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The 2023 NHL Draft is in the Books, and Jones and Brière Hit it Out of the Park in Their First Try

(Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)

After a very successful first round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, Keith Jones, Daniel Brière, and the rest of the gang entered the 2nd day of the draft looking to add to Matvei Michkov and Oliver Bonk. Due to Chuck Fletcher’s wheeling and dealing, the Philadelphia Flyers were without a 2nd round pick in a very deep 2023 NHL Draft, but had 8 more selections to make by the end of the day.

Brière ended up trading into the 2nd round courtesy of the Chicago Blackhawks. The Flyers traded pick #167 in this year’s NHL Draft as well as a 2nd round pick in 2024 that previously belonged to the Los Angeles Kings. The Flyers had 3 2024 second round picks and decided it was high-time to jump in and draft a player they very much wanted.

A full recap of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft:

With the 7th overall pick, the Flyers drafted (RW) Matvei Michkov
With the 22nd overall pick, the Flyers drafted (RHD) Oliver Bonk
With the 51st overall pick, the Flyers drafted (G) Carson Bjarnason
With the 87th overall pick, the Flyers drafted (G) Egor Zavragin
With the 95th overall pick, the Flyers drafted (C) Denver Barkey
With the 103rd overall pick, the Flyers drafted (C) Cole Knuble
With the 120th overall pick, the Flyers drafted (LW) Alex Ciernik
With the 135th overall pick, the Flyers drafted (RHD) Carter Sotheran
With the 172nd overall pick, the Flyers drafted (C) Ryan MacPherson
With the 199th overall pick, the Flyers drafted (RHD) Matteo Mann

Right off the bat you notice the Flyers drafted 2 goaltenders, 3 right-hand shooting defensemen, 3 centres, and 2 wingers – one of them being Matvei Michkov. Their goalie pool was a little desolate with nobody behind Samuel Ersson or Alexei Kolosov, they beefed up down the middle which was another position of need, and you can’t have enough right-hand shooting defenseman because they are a hot commodity in the NHL and teams covet them like diamonds.

Amongst this group were several players who dropped and could be seen as value picks down the road. With Michkov, at one point in time he was seen as #2 pick but with all the rumblings before the NHL Draft his drop was somewhat expected. Denver Barkey and Alex Ciernik are 2 forwards who had 2nd round potential but due to their diminutive size, they dropped – seemingly the NHL has still yet to figure that one out. Even with a prospect like Carter Sotheran, he was ranked 55th on EliteProspects but dropped all the way down to 135.

Safe to say that Daniel Brière’s first NHL Draft as a general manager went very well.

Matvei Michkov 

(RvS.Media/Monika Majer/Getty Images)

Matvei Michkov has been covered from every angle imaginable before the NHL Draft, during the NHL Draft, and post-draft, but he is such an intriguing and fascinating prospect that you can’t get enough of him. Skill-wise he’s right there with Connor Bedard and if I were a betting man, if he were of a different nationality, he wouldn’t have escaped the clutches of the Anaheim Ducks.

Leo Carlsson, Adam Fantilli, and Michkov are all first overall talents but this draft class was loaded from top to bottom and it allowed several teams to load up on elite stars in the making. The San Jose Sharks were rather quiet heading into the draft but it was expected they would draft Will Smith at #4, the Arizona Coyotes were seen as a team with little to no interest in Michkov at #6, and that just left the wildcard Montreal Canadiens at #5. They were extremely enamoured with David Reinbacher and instead of trading down, they decided to stick to their guns and selected the defenseman at #5.

The Russian leagues had very little scouts present, some even pulled all of their scouts out of Russia this year. People were worried about the geopolitical climate and landscape, while other teams wanted the secure route with such a valuable pick. The Sharks and Canadiens wanted a prospect who could be ready instantly and there’s a very good chance that both Smith and Reinbacher make it on the opening night roster – and if not in 2023-24 then definitely 2024-25. With Michkov, we have to wait until 2026 to see him in the NHL, but with this rebuild in full motion now, we have the patience, time, and ability to wait his contract out.

In his first real taste of the KHL, Michkov scored 20 points in just 27 games which is just 3 less points in 26 less games than what Alexander Ovechkin did in his draft year. At the U20-level, Michkov broke several Russian records, including the most goals and points scored by a 16-year-old beating out Nikita Kucherov.

