Philadelphia Flyers rank No. 11 in NHL Pipeline Rankings for 2023

June 29, 2024

The Flyers system predictably takes a big jump as I’m very high on forward Matvei Michkov who they picked seventh overall. With Michkov, Cutter Gauthier, Oliver Bonk and Cam York it is a good start to their rebuild, but there is also a lot more tough work and pain to come before this organization can become good again.

Key additions: Matvei Michkov, Oliver Bonk, Carson Bjarnasson

Key graduates: Joel Farabee

2022 ranking: No. 19

2023 NHL Draft grade: A

Full 2023-24 NHL Pipeline Rankings

Player Ranking

1. Matvei Michkov, RW

12/9/2004 | 5-foot-10 | 172 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 7 in 2023
Tier: Elite NHL player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Elite
Hockey sense: Elite
Compete: NHL average
Shot: High-end

Analysis: Michkov is one of the very best first-year draft eligibles I’ve ever seen from inside the offensive blue line. 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. His mind is special, but he’s freakishly skilled with the puck too, and can make elite stick-handling plays seem routine. He can make plays at a high level, but Michkov is a finisher who will score a lot of goals as a pro. His skating is more elusive than fast and I wouldn’t call him a high-compete type either. He’s signed in the KHL through the 2025-26 season, but he projects as a game-breaking elite scoring winger in the NHL.

2. Cutter Gauthier, LW

1/19/2004 | 6-foot-2 | 189 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 5 in 2022
Tier: Top of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: High-end

Analysis: Gauthier had a strong freshman season at Boston College. His best hockey was with Team USA between the world juniors but especially the world championships where he was very impressive versus men. Gauthier has a prototypical NHL skill set. He’s a big, fast, skilled center with a natural offensive touch. He can create in transition due to his hands and feet. He can make tough plays to teammates. His shot is very dangerous and can beat NHL goalies from distance. His compete is fine, not a major asset but good enough and with his frame he can win NHL battles. The biggest debate with Gauthier is whether he’s an NHL wing or center. It’s TBD on that front, but he has top-line tools and should score and play in the league for a long time.

3. Cam York, D

1/5/2001 | 5-foot-11 | 175 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 14 in 2019
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average

Analysis: York became a regular part of the Flyers lineup and power play this past season. York’s value comes from his puck play. He is very skilled and has 1v1 abilities, but it’s his ability to see the ice, hold onto pucks and let plays develop that drives his offense. He gives a good effort every night, but York isn’t that big or physical so his value defensively may never be sky-high as a pro. His feet, skill and brain should allow him to be a second-pair defenseman though if his defense is just OK at the NHL level.

4. Oliver Bonk, D

1/9/2005 | 6-foot-2 | 180 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 22 in 2023
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average

Analysis: 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 show good poise from the blue line. He’s not a standout with the puck, but he can be a decent puck mover at higher levels. Defensively he’s solid due to his feet and reach. Bonk isn’t overly physical but he can defend well enough as a pro. He projects as a top-four defenseman in the NHL.

5. Tyson Foerster, RW

1/18/2002 | 6-foot-2 | 194 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 23 in 2020
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: Poor
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: High-end

Analysis: Foerster had a strong season in the AHL being a top player for Lehigh Valley. He then scored seven points in eight games for the Flyers late in the year. Foerster has a lot to like about his game. He’s a good-sized winger with legit offensive skills. He can beat a lot of defenders 1v1. He creates in the inner third of the offensive zone and gives a quality effort. His shot is lethal from range both in terms of his wrist shot and one-timer. The issue with Foerster always comes down to his skating. He has an awkward skating stride that lacks the ideal technique you’d like to see in an NHL forward and is concerning in terms of his NHL projection. His early success in the league last season may mean he’s so good otherwise he can overcome it and have a lengthy career, but I have a hard time with the stride. I think he plays in the league, and can help a power play, but I worry about his even-strength play in the NHL in terms of a long career.

6. Ethan Samson, D

8/23/2003 | 6-foot-1 | 180 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 174 in 2021
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Samson had a great WHL season. He scored 18 goals and was a big minute all situation player for Prince George. He was also a late cut to Canada’s U20 team. Samson is a skilled defenseman who has the hands, brain and shot to create a lot of offense. He’s strong inside the offensive zone, but I like that he has shown more of a physical bite in his game of late and was a hard-to-play-against defenseman. That aspect could help him get NHL games. If he were to miss it’s because he’s a mediocre skater without quick twitch in his lower half. I could see Samson as a third-pair defenseman.

