted a goaltender since 2023, when they took Bjarnason and Zavagrin.
Hrebik is a little on the older side for a draft prospect at 20 years old, but his stats are undeniably good. He posted a 26-11-6 record with a .920 SV% and 2.81 GAA in 43 games with the OHL’s Barrie Colts this past season, leading them to an OHL Finals appearance before he makes the switch to the NCAA with Providence College next year.
Hrebik’s 6’2”, 209-pound frame gives him a solid combination of size and agility that a team looks for in a goalie prospect.
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