Official 2025 NHL DRAFT Thread

[Nabrules]

Slightly controversial and upsetting question:

Who is a player considered a reach that you’d be “okay” with?

A lot of people don't seem to like O'Brien. Think He'd be a great pick in the 6-8 range.

Has all the tools to be an 80ish points centre in he hits.

 

[BackWithaVengeance]

A lot of people don't seem to like O'Brien. Think He'd be a great pick in the 6-8 range.

Has all the tools to be an 80ish points centre in he hits.

Probably but the problem is that we're picking in the 6-8 range again as we should be in the 4th or 5th spot to secure one of Hagens or Frondell.

 

[TheKingPin]

We could be in 4th by the of the night.

 

[BackWithaVengeance]

We could be in 4th by the of the night.

True but the way this team played the whole year until they were elimated they had to be there with no maybes.

 

[TheKingPin]

True but the way this team played the whole year until they were elimated they had to be there with no maybes.

It does seem like they are trying. It’s all grumps and Tyson scoring, but the goalies are doing their part. This team thrives off the hot hands which have been one or so at a time in TK, Michkov, Cates, Tyson. Hopefully they all stay quiet for the last 2. I really think we need to be at 4 this draft.

 

[flyersnorth]

Tankathon has the Flyers picking Misa at 1 and 2, Desnoyers at 6 and 7, and McQueen at 8.

FWIW, Tankathon has Schaefer, Misa, Martone, and Hagens as Tier 1. Frondell, Eklund, Desnoyers, and McQueen as Tier 2. And then everyone else.

 

[Gregor Samsa]

What should I think about Cole Reschny? He’s lighting it up in the playoffs and plays center(I think?)

 

[BackWithaVengeance]

I really think we need to be at 4 this draft.

Absolutely we do.

The last 3 years they made some questionable decisions. Without Michkov the picks would be called disastrous. Now it's something between bad and very underwhelming.

We've spend first rounders on Luchanko and Bonk and had the Gauthier debacle. That's not a lot to show for in the first rounds.

Barkey, Bjanarnasson, Zavragin, Ciernik, Bump and maybe Knuble can turn in something solid. But what do we expect here?

Middle-6 player at best or did I miss something?

Our most promising prospects are goalies. Nice but you never know what you will get at the end of the day.

Berglund, Ruohonen, Powell and Gill are at least 2-3 years away. McDonald and Gendron are Phantoms material (I probably missed some but I am too lazy to check now).

I don't expect them to use all 7 picks of the first two rounds.

I am just afraid they will have to settle for a not so highly touted prospect with their first pick and do something very stupid with some of the other in a trade to make up for it.

 

[BiggE]

Absolutely we do.

The last 3 years they made some questionable decisions. Without Michkov the picks would be called disastrous. Now it's something between bad and very underwhelming.

We've spend first rounders on Luchanko and Bonk and had the Gauthier debacle. That's not a lot to show for in the first rounds.

Barkey, Bjanarnasson, Zavragin, Ciernik, Bump and maybe Knuble can turn in something solid. But what do we expect here?

Middle-6 player at best or did I miss something?

Our most promising prospects are goalies. Nice but you never know what you will get at the end of the day.

Berglund, Ruohonen, Powell and Gill are at least 2-3 years away. McDonald and Gendron are Phantoms material (I probably missed some but I am too lazy to check now).

I don't expect them to use all 7 picks of the first two rounds.

I am just afraid they will have to settle for a not so highly touted prospect with their first pick and do something very stupid with some of the other in a trade to make up for it.

Always bet on stupid when it comes to the Flyers

 

[IronMarshal]

My thoughts on the possible picks by the Flyers as they could be picking anywhere from 5 through 8, maybe 10.

Tier 1

• Matthew Schaefer – D – 6’2 180 – Schaefer is very young and ha great tool. He is an elite skater and plays a responsible two way game and importantly can run a dangerous powerplay. The Flyers really need a number one defenseman and powerplay QB.
• Michael Misa – C – 6’1 185 – Misa is a number one center who can make plays but is more of a goal scorer. He is a strong skater who is responsible defensively. He would be an excellent running mate for Matvei Michkov.

