Rising prospect Wyatt Cullen would be a fun Flyers pick
Wyatt Cullen is one of the 2026 NHL draft's fastest risers and would be an appealing pick for the Philadelphia Flyers if he slips to No. 21—but rankings suggest he won't. The USNTDP left wing is a dynamic 6-foot-1 playmaker riding a dramatic growth spurt, NHL Central Scouting's No. 13 North American skater, and the top-rated Minnesota prospect heading into Buffalo.
The Upper Deck 2026 NHL Draft runs June 26–27 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, with more than a dozen Minnesota natives expected to hear their names called. For Flyers fans tracking late first-round targets, Cullen has become the buzzy what-if name—and the timing is no accident.
Key Takeaways
- Wyatt Cullen finished with 45 points (16 goals, 29 assists) in 40 USNTDP games, averaging 1.12 per game despite missing 22 contests.
- He ranks No. 13 among North American skaters on NHL Central Scouting and is the top Minnesota player in this class.
- A late growth spurt—eight inches and 56 pounds in two years, per The Athletic—helped fuel his rise up draft boards.
- Philadelphia picks 21st; NBC Sports Philadelphia reports it is increasingly unlikely Cullen lasts that long without a trade-up.
- Rankings vary from No. 6 on EliteProspects.com to No. 21 on Craig Button's list, underscoring the scouting split.
Why is Wyatt Cullen climbing draft boards so quickly?
Cullen entered the U.S. National Team Development Program listed at 5-foot-8 in 2024–25 and stood five inches taller by the start of this season, according to NHL.com. That physical jump reshaped his projection at a time when evaluators were already intrigued by his hands and vision.
On the ice, the 17-year-old produced over a point per game for the under-18 squad that was not as talent-loaded as past NTDP groups, NBC Sports Philadelphia noted. He also led the United States in scoring at the 2026 IIHF Under-18 World Championship with nine points in five games, finishing third among all tournament skaters.
Prospect analyst Steven Ellis told NBC Sports Philadelphia that Cullen's raw talent base is strong and that teams who pass could regret it in a year or two. Ellis added that learning to leverage his bigger frame through the middle and on the boards is the next unlock.
Would Wyatt Cullen fit the Philadelphia Flyers' rebuild?
On paper, the fit is clean. Cullen is a left-shooting winger with shiftiness, playmaking touch, and enough positional versatility to help his long-term projection. The Flyers' family connection runs deep too: his uncle Mark Cullen played 38 NHL games with Chicago, Philadelphia, and Florida.
Ellis compared Cullen's late-blooming path to Jack Hughes, who slid on some boards before becoming a franchise cornerstone. For a Philadelphia organization still adding skill through the draft, a high-end offensive winger with 200-foot habits—NTDP assistant coach Kevin Porter praised his hockey IQ to NHL.com—checks multiple boxes.
As scouting models and projection tools evolve across sports, the Cullen story mirrors how late physical development can rewrite a prospect's curve—similar to the way Future Tech and AI Wonders tracks breakthrough talent before the mainstream catches on.
Will Wyatt Cullen still be on the board when the Flyers pick?
That is the central tension. Philadelphia holds the 21st overall selection, but Cullen's stock has climbed into top-15 territory. NHL.com projects him among the first 15 picks, while EliteProspects.com slots him sixth overall—well above the Flyers' range.
Craig Button's list, at No. 21, represents the optimistic floor for Philadelphia. Even there, NBC Sports Philadelphia writes that it feels more and more likely Cullen will be gone unless the Flyers trade up. For Minnesota hockey, the Star Tribune lists Cullen and Hermantown's Victor Plante as the state's first two names off the board.
Cullen, who does not turn 18 until September, is committed to the University of Minnesota for 2026–27. Wherever he lands Friday night, the late riser from Moorhead has already made the 2026 draft's most compelling what-if storyline for Flyers nation. Full draft coverage is available at NHL.com.