At the international level, he bested Connor Bedard in goals (12) and points (16) at the U18 World Championships, but Bedard got the last laugh with the gold medal. The 16 points was the 2nd highest total by a 16-year-old behind only Ovechkin’s 18 from 2002 and Mikhail Grigorenko’s 18 in 2011. He then followed that up with an even better showing at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup where he not only won the gold but also scored 8 goals and 13 points in 5 games – leading the tournament in goals.

Scott Wheeler – The Athletic – June 5th: “Michkov’s brilliance comes primarily from his ability to make his decisions quickly and execute on them with incredible proficiency, whether that’s ripping a patterned shot (his one-timer, his standstill wrister, his curl-and-drag, etc.), a flash of his unbelievable hands, a quick move into a pass, a sudden stop-up, or an attacking cut.”

Chris Peters – Flo Hockey – June 1st: “Michkov has remarkable net sense, which makes him a scoring threat at all times. While Bedard has the best shot in the draft, Michkov may have the best understanding of how to score. He out-thinks goalies and opposing defenses and is always in an attack position in the offensive zone.”

Corey Pronman – The Athletic – May 30th: “He has truly special offensive skill and hockey sense. His mind operates differently from other players in how he sees the play develop and he always seems to find ways to figure into scoring chances despite not being the biggest or fastest.”

He will be the Flyers’ number one prospect until he is no longer classified as such and he will be atop of the league’s best prospects in the same stretch. The Flyers finally have a true game-breaker who will be experienced and ready to jump into action after his contract comes to a close in the KHL.

Oliver Bonk

(Dennis Pajot/Getty Images)

It might not have been the flashiest pick, but it certainly was a great selection by the Flyers brass. People talk about BPA (best player available) when it comes to the first round but with having the luxury of 2 first round picks, you can use one or both to fill desperate needs in your pipeline.

Andrew Cristall, Gabriel Perreault, Otto Stenberg, and Mikhail Gulyayev were all still available, but the Flyers felt comfortable in selecting the very responsible two-way defenseman in Oliver Bonk. It helps that he’s a right-hand shooting defenseman – something that was missing – and there was a lot more information on hand with him compared to some other defensemen.

Bonk played in his first full season with the London Knights in 2022-23 and scored 10 goals and 40 points in 67 games. One of the knocks on the 18-year-old defenseman is that his offensive game still needs work but he will eventually turn into a top defenseman. For someone who’s offensive game is seen as a weakness, 40 points in your first season in the OHL is a pretty good start.

As for his strengths, they’re exactly where you’d want them to be coming from a tall defenseman. He plays extremely responsible hockey, has two-way value, can skate well for someone of his size, and is known to be a “minute muncher”. Bonk will need a few years to really work on his craft but some have said that he could slide into the bottom pairing today if the Flyers were that desperate.

Scott Wheeler – The Athletic – June 5th: “He’s a pro-built defenceman who plays a firm game, possesses good overall skill, has solid edgework and directional changes, and escapes pressure well. He influences the game through his effectiveness and the consistency of his habits.”

Chris Peters – Flo Hockey – June 1st: “He skates well enough, has good enough size and is a right-shot. His offensive skillset may not portend to a high level of production at the NHL level, but his ability to take care of his own end, engage physically and break up plays to get pucks up ice is certainly attractive.”

Corey Pronman – The Athletic – May 30th: “Bonk’s toolkit looks like an NHL defenseman. He’s a 6-foot-2 right shot with strong mobility and offensive touch. Bonk is able to skate pucks up ice, make some skilled plays, and shows good poise from the blue line.”

He stands in at 6’2 and 180 lbs, has plenty of time and room to grow into his frame, and playing on one of the best OHL teams helps his case. He’s got the defensive acumen almost locked down, all he needs to do to add to his value is to continue to shoot the puck and create offense. He can quarterback a power play unit, he has a good shot, and will have plenty of opportunities in 2023-24 to add to his totals.

His edge-work, stick-checking, and angles are what makes him such a reliable defenseman. He has the confidence, poise, and hockey sense to merit the 22nd overall selection, and in due time will be one of the top – if not the top, Flyers prospect in the defense pool.

Carson Bjarnason

(Jonathan Kozub/Getty Images)

With all the Carter Hart rumours that have been swirling around for weeks on end, the Flyers needed to draft a goaltender, and this draft was known to have several good options that would fall in the 2nd round and perhaps further into the third.