7. Alex Ciernik, LW

10/8/2004 | 5-foot-10 | 174 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 120 in 2023
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Ciernik is a talented scoring winger. 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. Ciernik’s shot is also quite good, and he’s a guy who can help a power play due to his various offensive tools. I wouldn’t call him a top-end offensive player, and his compete level off the puck, while not poor, is average. So the debate is: As a 5-foot-11 player, where does that fit in an NHL lineup? He could make it, he has talent, but I can’t sit here and tell you I for sure see a top-nine winger.

8. Carson Bjarnason, G

6/30/2005 | 6-foot-3 | 190 pounds | Catches left

Drafted: No. 51 in 2023
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average

Analysis: 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. He has a lot of efficiency in his game. He has NHL potential, but was inconsistent this season, with major highs and lows in his play. It’s hard for me to say he for sure has an NHL career, but I think he has a decent chance to do so.

Has a chance to play*

Emil Andrae, D

2/23/2002 | 5-foot-9 | 181 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 54 in 2020

Analysis: Andrae has great skill and offensive IQ. With the puck on his stick, he’s a threat. He’s also a competitive, physical defenseman who can make stops as a pro. He’s quite undersized though and an average skater at best so it’s questionable whether he’s so talented to be able to defend in the NHL.

Denver Barkey, C

4/27/2005 | 5-foot-9 | 155 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 95 in 2023

Analysis: Barkey has a lot of things to like about his game. He has good skill and vision and he competes well. He plays without fear and gets to the inside which is what you like to see from a smaller player. He’s a good skater, with strong speed and edgework and has shown in junior he can be a reliable two-way player. Whether the toolkit is dynamic enough at his size to be an NHL player, though, is up for debate but you love the way he plays.

Bobby Brink, RW

7/8/2001 | 5-foot-8 | 166 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 34 in 2019

Analysis: Brink is a super smart offensive player with very good offensive skills, but he’s a technically flawed skater who is tiny and that combination is scary when projecting him to the NHL. He was a good not great AHL player this past season so we’ll see if he can take steps in future pro seasons.

Elliot Desnoyers, LW

1/21/2002 | 5-foot-11 | 183 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 135 in 2020

Analysis: Desnoyers is a highly competitive center with good skills and hockey sense. His skating is just okay though, especially for his size.

Alexis Gendron, RW

12/30/2003 | 5-foot-9 | 175 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 220 in 2022

Analysis: Gendron is an excellent skating winger with good hands and a great shot. He’s quite small though and I think his hockey sense is average at best.

Helge Grans, D

5/10/2002 | 6-foot-4 | 205 pounds | Shoots right

Acquired via trade

Analysis: Grans is a tall defenseman who can make a good first pass and has a big-point shot. He’s a heavy skater though and the offense last season wasn’t great in the AHL given that’s supposed to be a strength of his game.

Devin Kaplan, RW

1/10/2004 | 6-foot-2 | 199 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 69 in 2022

Analysis: Kaplan is a big-body winger with good puck skills and he competes well. His skating is just okay though and his hockey sense isn’t the best too.

Owen McLaughlin, C

3/25/2003 | 6-feet | 160 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 206 in 2021

Analysis: McLaughlin is a skilled forward who can play with pace and make a lot of tough plays. You’d like to see a bit more finish in his game and some more physicality, but the offensive abilities give him a legit chance to play games.

Massimo Rizzo, C

6/13/2001 | 5-foot-10 | 175 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 216 in 2019

Analysis: Rizzo was a top player in the NCHC this season. He’s a very good skater with strong hands and vision. He’s not that big or physical so whether his game works as a pro is TBD but he’s shown well enough in college to look like a guy with a shot to make it.

*Listed in alphabetical order

Player Eligibility: All skaters who are 22 years old or younger as of Sept. 15, 2023, regardless of how many NHL games they’ve played, are eligible. Player heights and weights are taken from the NHL.

Tool grades: Tool grades are based on a scale with six separate levels, with an eye toward how this attribute would grade in the NHL (poor, below-average, average, above-average, high-end and elite). “Average” on this scale means the tool projects as NHL average, which is meant as a positive, not a criticism. Skating, puck skills, hockey sense and compete for every projected NHL player are graded. Shot grades are only included if a shot is notably good or poor.

Tier Definitions: Tiers are meant to show roughly where in an average NHL lineup a player projects to slot in.

(Photo of Matvei Michkov: Maksim Konstantinov / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images)

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