Tier 2

• James Hagens - C – 5’10 175 – Hagens is an excellent skating high end play making center. He is smart and creative in the offensive zone and is an excellent zone breakout artist. His size worries me and his production was not as good as expected at BC this season. He has high potential but not many players this size become true impact centers. Hagens could considering his skills/skating package. The Flyers are already a smallish team and probably would prefer some size up front. There is not a lot of separation between Hagens and the next 5 players.
• Caleb Desnoyers – C _ 6’2 180 – While not as skilled as Hagens, Desnoyers is a very good center who projects as a good number two and possibly a number one center. He has good size, plays a complete 200 foot game and is primarily a playmaker on offense. He has one of the highest compete levels in the draft and his IQ is among the best as well. He plays a physical game which will only get better as he gets stronger with age. He will play in all situations. The downside is somewhat average speed with solid edges and having no dynamic traits. He would be an excellent linemate for Michkov and fits in with the culture the Flyers are trying to foster. His brother Elliot is in Lehigh Valley.
• Anton Frondell – C- 6’1 195 – Frondell could well be number 3 on this list as all three players listed here are very close. Frondell is a physical center/left wing who has an excellent shot. While his shot tool is his best, he a good all around player. He is responsible defensively and plays hard on the boards. He is intelligent and competitive. His skating is pretty average though and is more of a shooter than playmaker although, like Misa, he is a good playmaker.
• Victor Eklund – LW – 5’11 160 – Eklund is a very skilled high motor competitively driven left wing. He projects in the top six and probably as a first line talent. He is a pretty tough little dude as well. The Flyers love this type of smart driven competitor with skill and need to upgrade offensive talent and left wing is a need area. Again, Eklund is a smaller player who plays bigger than his size and is not a center so I think the Flyers might pick a player like Jake O’Brien over him if they are in the 6-9 place in the draft.
• Jake O’Brien - C – 6’2 170 – O’Brien is a good sized really smart playmaking center who is detail oriented. He is an average skater with good edges who can run a powerplay. He is solid defensively. While not being super physical he has the size and reach to hold his own. He would be a good center for Michkov. The Flyers need centers and it is possible he is number 6 ahead of Eklund on the Flyers list.
• Porter Martone – RW – 6’3 205 – Martone is a big boy and a strong offensive player. He will be a top power forward in the NHL someday. He is s good shooter, playmaker and is strong along the boards and around the net. Martone has a strong hockey IQ. He is tough and willing to drop the gloves. Martone would seem like the ideal Flyer to many, but his inconsistent motor is worrisome.
• Jackson Smith - D – 6’3 195 – Smith is an excellent skating physical defenseman with very good size. He is strong defensively and has good upside on offense due to his skating and big shot. The question with Smith is his hockey IQ which is average. If the Flyers really slip in the lottery, Smith might be in play. There is hope, that like usual, defense needy teams will take Smith or Radim Mrtka in the top 10 somewhere.

Tier 3

• Roger McQueen - C - 6’5 195 – You want size and skill, McQueen has it in spades. He has a very good shot, excellent playmaking and plays a physical style. He also has back troubles that are keeping him out of the top 5. He would be a high risk/ high reward pick.
• Carter Bear – C/LW - 6’ 180 _ Bear is a high energy excellent competitor with good skill. He plays both ends of the ice and has strong offensive abilities. Like McQueen, he has a serious injury to overcome. His Achillies was severed late in the season and there will be a long recovery time with no guarantees. I would take him with one of the two picks in the 20s, but not sooner.
• Brady Martin - C – 6’ 175 – Martin is a solid two way center who plays physical and is a good not great offensive player. He is probably on the high side of Scott Laughton, but not a top 10 player in this draft.
• Radim Mrtka – D – 6’6 205 – A big defenseman who can skate and has a good shot. He has a good projectable profile. I would not take him before number 10.

 

[iceman42]

My thoughts on the possible picks by the Flyers as they could be picking anywhere from 5 through 8, maybe 10.

Tier 1

• Matthew Schaefer – D – 6’2 180 – Schaefer is very young and ha great tool. He is an elite skater and plays a responsible two way game and importantly can run a dangerous powerplay. The Flyers really need a number one defenseman and powerplay QB.
• Michael Misa – C – 6’1 185 – Misa is a number one center who can make plays but is more of a goal scorer. He is a strong skater who is responsible defensively. He would be an excellent running mate for Matvei Michkov.

