‘Dynamic,' puck-moving defen...

With slim odds, the Flyers didn't strike gold in the Connor Bedard sweepstakes. But they will have a chance to bring in some needed high-end talent near the top of the 2023 NHL draft.

"We're fortunate it's a good year," Flyers general manager Danny Briere said of the draft crop in April. "We have quite a few picks and we have a high one.

"You have to go through a lot of bad times to get there unfortunately, but it's exciting when you're at the draft table and you get to pick such a high pick. It's going to be a critical pick for the organization moving forward, there's no doubt about it."

After selecting Cutter Gauthier fifth overall last summer, the Flyers are slotted at No. 7 for this year's draft, which will be held June 28-29 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. With the Ivan Provorov trade, the Flyers acquired the 22nd overall pick, giving them two first-rounders and 10 total selections in the draft. The first round kicks off at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday, while Rounds 2-7 follow Thursday starting at 11 a.m. ET.

Leading up to the draft, we're breaking down targets for the Flyers at No. 7.

Next up:

Axel Sandin Pellikka

Position: Defenseman

Height: 5-foot-11

Weight: 180

Shoots: Right

Team: Skelleftea

Scouting report

With a push-the-envelope style, Sandin Pellikka is an elusive defenseman who can put up points and dictate a game in all three zones.

Constantly on the move and making smart decisions, the skilled Swede has the ability to dart along the blue line for sustained possession in the offensive zone. He’s also adept at transitioning the puck out of the defensive zone with his legs and vision.

“He sits in the category as one of the dynamic defensemen,” Dan Marr, the director of NHL Central Scouting, said June 1 in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “He’s a go-getter, he’s a go-to guy. He contributes two ways, he’s a good two-way defenseman out there.

“But he’s the guy that can take the puck and control the play and control the ice. He has a really smart game controlling the play at the offensive blue line, he sees plays well, knows how to position himself, knows how to get open and get shots through to the net.”

Sandin Pellikka picked apart the junior level in his home country, putting up 16 goals, 20 assists and a plus-15 rating over 31 games for Skelleftea’s under-20 team. Against men in the SHL, Sweden’s top pro league, he had five points (two goals, three assists) and a plus-2 mark through 22 games with Skelleftea.

Fit with Flyers

There’s no doubt the rebuilding Flyers need answers in their defensive picture. They have struggled mightily to find long-term stability on the back end. They have also used a first-round pick on a blueliner just once over the last seven drafts (Cam York in 2019).

The 2023 draft crop is top-heavy with forwards, so the Flyers could have a shot at taking whoever they view as the best defenseman in this class.

One would think a righty-shot, point-producing prospect like Sandin Pellikka will intrigue the Flyers. But it’s fair to wonder if the Swedish blueliner would be a reach at No. 7 overall.

If the Flyers like Sandin Pellikka and gather a sense that he'll slide a bit, it could give Briere an opportunity to trade back and potentially gain a second-round pick. The Flyers don’t have a selection in the second round because of the Rasmus Ristolainen trade two summers ago.