Adam Gajan went 35th overall to Chicago, Michael Hrabal went 38th overall to the Arizona Coyotes, and Trey Augustine went 41st overall to the Detroit Red Wings, which then prompted Daniel Brière to trade into the 2nd round of the NHL Draft and select their guy in Carson Bjarnason. Damian Clara went 60th to the Anaheim Ducks, which validates Brière’s reasoning to jump in via a trade.

His numbers don’t stand out, his peripherals look middling, but he was playing behind one of the worst teams in the WHL in the Brandon Wheat Kings. Goaltenders are also the toughest position to gauge but there’s a lot to like about the young goaltender who stands in at 6’3″ and 186 lbs.

Scott Wheeler – The Athletic – June 5th: “He’s got good size and athleticism, he reads and anticipates the play fairly well, he covers the bottom of the net into his butterfly, and he battles. I’ve had issue with his tracking and focus though, and he seems to drop a lot of pucks in his glove hand, each of which can result in some bad goals.”

Chris Peters – Flo Hockey – June 1st: “Bjarnason has a lot of the tools, from the size to the technique. He has a good feel for the game and can make a lot of harder stops look pretty easy. That said, some of the other goalies in this class have a little more athleticism and competitiveness that may give them the edge.”

Corey Pronman – The Athletic – May 30th: “Bjarnason has decent size at 6-foot-3, to go with very good quickness and ability to make the tough saves. His hockey IQ is probably his best trait, though. Bjarnason is consistently square with pucks, and makes difficult stops seem easy due to how well he reads and reacts to the play.”

Brière said that they traded into the 2nd round because of the run of goalies that were being drafted and they didn’t want to miss out. Outside of Hart, the Flyers have Samuel Ersson who seems NHL-ready, Alexei Kolosov who is marinating in the KHL, and Ivan Fedotov who while remaining under contract, no one seems to know if he’ll make the leap after serving his 1-year service in the military.

Bjarnason was passed over in the 2020 Western Hockey League draft, mostly because he came in as a 5’9″ 15-year-old. He used that as motivation to prove his doubters wrong and upon entering the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, Carson Bjarnason was the top-ranked North American goaltender ahead of Gajan, Hrabel, and Augustine.

Teammate and fellow draftee, Nate Danielson said: “He’s amazing. But what really makes him so good is his compete level. I get to see it on and off the ice every day. He’s such a hard worker in the gym and on the ice in practice. He just wants to get better and he continues to do that every day. I’m really excited for him.”

Bjarnason had a sit down interview with TSN before the draft and discussed a variety of topics:

TSN: What was the biggest change for you this season?

Bjarnason: The amount of games. I played close to 50 compared to just under 25 last year. It’s a bit of an adjustment learning how to take care of your body and learning how to be a starter.

TSN: Where did your game improve the most?

Bjarnason: I had a lot of poise this year. The aura I gave off in the net definitely improved from last year. Also, I was able to read the game better with my off-puck awareness and overall IQ.

TSN: How did you work on your aura?

Bjarnason: At 16, I had people telling me I had a really calm game and they liked the way I played, but some nights I’d overdo it and act a little too calm and maybe stay behind the play a little bit. So, it’s having a balance between having that certain intensity, but also being laidback and not showing any emotion.

TSN: Brandon missed the playoffs. How did you deal with the losses mentally?

Bjarnason: Controlling my emotions. That’s something I’ve always had. Super fortunate with the way I was brought up. It’s just really treating it one puck at a time. It’s just me and the puck out there. I can’t really focus on any outside noise. So, just control what you can to the best of your abilities.

He only posted a .900 SV% with a 3.08 GAA, but played well enough that scouts saw something special in him. The Flyers last drafted a goaltender in the 2nd round in Carter Hart, and Bjarnason said he looks up to his fellow WHL alumni and is excited to meet him and learn from the goaltender.

Egor Zavragin 

(KHL.ru/JHL)

The Flyers doubled down and drafted their second consecutive goaltender in the 3rd round of the NHL Draft, this time in Egor Zavragin of Russia. The 17-year-old stands in at 6’2” and 183 lbs but unfortunately for Flyers fans, there’s not much information out there about the youngster.

