When the draft lottery was first announced, we were optimistic that even with the No. 11 pick, the Philadelphia Flyers could select highly sought after Nathan MacKinnon or Jonathan Drouin. Now that the 2013 NHL Draft is getting closer, it’s clear that the Flyers need to consider more realistic picks if they want to seek a forward in the first round.

The Flyers should really make drafting a defenseman their priority, but considering that they tend to go for a forward, we should also weigh what their best options would be in this year’s draft.

Probably one of their best options is Hunter Shinkaruk of the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers. Shinkaruk has been with the team for three seasons and has really grown up since his rookie year. He makes smart moves on the ice and is a versatile player who can play as a center or a leftwinger. The only cause for concern is that he favors an offensive style and needs to work on learning how to play both ends of the ice.

Another offensive option the Flyers have is Max Domi of the OHL’s London Knights. Domi is retired NHL player Tie Domi‘s son, but unlike his dad, Max doesn’t rack up quite so many PIMS. Which is a really good thing. Domi had a pretty good year with the Knights having logged 39 goals and 48 assists in his 64 games this season.

None of the NHL.com analysts have him going in the first round of their mock drafts and this may be because teams might not want to take the chance on this kid. Domi, who was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes a few years ago, may be a risk some teams do not want to take. Domi has said that his condition has forced him to be more focused and responsible on the ice and he makes sure to work with his trainers to keep his glucose levels up.

If Domi is drafted by the Flyers it would not be the first time they selected a player with the disease. The Flyers took a chance on Bobby Clarke who also has diabetes and he brought the Cup home for them. I’m not saying that Domi is Clarke, but for a young kid struggling with this condition, he seems to still excel at hockey.

Another name that has been thrown out there is Adam Erne of the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts. Erne is No. 13 on the NHL’s Central Scouting report of the North American skaters, and he has a lot of offensive potential. In his past two years playing in Quebec he has been a pretty consistent player, which is something the Flyers like. He’s a bigger forward than the Flyers’ typically draft, but a change in how they build up their team may actually be a good thing.

He matched his season goals from his rookie season (28), but he did show smarter moves this season by helping out his teammates more. Erne assisted his teammates at the net 44 times. He did, however, increase his PIMS, but that is a developmental issue that can be worked out.

All three of these kids would be good picks. If the Flyers get a defenseman in the first round, they should try for one of these players in the second round. That is if they are still available.

Deanna Vasso is a Flyers writer for www.rantsports.com, you can follow her on Twitter, like her on Facebook and join her Google network.