Philadelphia Flyers: 2025 NHL Draft Preview

The Stanley Cup Final just came to a conclusion in the last few days, and the offseason is all set to go into its most critical dates. The 2025 NHL Draft begins on Friday night with the first round.

The Flyers have three picks in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft, their own pick at sixth overall, the 22nd overall pick acquired from Colorado in March 2024, and the 31st overall pick acquired from the Edmonton Oilers at the 2024 NHL Draft.

5 Targets at 6th Overall

• C Caleb Desnoyers – The last name should sound familiar. Back in the 2020 NHL Draft, the Flyers selected Caleb’s older brother, Elliot, in the fifth round. The skill set and potential is even higher for Caleb, who figures to be a strong two-way center with plenty of offensive touch.
• C James Hagens – At this time last year, James Hagens was the projected first overall pick. A lot has changed, as Hagens stock has fallen, but don’t let that get in the way of the talent. The Flyers could have Hagens fall right into their lap, and potentially land a future top-line center as a result.
• C Jake O’Brien – No relation, but things didn’t work out so well for the Flyers with another O’Brien picked in the first round in 2018. Jake O’Brien has all the reliable tools to be a quality center in the NHL. He can score goals, has strong hockey IQ, and plays a responsible two-way game. 
• C Brady Martin – A riser on many draft boards within the media, Brady Martin would be a prototypical Flyer. He brings a physicality to his game, a grit a la Sam Bennett and Tom Wilson. The offensive numbers don’t jump off the page as much right now, but if Martin can also provide that part of the game, he could be a power forward that really becomes a key piece on a contender.
• RW Porter Martone – The Flyers need more help down the middle, but is it possible that one of the best natural wingers in the draft falls to them. That appears to be the case with Porter Martone, who scored plenty of goals in his draft year – 37 goals, 98 points – and even caught the attention of Team Canada at World Championships, a roster that featured current Flyers Travis Konecny, Travis Sanheim, and Tyson Foerster.

10 Targets with the Other 2 1st-Round Picks

• F Cole Reschny – Strong passing skills and hockey IQ highlight Reschny’s game, a playmaker with a lot of detail in his game despite a lack of size and skating ability.
• D Blake Fiddler – A tall right-handed defenseman with great skating ability and physicality could become a top-four staple to the D-core. He has some offensive chops, but his defensive game is his best quality.
• G Joshua Ravensbergen – Could the Flyers go goalie in the first round? With six picks in the first two rounds, it wouldn’t be shocking to see them take one early, and Ravensbergen could be one of the rare first-round goalie selections of recent drafts. His 6’5” frame jumps out, and he’s got the poise and confidence to track the puck well and make the key saves when needed.  
• RW Alexander Zharovsky – Could another Russian forward be an option for the Flyers? It sure seems like it after Danny Briere attended a Russian prospect showcase the week before the draft. Zharovsky is another name rising up many draft boards, with elite handling ability and a good shot. There are many areas of his game that need improvement, but he’s also got raw talent that can be unlocked at the NHL level and allow him to showcase is creativity.
• D Logan Hensler – One of the more improved defensemen over the last year, Hensler has the size and tools to be a future NHL mainstay on the blue line. While not known for providing much offense at the moment, there is room for that to grow as well.
• D Cameron Reid – Reid is a smaller defenseman at just under 6’0” and 193 pounds, but has all the makings of a play-driver at the next level. He will need it too. He’s not going to be overly physical and relies on his awareness and mobility to defend. If he can also turn that into good offensive production by jumping up on the play, he’s got top-four potential.
• RW Ben Kindel – One of the smaller forwards in the draft at 5’10” and 176 pounds, Kindle has great scoring touch that could definitely translate over to the NHL. He operates with pace, has great vision and handling skills, and his hockey smarts brings all of the pieces together. He needs to improve his skating and bulk up, but he could be a solid middle-six forward down the road.
• C Jack Nesbitt – A big, hulking center at 6’4”, Nesbitt uses his size and play away from the puck to be a solid physical and defensive winger. He was nearly a point-per-game player in juniors in his draft year, but needs to improve his mechanics, skating, and handling to be a worthwhile first-round selection.
• RW Shane Vansaghi – A big, physical winger who could become a better offensive player with more ice time. Vansaghi has all the physical tools to fit into a bottom-six role. His skill and hockey sense indicate there could be even more there for this player. He needs to work on his skating and improve the offensive numbers, but it could be worth taking a flyer late in the first round.
• C William Horcoff – Another tall center, just under 6’5”, Horcoff has risen through the ranks on his emergence at the NCAA level from the US National Team Development Program. He’s a well-rounded player with some offensive chops and a strong defensive game. He needs to work on his skating to reach his full potential at the next level.

Recent Picks at 6th Overall

The Flyers have had the sixth overall pick three times in franchise history. They selected center Bob Currier at sixth overall in 1969, defenseman Behn Wilson in 1978, and center Peter Forsberg in 1991.