Tier 2

• James Hagens - C – 5’10 175 – Hagens is an excellent skating high end play making center. He is smart and creative in the offensive zone and is an excellent zone breakout artist. His size worries me and his production was not as good as expected at BC this season. He has high potential but not many players this size become true impact centers. Hagens could considering his skills/skating package. The Flyers are already a smallish team and probably would prefer some size up front. There is not a lot of separation between Hagens and the next 5 players.
• Caleb Desnoyers – C _ 6’2 180 – While not as skilled as Hagens, Desnoyers is a very good center who projects as a good number two and possibly a number one center. He has good size, plays a complete 200 foot game and is primarily a playmaker on offense. He has one of the highest compete levels in the draft and his IQ is among the best as well. He plays a physical game which will only get better as he gets stronger with age. He will play in all situations. The downside is somewhat average speed with solid edges and having no dynamic traits. He would be an excellent linemate for Michkov and fits in with the culture the Flyers are trying to foster. His brother Elliot is in Lehigh Valley.
• Anton Frondell – C- 6’1 195 – Frondell could well be number 3 on this list as all three players listed here are very close. Frondell is a physical center/left wing who has an excellent shot. While his shot tool is his best, he a good all around player. He is responsible defensively and plays hard on the boards. He is intelligent and competitive. His skating is pretty average though and is more of a shooter than playmaker although, like Misa, he is a good playmaker.
• Victor Eklund – LW – 5’11 160 – Eklund is a very skilled high motor competitively driven left wing. He projects in the top six and probably as a first line talent. He is a pretty tough little dude as well. The Flyers love this type of smart driven competitor with skill and need to upgrade offensive talent and left wing is a need area. Again, Eklund is a smaller player who plays bigger than his size and is not a center so I think the Flyers might pick a player like Jake O’Brien over him if they are in the 6-9 place in the draft.
• Jake O’Brien - C – 6’2 170 – O’Brien is a good sized really smart playmaking center who is detail oriented. He is an average skater with good edges who can run a powerplay. He is solid defensively. While not being super physical he has the size and reach to hold his own. He would be a good center for Michkov. The Flyers need centers and it is possible he is number 6 ahead of Eklund on the Flyers list.
• Porter Martone – RW – 6’3 205 – Martone is a big boy and a strong offensive player. He will be a top power forward in the NHL someday. He is s good shooter, playmaker and is strong along the boards and around the net. Martone has a strong hockey IQ. He is tough and willing to drop the gloves. Martone would seem like the ideal Flyer to many, but his inconsistent motor is worrisome.
• Jackson Smith - D – 6’3 195 – Smith is an excellent skating physical defenseman with very good size. He is strong defensively and has good upside on offense due to his skating and big shot. The question with Smith is his hockey IQ which is average. If the Flyers really slip in the lottery, Smith might be in play. There is hope, that like usual, defense needy teams will take Smith or Radim Mrtka in the top 10 somewhere.

Tier 3

• Roger McQueen - C - 6’5 195 – You want size and skill, McQueen has it in spades. He has a very good shot, excellent playmaking and plays a physical style. He also has back troubles that are keeping him out of the top 5. He would be a high risk/ high reward pick.
• Carter Bear – C/LW - 6’ 180 _ Bear is a high energy excellent competitor with good skill. He plays both ends of the ice and has strong offensive abilities. Like McQueen, he has a serious injury to overcome. His Achillies was severed late in the season and there will be a long recovery time with no guarantees. I would take him with one of the two picks in the 20s, but not sooner.
• Brady Martin - C – 6’ 175 – Martin is a solid two way center who plays physical and is a good not great offensive player. He is probably on the high side of Scott Laughton, but not a top 10 player in this draft.
• Radim Mrtka – D – 6’6 205 – A big defenseman who can skate and has a good shot. He has a good projectable profile. I would not take him before number 10.

Nice list which depending on your view of Jake O’Brien or even Desnoyers could mean that the Flyers if they dont get 4 or 5 they will likely have to reach for a center if they do not go BPA. Which has us worried.

 

[Sombastate]

I am just afraid they will have to settle for a not so highly touted prospect with their first pick and do something very stupid with some of the other in a trade to make up for it.

My concern is that they won't even know they have an underwhelming prospect. I mean they did a victory lap when they got Luchanko. The only team we have on record wanting Luchanko is Montreal at 21, and they basically tried gaslighting everyone into thinking they got the steal of the draft at 13.

I'm far more concerned they take a lower level player and are convinced that that lower level player is the best player available

 

[captainpaxil]

I'm rooting hard against Edmonton and Colorado the flyers have the ammo to move up from those picks and if either or both lose in the first round this could be a stellar draft

 

[BiggE]

My current top 10ish, fyi, it’s been changing constantly:

