The NHL is in the middle of the busiest time of the year. Trades are flying all over the league and by the time I finish writing this sentence, there might be another one done that changes a team’s direction or solves a team’s long-term problem. But this week will end with the 2026 NHL Draft taking place in Buffalo and the Philadelphia Flyers are in an interesting spot.
With the 21st overall pick, the Flyers have a couple options ahead of them. They can go more safe and understand that if they get any sort of NHL player out of a late first-round pick, then it’s a big win. Or, they can take a high-upside risk and also understand that there are hidden gems to be found all over the draft and wanting to take just some potential fourth-line center over someone who will either be an AHL all-star or a very impactful top-of-the-lineup player, is the mindset that leads teams to staying in the mushy middle.
But, knowing that, we gathered some writers over here at Broad Street Hockey to voice their opinion on who they think the Flyers should take at 21st overall, should that prospect be there for them to select.
Who do you think the Flyers should draft at 21st overall?
Thomas: I think the Flyers do have an opportunity to take a very solid prospect at 21st overall and if this team wants to keep on making the playoffs, they might just need to take more of a high-upside type of pick instead of going for their typical projectable prospect. And with that, if I had one choice that is somewhat realistic it has to be defenseman Xavier Villeneuve. He could be someone who barely even scratches the surface of pro hockey if his smaller size is taken advantage of, but with elite-level skating and offensive capabilities, it’s a chance you take. He’s either nothing at all and a total lottery ticket, or the Flyers have a top-four defenseman to quarterback their power play and score 70 points a season – something they have missed for so long. If he makes the NHL, he could at least be a Shayne Gostisbehere and hey, I think that guy just won something.
Jason M: There seems to be a new mock draft posted every six hours, and will be from now until Toronto selects the first overall pick in Buffalo. There are a handful of players who seem to be in that early twenties area, and Ilia Morozov might fit the bill with the Flyers. The center has a style of play that isn’t all that flashy, but he looks to be well-rounded in a lot of areas his peers might need time to work on. Morozov will be playing his second season of NCAA hockey with Miami University in Ohio in 2026-27. With some speed and some size, Morozov could be the center the Flyers might take their time developing. But in the long run it could be well worth the wait. He checks a lot of boxes, and might be a great pickup if he’s still there when the time comes.
Brad: I’d really like to see them use the 21st pick to move up in the draft for a higher-impact player like Viggo Björk, but for a real answer where they stick with the pick, I’ll also go with Xavier Villeneuve. In the back half of the first round I’d rather swing big on skill than go with a safe, high-floor type. If he hits, he could really end up being the steal of the draft, and beyond that, it would be nice to see the Flyers unafraid to take that kind of swing. If they took Villeneuve, it would legitimately shock me, and I’d welcome that.
Cole: This draft, I really want to see the Flyers take a swing on a player with Top-6 forward or Top-4 defenseman upside, rather than the typical safe projection that the Flyers typically go with. Xavier Villeneuve would be a contender for me as well, but I’m big into the upside of Elton Hermansson. He’s another winger, but he’s so fun to watch and could be a home-run pick if he hits. Considering his poor off-puck play and defensive attributes right now, Hermansson is totally a Top-6 or bust type of player. The upside, though, is all because of the work he does in the offensive zone and on the rush. With the puck on his stick, so many good things happen, and he has an ability to spot teammates with passing lanes that you didn’t even know were available. There’s such a high offensive IQ, solid skating ability, and high-level passing ability in Hermansson, and if the off-puck play can catch up a bit? There’s a heck of a player here that’s very worthy of pick No. 21.
Jacob: Around pick No.21, the Flyers are going to have a handful of options that all have quite similar ceilings at this moment in time. If Oliver Suvanto was to have a dramatic fall, I would be in favor of taking him, but that seems very unlikely at this point. For their needs, I like selecting Ilia Morozov with the first pick. The NCAA centerman out of Miami-Ohio impressed as an underager in his freshman season, and has a pretty secure floor with the ability to develop into a potential 2C at his absolute ceiling. His size and puck handling skills, in tandem with one another, is a very intriguing combination, should the Flyers be able to pry a bit more offense out of an admittedly very raw prospect.
Who do you realistically want to see the Flyers select at 21st overall? Let us know in the comments!