Recent sixth overall picks include Tij Iginla (UTA, 2024), Dmitry Simashev (ARI, 2023), David Jiricek (CBJ, 2022), Simon Edvinsson (DET, 2021), Jamie Drysdale (ANA, 2020), and Moritz Seider (DET, 2019).

Other notable selections with the sixth overall pick include Matthew Tkachuk (CGY, 2016), Sean Monahan (CGY, 2013), Hampus Lindholm (ANA, 2012), Mika Zibanejad (OTT, 2011), Oliver Ekman-Larsson (PHX, 2009), Sam Gagner (EDM, 2007), Derick Brassard (CBJ, 2006), Mikko Koivu (MIN, 2001), Scott Hartnell (NSH, 2000), Ryan Smyth (EDM, 1994), Cory Stillman (CGY, 1992), Vincent Damphouse (TOR, 1986), Phil Housley (BUF, 1982, and Paul Coffey (EDM, 1980).

Recent Picks at 22nd Overall

The Flyers have had the 22nd overall pick eight times in franchise history. The most notable of those picks came in 2006, when they selected forward Claude Giroux. They selected defensemen with the pick in 1979 with Blake Wesley and 1984 with Greg Smyth. They selected forward Simon Gagne in 1999 and German Rubtsov in 2016. Twice, the Flyers have selected goalies at 22nd overall: Maxime Ouellet in 1999 and Brian Boucher in 1995. Most recently, in 2023, they selected defensemen Oliver Bonk.

Other recent 22nd overall selections include Egor Surin (NSH, 2024), Nathan Gaucher (ANA, 2022), Xavier Bourgault (EDM, 2021), Hendrix Lapierre (WSH, 2020), Tobias Bjornfot (LA, 2019), K’Andre Miller (NYR, 2018), and Kailer Yamamoto (EDM, 2017). 

Other notable selections at 22nd overall include Ilya Samsonov (WSH, 2015), Kasperi Kapanen (PIT, 2014), Olli Maatta (PIT, 2012), Jordan Eberle (EDM, 2008), Max Pacioretty (MTL, 2007), Adam Foote (QUE, 1989), Adam Graves (DET, 1986), Scott Arniel (WPG, 1981), and Bryan Trottier (NYI, 1974)

Recent Picks at 31st Overall

The Flyers have had the 31st overall selection in the NHL Draft once in franchise history. At the time, the 31st overall pick was in the second round. In 1992, the Flyers selected center Denis Metlyuk.

Recent picks with the 31st overall selection include Ben Danford (TOR, 2024), Mikhail Gulyayev (COL, 2023), Isaac Howard (TB, 2022), Logan Mailloux (MTL, 2021), Ozzy Wiesblatt (SJ, 2020), Ryan Johnson (BUF, 2019), Alexander Alexeyev (WSH, 2018), Klim Kostin (STL, 2017), and Egor Korshkov (TOR, 2016).

Other notable selections at 31st overall include Tyler Pitlick (EDM, 2010), Jacob Markstrom (FLA, 2008), and Felix Potvin (TOR, 1990).

Will the Flyers Trade Up?

The Flyers finished with the fourth-best odds for the first overall pick. When the draft lottery was completed, they were jumped in the order twice, falling to the sixth overall pick. Right away, the thought of trading up into the Top 5 was floated.

Of course, once teams are locked into a Top-5 or even a Top-10 pick, it is usually very unlikely that they make a trade out of that spot. In the Flyers case, one of the few reasons they could move the sixth overall pick was in a trade for a more established player. Otherwise, the difference between picks three through five, the sixth overall pick, and the rest of the Top 10 seems fairly minimal.

It’s the other two first-round picks that open the door for a move up. The Flyers have the 22nd and 31st overall picks in the first round. Both could be included in a package to move up, or they could use one or more of the three second-round picks they have to try to get a higher slot for a player they really want.

Will the Flyers Trade Down?

It’s a fair question for any of the Flyers three first-round picks. Is there a price tag that would be acceptable to move out of sixth overall? What about picks 22 and 31?

The Flyers need to be in position to acquire high-end talent, and having the sixth overall pick allows them to potentially do that. The results of this pick may not be fully realized for several years, but it’s why teams don’t trade out of the Top 10 very often. Don’t expect much movement there unless it involves a proven NHL player.

As for the 22nd and 31st overall picks, there is certainly potential for the Flyers to make a move back and acquire more capital. At last year’s draft, that’s what they did with the 32nd overall pick, moving it to acquire the 2025 first-round pick from Edmonton. The Flyers could look to do that again, especially since they hold three picks of the first 16 picks in the second round.

That leaves very few options to add more picks in that slot for a team trying to get back into the first round. A move for a pick in a later draft year or to acquire another player is much more likely than adding a bunch of seconds for a late first-rounder.

The 2025 NHL Draft begins on Friday night at 7 p.m. with the first round. Rounds 2 through 7 to complete the NHL Draft will be on Saturday starting at 12 noon.