1 Schaefer D
ceiling: Norris trophy candidate
floor: solid #2D, plays all situations

2 Misa C
ceiling: top 10 in NHL 1C
floor: good 2nd line forward

3 Frondell C/W
ceiling: legit 1C or 1LW
floor 3C or 2LW

4 Hagens C
ceiling: quality 1C and pp driver
floor: offensive 2C, strong on pp

5 Eklund W
ceiling: all star 1LW
floor: solid 2LW, strong on pp

6 Martone W
ceiling: a Tkachuk brother
floor: middle six wing with snarl

7 Desnoyers C
ceiling: low end 1C, very good defensively
floor: middle 6 C or 2nd line LW

8 Smith D
ceiling: big #2D with size and great wheels
floor: solid #4D

9 McQueen C/W
ceiling: big, fast 1st line C or W
floor: back problems destroy his career

10a Mrtka
ceiling: huge, mobile #2D
floor: 4/5D, excels on the PK

10b O’Brien
ceiling: high end 2C, plays in all situations
floor: solid middle 6 C, plays in all situations

 

[flyersnorth]

Caleb Desnoyers – C _ 6’2 180 – While not as skilled as Hagens, Desnoyers is a very good center who projects as a good number two and possibly a number one center. He has good size, plays a complete 200 foot game and is primarily a playmaker on offense. He has one of the highest compete levels in the draft and his IQ is among the best as well. He plays a physical game which will only get better as he gets stronger with age. He will play in all situations. The downside is somewhat average speed with solid edges and having no dynamic traits. He would be an excellent linemate for Michkov and fits in with the culture the Flyers are trying to foster. His brother Elliot is in Lehigh Valley.

We got him. We found our guy.

 

[Sombastate]

We got him. We found our guy.

While i love the joke, i also love the player haha

This could be the first time i go "of course the Flyers picked a flyers pick, but also.... yay?"

 

[bauer]

I 100% think they have a target on Desnoyers. He fits their mold perfectly. It’s fine if we’re picking 6/7, but I’d lose my shit if we had 4/5 and took him over Hagens or Frondell.

I like Desnoyers a lot, just depends where we end up picking.

 

[Flyerfan4life]

I 100% think they have a target on Desnoyers. He fits their mold perfectly. It’s fine if we’re picking 6/7, but I’d lose my shit if we had 4/5 and took him over Hagens or Frondell.

I like Desnoyers a lot, just depends where we end up picking.

#buckle in

 

[bauer]

#buckle in

 

[iceman42]

#buckle in

more like #strap on

 

[Flyerfan4life]

more like #strap on

i'd say "#lube up"... but we dont kink shame here..

 

[ponder719]

I'm rooting hard against Edmonton and Colorado the flyers have the ammo to move up from those picks and if either or both lose in the first round this could be a stellar draft

First or second round won't really make a difference, but we need them both out by then. Both picks will be between 22-26 unless one or both make the conference finals.

 

[TheKingPin]

Absolutely we do.

The last 3 years they made some questionable decisions. Without Michkov the picks would be called disastrous. Now it's something between bad and very underwhelming.

We've spend first rounders on Luchanko and Bonk and had the Gauthier debacle. That's not a lot to show for in the first rounds.

Barkey, Bjanarnasson, Zavragin, Ciernik, Bump and maybe Knuble can turn in something solid. But what do we expect here?

Middle-6 player at best or did I miss something?

Our most promising prospects are goalies. Nice but you never know what you will get at the end of the day.

Berglund, Ruohonen, Powell and Gill are at least 2-3 years away. McDonald and Gendron are Phantoms material (I probably missed some but I am too lazy to check now).

I don't expect them to use all 7 picks of the first two rounds.

I am just afraid they will have to settle for a not so highly touted prospect with their first pick and do something very stupid with some of the other in a trade to make up for it.

They have at least done ok in the early rounds. Michkov was a big hit. Cutter was a hit as well. It seemed like they were trying to get Demidov this past draft. Having those 3, never mind Buium, gives us the best wing future in the league. The later picks have been better at times recently. I haven’t watched a second from this years draft class, but from what I’ve heard and who I’ve heard it from Frondell or Eklund seem the way to go.

I 100% think they have a target on Desnoyers. He fits their mold perfectly. It’s fine if we’re picking 6/7, but I’d lose my shit if we had 4/5 and took him over Hagens or Frondell.

I like Desnoyers a lot, just depends where we end up picking.

I see this as a definite possibility. This team has always wanted a big 1C. From the sounds of it, it would be a mistake but idk.

If people are shiting on this draft and he falls maybe try and get Buffalos pick to add to whoever we draft with ours. TK or maybe the other 2 1sts. Need top 10
Picks, hard as they are to get.

 

[Gregor Samsa]

So let’s say it comes down to Desnoyers, Martone and/or Eklund. Go for a winger?

 

[BiggE]

So let’s say it comes down to Desnoyers, Martone and/or Eklund. Go for a winger?

It would be Eklund for me