He was ranked 66th by Smaht Scouting, 98th by FC Hockey, 134th by McKeen’s Hockey, and 150th by Daily Faceoff.  He was also ranked 12th out of 12 in International goaltenders by the NHL Central Scouting bureau, which goes to show that his rankings are all over the place with lack of scouting.

Zavragin played for Mamonty Yugry of the MHL this past season where he sported an 11-6-1 record with a .920 SV% and a 2.49 GAA. In 4 post-season games he went 2-2-0 with a 2.68 GAA and a .927 SV%. In 2021-22 with Mamonty Yugry, he posted a 20-4-2 record with a .930 SV% and a 2.13 GAA.

At just 17 years of age – going to be 18 in August – Zavragin has shown enough skill and talent to merit a 3rd round selection. He has plenty of time to marinate in the Russian circuit, similarly to Alexei Kolosov, and the Flyers are confident in their goaltending duo after the 2023 NHL Entry Draft had come to a close.

When asked about the goaltending selections, Brière said it was for the long haul and that there was too much upside from both of them to let them slide and perhaps into the arms of a different team.

Denver Barkey

(Dennis Pajot/Getty Images)

Dipping back into the London Knights pool, the Flyers drafted Denver Barkey with the 2nd of their 2 third round picks of the 2023 NHL Draft. The 5’9″, 155 lb centre dropped in the draft due to his stature but all signs are currently pointing to a great value pick by Brière and company.

The Newmarket, Ontario, native is a bundle of energy who has a motor that never ceases to quit. He went from scoring 15 points in 53 games during his rookie season to 22 goals and 59 points in 61 games, which had him ranked 2nd in goals and 3rd in points on the team – ahead of 2022 first round pick, Logan Mailloux, and 2023 first round pick, Easton Cowan.

Drafted with the 95th overall pick, Barkey was ranked 38th by Dobber Prospects and Smaht Scouting, 52nd by Craig Button, 69th by Daily Faceoff, 79th by Recruit Scouting, and 80th from both Bob McKenzie and McKeen’s Hockey.

He’s a creative playmaker, has the skating and speed to boot, and his competitiveness and drive is what makes this pick a diamond in the rough. He fits the John Tortorella scheme like a glove with his relentlessness, his drive, and emptying the tank shift-after-shift. He lays it all out on the ice and never takes a shift off.

While some of the rankings had him as a late second round pick or an early 3rd round selection, many believed he would drop due to his size and that he was going to be a dark horse selection if he continued to slide.

Tony Ferrari – The Hockey News – June 5th: “The London Knights forward is a highly skilled and hard-working center that understands the intricacies of connecting small plays all over the ice to ensure a positive final result. He’s an excellent passer and a sneaky good finisher. He could be the mid-round steal of the draft.”

Scott Wheeler – The Athletic – June 5th: “He’s a competitive, energizing player who empties the tank shift-to-shift, wins more battles than a player his size should, and then has the skill required to make plays out of all of that effort. Despite his size, Barkey also played mostly centre in the regular season this year for the Knights (before playing the wing in the playoffs).”

Chris Peters – Flo Hockey – June 1st: “A strong postseason performance with London may have alleviated some of the concerns over Barkey’s size. That’s really the only thing he truly lacks as he’s quick, competes hard and he can produce. That competitive drive could carry him decently far in his career.”

Corey Pronman – The Athletic – May 30th: “Barkey has a lot of things to like about his game. He has good skill and vision and he competes his butt off. He plays without fear and gets to the inside which is what you like to see from a smaller player”

Elite Prospects: “Barkey understands how to make plays as a passer. He attracts defenders to create space for teammates, constantly uses them to progress the attack, and layers feints in his stickhandling. His quick give-and-goes only add more pace to his play. And he also knows where and how to position himself to get the puck back in dangerous spots.”

Cole Knuble

(Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)

Cole Knuble, son of former Flyer Mike Knuble, was drafted 8 picks later at the start of the 4th round. The Grand Rapids, Michigan, native stands in at 5’11” and 185 lbs, players the centre position, and has committed to the University of Notre Dame ahead of the 2023-24 season.

After being passed over in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, Knuble scored 30 goals and 66 points in 57 games in his second full season with the Fargo Force of the USHL. In his first draft eligible season he was coming off the heels of 20 goals and 49 points in 62 games in 2021-22. He came into the draft as the 53rd ranked North America skater, 77th on Dobber Prospects, 87th on Smaht Scouting, and 106th on Elite Prospects and was definitely expecting to hear his name called out this year.

