Flyers’ Re-Draft: Matvei Michkov Out, Gabe Perreault In at No. 7

The Philadelphia Flyers, reflecting on their 2023 NHL Draft choices, find themselves in a different position in a recent re-draft by The Athletic’s prospect expert Scott Wheeler. Originally, the Flyers celebrated the selection of Matvei Michkov, but in this alternate reality, they miss out on the talented winger.

Wheeler’s re-draft reveals how the top of the class remains unchanged, with Connor Bedard, Leo Carlsson, Adam Fantilli, and Will Smith going to their respective teams with the first four picks. However, the narrative shifts dramatically at Pick 5, where Michkov heads to the Montreal Canadiens, two spots earlier than his original selection by the Flyers.

“It’s easy to forget that we’re only a season removed from him having 63 points in 80 games as a rookie, the Flyers’ second-leading scorer, and the fourth-place finisher in Calder Trophy voting,” Wheeler noted about Michkov. “But last year some of his issues caught up with him. It’s now on him to get his game right in some important areas.” He remains optimistic about Michkov’s potential, emphasizing that while he sees first-line offensive capabilities in him, the risk-reward balance makes him a complicated player to evaluate.

With Michkov off the board, the Flyers pivot to their next option, landing New York Rangers winger Gabe Perreault with the seventh overall pick. Ironically, the Flyers previously had the chance to select Perreault at the 22nd pick a few years back but opted for defenseman Oliver Bonk instead.

Wheeler had ranked Perreault seventh in his final 2023 rankings, providing insights into his talent: “He’s likely going to be the fourth player from the national program picked because his game is believed to be less projectable. I’m less and less convinced of that. He’s a better skater than he gets credit for, and there might not be a player in this draft class who thinks the game offensively at his level.”

Expressing confidence in his assessment, Wheeler stated, “I nailed this one, and I’m proud of it. If you watched some of his games late in the year with the Rangers, you’ll know.” Last season, Perreault played 49 games for the Rangers, contributing 12 goals and 15 assists for a total of 27 points while maintaining an even plus-minus rating.

In terms of offensive hockey sense, Wheeler believes Perreault rivals Michkov’s skill set, making him an excellent alternative for the Flyers. As for the Flyers’ second first-round pick in this re-draft, Bonk is notably absent from the top-32. Instead, they select goalie Egor Zavragin at 22, a significant jump from where they originally drafted him.

Wheeler also highlights Denver Barkey’s rise to the 31st pick, where Colorado selects him—a potential nightmare scenario had it unfolded in reality.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.