Our series on potential Flyers draft prospects continues with another look to the blue line.
Chances are the Flyers will look to the two options already profiled in this series when it comes to defense – Ivan Provorov or Noah Hanifin. But in the event that both are taken, the Flyers could still add a solid blue line piece with today's prospect.
Here is a profile on Michigan defenseman Zach Werenski.
Werenski is a 17-year-old defenseman who just completed his freshman season at Michigan, picking up 25 points – including 16 assists – in 35 games. He also had a goal and an assist in five games with the US World Junior team.
The 6'2", 214-pound blue liner ranks right there in the top three of defensive prospects in the draft. It could honestly be a toss-us to which one turns out to be the best.
Werenski may not be as close to NHL-ready as Provorov or Hanifin, but his potential rivals both.
He's a good two-way defenseman, leading all Michigan defensemen in points as a freshman, but also has the ability to take control of the game's pace. He's a leader in that sense, a calming figure in a spot where many would struggle at his age.
Werenski is a solid puck carrier, above average skater and is very aware of the game's situation. He's one of the best prospects in the draft when it comes to the key moments of a game, never shying away from the pressure-filled situations.
As a two-way defenseman, he possesses good knowledge of when to use offense and primarily sticks to his role as a defenseman. That said, he's clearly got the offensive skill to handle the blue line on a power play while serving as a leader on the penalty kill.
He could stand to build on his size a bit and improve his physical game, but he's got the foundation as a player who battles in the corners. Where he really fills a need for the Flyers from the defensive end is his excellent ability at making a break-out pass from his own zone to turn defense into offense.
The projections on Werenski are all over the place. He could go in the Top 5, he could go right where the Flyers sit at seven, he could fall out of the Top 10 altogether. That's the one benefit to Werenski. He's very much a sleeper in this draft.
Hanifin was so highly-profiled at Boston College that he's garnered much of the attention. Provorov will likely help a team instantly. Werenski may not be NHL-ready from Day 1, but he's close and he could be the most underrated of the top three defensive prospects.
There's a really good chance he'll be available when the Flyers pick, but he won't last long after that.
Kevin Durso is managing editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.
