Flyers 2026 NHL Mock Draft 1.0: First 3 Rounds

Lin is one of the more complete players in the class. He’s a great skater, can carry the puck up the ice, defends really well, and had solid production in the Western Hockey League (WHL) this season, with 57 points in 53 games.

As for why the Flyers would draft a sub-6-foot defenseman, the addition of David Jiříček at the trade deadline signals that the team wants more offense from the blue line. Lin, despite being a two-way defender in my eyes, would help fill that void. His vision has the potential to be dangerous in the offensive zone.

At the very least, we know that people inside the Flyers’ organization like Lin’s game. In this mock, I’m assuming they like it enough to take him at 21^st overall.

Perhaps the bigger question here, however, is whether he will be there by the time the Flyers are up to draft. In Corey Pronman and Scott Wheeler’s recent co-mock draft, the Utah Mammoth selected Lin at 19^th overall (from ‘NHL Mock Draft 2026: Predicting all 63 picks of the first 2 rounds,’ The Athletic – May 19, 2026). Maybe dropping another two spots is optimistic, but smaller players do tend to fall.

Round 2, Pick 53: Oscar Holmertz, C, Linköping HC (U20 Nationell)

The center position is a pressing need for the Flyers. But by the time they’ll be up to bat in the first round, a lot of the best center prospects will probably be gone. So, I have them waiting until the second round and snagging Oscar Holmertz at 53^rd overall.

Holmertz is smart and skilled with the puck. The U20 Nationell, Sweden’s top junior league, isn’t exactly the most demanding environment, but he makes a ton of high-level passes, and his shot is quite good.

Vision and offensive upside are vital for a center prospect. Holmertz, at least in his publicly available footage, seems to have them. The 6-foot, 192-pound Swede could be a worthwhile selection.

Round 3, Pick 85: Lars Steiner, RW, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL)

On the surface, a pick like this goes against the Flyers’ needs and general philosophy. They already have too many right-wingers, and an undersized one in Lars Steiner (5-foot-10, 176 pounds) makes no sense on paper. But for what he lacks in size and his position, he makes up for in compete and goalscoring upside—two highly necessary traits for the Orange and Black.

Steiner recorded 30 goals and 25 assists across 44 games in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) this season. Finishing fourth among draft-year prospects in points per game, that kind of production is harder to find once you get to the mid-third round.

Beyond the numbers, though, Steiner’s physical engagement and shooting ability are truly excellent. You can make a case that he’s a top-35 talent in the class, and considering the areas he excels in, I think the Flyers might be open to taking a chance on him at pick No. 85.

I’ll be honest and say that the 2026 NHL Draft probably won’t have a lot of fireworks for the Flyers—they don’t have the quality or quantity of picks to make a big splash. But that doesn’t mean they can’t add some much-needed talent to their pipeline. Lin, Holmertz, and Steiner could be key pieces to the puzzle in the future.