A Look at Potential Late 1st-Round Picks for the Flyers 

Stop me if you have heard this one before, the Philadelphia Flyers have more than one first round pick in the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft. 

Since becoming the full time GM in 2023, Danny Briere has had two or more first-round picks entering each draft. In 2023, he utilized both picks, drafting Matvei Michkov with the seventh overall selection and Oliver Bonk with the 22nd overall pick. 

In the 2024 draft, the Flyers selected Jett Luchanko with the 13th overall pick, but opted to trade the 32nd overall pick – acquired via the Claude Giroux trade – to the Edmonton Oilers for a 2025 first-round pick. 

The Flyers enter the 2025 NHL Draft with seven draft picks in the first two rounds, including three first-round picks. They will select sixth overall with their own pick, and we previously presented some options for that pick here. 

The other two picks were acquired via trades. The 22nd overall pick belongs to the Flyers from the Colorado Avalanche in the Sean Walker trade at the 2024 trade deadline. The Flyers will also have the 31st or 32nd overall pick from the Edmonton Oilers, pending the result of the Stanley Cup Final. 

Briere and the Flyers are once again rumored to be one of the more active teams at the NHL draft with plenty of ammunition under their belt. There is always the chance that Briere does use all three first round picks, however it much more possible that more trades could be in the works. In the off chance that Briere does pick three times, it is time to explore what his options could be towards with late first-round targets.

C Braeden Cootes 

An effective special teams player for the Seattle Thunderbirds in the WHL, Cootes is an energetic 5’11”, 183-pound center, who led his team with 1.05 points per game is described as a “no doubt first round pick” by The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler.

Despite being a smaller center, Cootes plays bigger than his size. After watching constant highlights, this is the exact type of player, particularly at the center position, that the Flyers should target with the 22nd overall pick. The issue is that he might not last until then. 

There are certainly stronger prospects than the Alberta native, however he is still an exciting player. He has a strong first step, and once he gets moving, his motor is similar to Travis Konecny, constantly moving and trying to find his way to get involved in the play. He doesn’t have an Anton Frondell rated shot, but his scoring ability is nothing to ignore.

If Cootes is still available by the 22nd pick, it would not be a surprise for the Flyers to continue to restock their center prospect pool by selecting him. Cootes led his team with 37 assists and 63 points and was tied for second with 26 goals in 60 games. He significantly improved his totals from his first full year in the WHL in the 2023-24 season, scoring just 14 goals, 21 assists, for 35 points in 64 games. 

When Cootes is given enough time, he will certainly take advantage and utilize his shot, surprising some netminders with some impressive velocity. He is an overall strong playmaker and isn’t afraid to pass the puck. Imagine someone with the ability to get to the dirty areas, strong puck protection, and impressive hockey IQ.

C Jack Nesbitt

The main issue with the Flyers prospect pool is that they have very few centers. No pun intended, but their next big issue is the size of their prospects at center. From Denver Barkey (5’10”, 171 lbs) to Luchanko (5’11”, 180 lbs), the Flyers lack prospects who have a larger frame. 

Nesbitt checks off that box, standing at 6’5”, 183 pounds, and would instantly provide some much-needed size to the prospect pool. Not only is he a playmaking power forward, but he can also score. Nesbitt, who is currently playing for the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL, scored 25 goals and had 39 assists for 74 points in 65 games. 

A large center who is already talented in the face-off circle and can be heavily relied on wherever he goes is the type of player Philadelphia is desperate to land in the draft. Nesbitt is ranked as high as 15th (NHL Central Scouting) and low as 42nd (Elite Prospects). With his skillset, and especially size, Nesbitt will not make it past the second round. He may drop to the Flyers at 36th overall, but even then that is a long shot. Imagine a net-front presence like Nesbitt who can screen the goalie or slam home the rebounds on the power play. 

Besides his size, his hockey IQ, and shot are the best assets to his game. Imagine a stronger version of James van Riemsdyk or Jamie Benn in orange and black? That is what Nesbitt could potentially be with his strength and will to get to the net. His skating does need some improvement especially given his size, but he is another very talented prospect who won’t get past the first round for multiple reasons.

RW Justin Carbonneau

If there is one lesson that the Flyers can take away from the aftermath of the John Tortorella era, it’s that they need to get faster. Carbonneau is one of those players who could certainly help with the speed factor. 

Luchanko checked off that box when Philadelphia drafted him last year, but they still need to become a faster team. The 6’1”, 191-pound right winger would be an incredible find at 22nd overall, however if the Flyers want a player with his skillset, they would need to scoop him up right then and there. 

His name has certainly been popular as of late and would be shocking if he dropped anywhere this late. Realistically, he should go anywhere between 14th and 18th overall, but you never know with the NHL Draft. 

His best assets are using his size to his advantage and overall skill. It is clear that he is a talented goal-scorer, as he fired 46 goals, which was the second best for all CHL players, only behind Michael Misa’s 62 goals. Carbonneau was eighth in points per game, averaging 1.44, which should not come to a surprise considering he also had 43 assists for 89 points in 62 games. 

Besides Frondell, Carbonneau has one of the best shots in the entire draft class. Carbonneau does need to work on his defensive ability, but it’s something that he can continue to work on in the QMJHL for the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. The other concerns that show is his consistency and effort levels. Regardless, Carbonneau is an impressive player who would provide an underrated skillset the Flyers desperately need.

D Logan Hensler 

With two late first-round picks, and most likely selecting certainly one, if not ideally two centers, the Flyers would be wise to spread out their picks in order to draft a defenseman. Hensler is a 6’2”, 192-pound right-handed mobile defenseman that Philadelphia could certainly use. 

A freshman attending the University of Wisconsin, Hensler is already playing on the top defensive pair and has consistently improved his game since the beginning of the year. Hensler is not known for his scoring, despite being an incredible skater and able to move the puck down the ice. For the Badgers, Hensler has only scored two goals and 10 assists for 12 points in 32 games with a minus-13 rating. 

The 18 year-old from Woodbury, MN is a steady two-way defenseman with strong vision, able to break up passes, block shots, and more. He is not afraid to join the rush, and has the ability to make strong passes across the ice. The biggest critique for Hensler’s game is that although his shot is relatively strong, his shots are often blocked by other defensemen. It does not appear that he has the ability to create enough offensive chances as he mainly plays a safe game.

In what has been advertised as a weaker draft, there are still some players that are worth the gamble. Will Briere end up using all three picks and adding more assets to his prospect pool? Will he perhaps package the 22nd overall pick and/or Edmonton’s pick to move up in the draft or to acquire a high-end center? 

Either way, time is running out for Philadelphia’s scouts to consider who they want to select on June 27 and what will be the beginning of a very important offseason for their GM.