Flyers draft options: Sizing up the prospects

The Flyers are thin on up-and-coming offensive prospects, making this week's draft all the more appealing for a team that has seven selections in the first four rounds.

The draft is loaded with quality centers and wingers, and the Flyers have the seventh and 29th picks in the first round Friday.

Can't-miss forwards Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Dylan Strome, and Mitch Marner figure to be off the board when they make their first selection, but there are lots of attractive options.

The Flyers might draft Ivan Provorov, a highly regarded two-way defenseman, if he is available at No. 7, or they could choose from a plethora of gifted forwards. Here are the best ones who could be available:

LW Lawson Crouse, 6-foot-4, 211 pounds, Kingston (OHL). Stats: 51 points, including 29 goals, in 56 games. Scouting report: A bruising player who gives opponents fits around the net.

RW/LW Mikko Rantanen, 6-2, 211, TPS in Finland. Stats: 28 points, including nine goals, in 56 games. Scouting report: Prototypical power forward who may be NHL-ready after playing in Finland's top pro league.

LW/C Kyle Connor, 6-1, 170, Youngstown (USHL). Stats: 80 points, including 34 goals, in 56 games. Scouting report: Has great speed, creativity and passing skills.

C Mathew Barzal, 5-11, 178, Seattle (WHL). Stats: 57 points, including 12 goals, in 44 games. Scouting report: Good skater with high hockey IQ.

C Pavel Zacha, 6-3, 210, Sarnia (OHL). Stats: 34 points, including 16 goals, in 37 games. Scouting report: Combines size, speed and talent and may be first European player selected in the draft.

RW Timo Meier, 6-1, 208, Halifax (QMJHL). Stats: 90 points, including 44 goals, in 61 games. Scouting report: Sturdy sniper regarded as one of draft's best scorers.

For what it's worth, the Flyers did not interview Barzal or Meier at the scouting combine in Buffalo.

The position the Flyers fill at No. 7 could play a role in whom they select with the 29th overall choice. If they pick a forward with their first pick, they may opt for a defenseman with their next selection or vice versa.

The most intriguing players who could be available at No. 29:

LW Jake DeBrusk, 5-11, 171, Swift Current (WHL). Stats: 81 points, including 42 goals, in 72 games. Scouting report: Hardworking, two-way winger with great scoring instincts.

LW Paul Bittner, 6-4, 206, Portland (WHL). Stats: 71 points, including 34 goals, in 66 games. Scouting report: Big-bodied forward who plays with an edge and has a rocket shot.

RW Travis Konecny, 5-9, 173, Ottawa (OHL). Stats: 68 points, including 29 goals, in 60 games. Scouting report: Speedy skater who plays much bigger than his size.

RW Daniel Sprong, 6-1, 189, Charlottetown (QMJHL). Stats: 88 points, including 39 goals, in 68 games. Scouting report: Explosive skater who needs to work on his defense.

D Brandon Carlo, 6-4, 198, Tri City (WHL). Stats: 25 points, including four goals, in 63 games. Scouting report: Physical, stay-at-home defender with a heavy shot.

D Oliver Kylington, 6-0, 180, Farjestad of Swedish Hockey League. Stats: Five points in 18 games. Scouting report: Smooth-skating, two-way defenseman who displays exceptional poise.

C Colin White, 6-0, 177, U.S. national U-18 (USHL). Stats: 54 points, including 23 goals, in 54 games. Scouting report: Headed to Boston College, he is an intelligent two-way player who seldom gets outworked.

G Ilya Samsonov, 6-3, 203, Magnitogorsk in Russian junior league. Stats: 2.66 GAA, .918 save percentage. Scouting report: Has great athleticism and models his game after former Flyer Sergei Bobrovsky.

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The Flyers have had the seventh overall pick three times in franchise history. They struck gold twice and struck out the other time.

1972: Bill Barber, LW. He scored a franchise-record 420 goals and was selected to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

1978: Ken Linseman, C. He had an impressive 14-year NHL career, scoring 807 points in 860 games with four teams.

1992: Ryan Sittler, LW: The son of Hall of Famer Darryl Sittler, he had an injury-plagued minor-league career and never reached the NHL. - Sam Carchidi

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