Elite Prospects – “Cole Knuble by passes defenders with deft passes, a bit of deception, and non-stop movement. He’s a true give-and-go player. Non-stop scanning and proactive off-puck positioning. Knuble’s a threat from everywhere in the offensive zone: A passing threat in both open-ice and down low and a scoring threat from range with an even better in-tight finishing game. He’s physical, fearless, and just as capable completing plays with defenders leaning on him as he is in open ice.”

After being passed up the first time, he used that snub as motivation to work on his craft and ameliorate what scouts said he had to work on. He became a much better all-round talent this year and he combined his playmaking ability with a newfound sense of two-way play.

He works extremely hard, is a net-front presence, and is touted to becoming a very good penalty killer. He figures to be used all over the lineup with top-6 and top-9 capabilities but what he lacks in offense, he makes up with his compete-level, motor, and feistiness. The Flyers noticed how much he improved over the season and how he worked extremely hard to get to where he is today and are confident in the selection.

He has a lot of things to iron out in Notre Dame but his upside is intriguing and he figures to be in the mix 3 years down the line. His skating improved, his work ethic got better, he never gave up, and he always had the playmaking to go with the upside of scoring goals.

Alex Čiernik

(Dale Preston/Getty Images)

Another 2nd round talent that slipped through due to his size, Alex Čiernik could be the best value pick the Flyers get out of the 2nd day of the NHL Draft. He was ranked 36th by Smaht Scouting, 37th by Recruit Scouting, 39th by Dobber Prospects, and was the 21st ranked European skater. Drafted with the 120th overall pick, that’s pretty good value for Brière and company.

Born in Wolfsburg, Germany but of Slovakian descent, Čiernik played for Södertälje SK of the J20 Nationell and the HockeyAllsvenskan – with a 10-game loan to Västerviks IK of the HockeyAllsvenskan. He scored 9 goals and 21 points in 18 games for Södertälje SK J20 of the J20 Nationell and then chipped in with another 6 points in 15 games for Södertälje SK and 6 points in 10 games for Västerviks IK.

The previous season he scored 20 goals and 47 points in 43 games at the J20 Nationell, while going pointless in 11 games in the HockeyAllsvenskan. However at the international level for Slovakia, Čiernik chipped in with 6 goals and 20 points in 13 games. This year he scored 2 goals and 3 points in 5 games at the World Junior Championships.

Tony Ferrari – The Hockey News – June 5th: “Čiernik is a play-creator and enables his linemates to disappear into space as he controls the puck and attracts defenders. He plays with high skill and loves to test the limits of his passing ability.”

Scott Wheeler – The Athletic – June 5th: “He’s an up-tempo playmaker and dynamic skater (in straight lines, through his three-step acceleration from a standstill, and around corners through his crossovers) who looks to involve himself more than you might expect at his size.”

Chris Peters – Flo Hockey – June 1st: “Čiernik has skill and works for his offense. With a higher-end shot, he has clear goal-scoring potential. He looks like a good fit for a mid-lineup player down the line.”

Corey Pronman – The Athletic – May 30th: “He has the speed and skill for higher levels. His skill can stand out, especially the plays he makes in full stride, with flashes of high-end hands. He can make plays on the move and from a standstill.”

EliteProspects – “Čiernik is an explosive skater who can weave through neutral zone defences with crossover-heavy rush patterns and accelerate quickly to win loose puck races. His hands can also keep up with his feet, allowing him to attack the triangle of the defender in a number of different ways.”

Čiernik’s stature makes him somewhat invisible with the likes of Juraj Slafkovský, Šimon Nemec, and Dalibor Dvorský roaming the ice, however he was one of the best – if not the best – prospects for Slovakia on the international scene. At the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, he scored 7 points in 5 games and played a massive role en route to a silver medal. Even as the youngest player on the team at the WJC, he was third in goals.

His speed, puck control, quick release, and strength will surprise you and should be looked upon as his greatest strengths. He has plenty of time to improve on his defense and two-way game but as an offensive threat, he was one of the best options post-2nd round and the Flyers should be gleeful from ear-to-ear with this selection at 120.

Carter Sotheran

(Jonathan Kozub/Getty Images)

Another player who seemed to drop well below his rankings was defenseman, Carter Sotheran of the Portland Winterhawks in the WHL. He came in ranked as the 71st North American skater, was 55th on EliteProspects, 77th in Smaht Scouting, and 69th on The Hockey Writers.

Sotheran is another right-hand shooting defenseman that the Flyers stocked up on in this draft. He is a big defenseman, coming in at 6’3” and 203 lbs, but he can skate, transition, and his edge-work is phenomenal for someone of his size. He is known to have a great hockey IQ, has the ability to go end-to-end , and is a prototypical two-way defenseman.

Defensively, he can shut down the opposition with his angles, his size and reach allows him to stop a play before it even happens, and if you think you can beat him to a loose puck, think again, because he can box you out and chase you down with relative ease.

Why he dropped so low in the 2023 NHL Draft was primarily because of his offense, but some believe that because he was paired up with a more offensive-minded defenseman in Luca Cagnoni, he was tasked to be the last line of defense and play a more responsible role. Cagnoni was drafted 123rd overall by the San Jose Sharks, while Sotheran was taken 135th overall.

He doesn’t panic, he is known to be very calm, cool, and collected as a defenseman, and his transition game is sublime. If he can improve on his offense next season and beyond and work on his shot a little more, Sotheran is going to be looked upon as a steal in the 5th round. He tallied 4 goals and 23 points in his first full season in Portland and we should expect a mighty increase during the 2023-24 campaign.

Ryan MacPherson

(Penticton Vees/Leamington Flyers)

Rounding out the forwards of this draft class, Ryan MacPherson was drafted in the 6th round of the 2023 NHL Draft with the 172nd overall pick. Ryan’s twin brother, Connor, is said to have received an invite from the Flyers ahead of their developmental camp.

Ryan MacPherson played in the GOJHL, the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, and scored 25 goals and 61 point in 49 games for the Leamington Flyers. He also added 14 goals and 38 points in 24 post-season contests. Of course, the GOJHL doesn’t hold the same level of competition as the OHL, WHL, QMJHL, and a variety of other junior circuits, however he is committed to Penticton Vees of the BCHL ahead of the 2023-24 season and is set to play for the University of New Hampshire in the NCAA in 2024-25 after receiving a scholarship – alongside his twin brother.

Playing in the Junior B circuit in Canada didn’t bring about much notoriety but the Flyers felt comfortable in taking a leap of faith in the 18-year-old instead of certain prospects who kept sliding further and further from their loftier pedestals. At 6’0 and 176 lbs, MacPherson has time to grow and best his 211th ranking in NHL Central Scouting for North American skaters.

Matteo Mann

(Dennis Pajot/Getty Images)

The final pick of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft for the Flyers was none other than defenseman, Matteo Mann, of the Chicoutimi Sagueneéns of the QMJHL. Mann is a massive specimen, coming in at 6’6 and 230 lbs at the age of 18 and another important facet of his game is that he is a right-hand shooting defenseman.

His draft rankings come in at 79th from The Hockey News, 84th ranked North American skater, 94th from FC Hockey, 95th at Daily Faceoff, and 160th on McKeen’s Hockey.

Just based on his size alone, you can only imagine the type of player that he is. He uses his size to his advantage, delivers powerful body checks, is strong defensively, and is tough to out-muscle in the defensive end. His long reach comes in handy with his poke-checks and he understands his role to a tee, knowing that he is the last line of defense and won’t make any ill-advised pinches or plays offensively.

He’ll beat you in front of the net, out in open ice, along the boards, and upon entering the offensive zone. Everything about this pick screams physicality, size, and defensive acumen.

He won’t beat you with his speed, he’s not the most offensive player out there, and sometimes his lack of discipline will get him in trouble but generally speaking he is stout and responsible. For someone projected as a 3rd-4th round pick by some lists, the Flyers should feel very happy about this selection to end their draft.

He recorded 1 assist in 20 games for Chicoutimi in 2020-21, 2 goals and 11 points in 63 games in 2021-22, and 5 assists in 45 games this past season. For a 7th round pick and a way to end the draft, this was a safe pick, but also a boon due to his right-hand shot. The Flyers made sure to cross all categories when drafting this year and Mann brings the physicality that the others don’t.

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