Official 2025 NHL DRAFT Thread

[HeadLiceHatty]

I was excited for this draft until the harsh reality hit. @Flyerfan4life has us all #buckled in, lots of torture and pain in the near future and forever.

#halfacentury

 

[Adam Warlock]

Maybe Briere develops a pattern: grab a big name who’s falling, pass over a big name who’s falling for a reach, grab a big name who’s falling

It will be Hagens this year

I could see Hagens falling into their lap and Briere trading down to draft Martin. Im sure Boston would be calling if Hagens drops to 6.

Tocchet and Martin would really please the STHs.

 

[Canfly]

I am not sure if anybody follows the QMJHL but does somebody have any info on Zonnon, Is he worth the risk for one of our later first round picks?

 

[TheKingPin]

Sounds like the only disaster would be Martin.

 

[Gregor Samsa]

I still think if Desnoyers is there he’s the pick. Lots of smoke about the Flyers liking him

 

[Nabrules]

I still think if Desnoyers is there he’s the pick. Lots of smoke about the Flyers

I'd be shocked if he's still there at 6. He's dominating the Q playoffs. He's not getting past 3-5 imo! I think would pick will be Hagens, Frondell, O'Brien or Martin... I'd be happy with any of those options besides Martin...

 

[Gregor Samsa]

I'd be shocked if he's still there at 6. He's dominating the Q playoffs. He's not getting past 3-5 imo! I think would pick will be Hagens, Frondell, O'Brien or Martin... I'd be happy with any of those options besides Martin...

It depends who teams like. I think the only certainty is that Schaefer and Misa won’t make it to 6.

 

[flyersnorth]

I went to the Moncton/Rimouski game last night.

Moncton completely dominated - kinda shocked at how bad Rimouski looked. I think shots were 30-8 after the 2nd.

Desnoyers got a nice assist on the first goal. Dangled through a few defenders, drew coverage to his side of the net, and slid a pass across the crease for an easy tap-in.

Had a few other high grade chances on offense. Skated through a few defenders again and had everything but the finish - beat the goalie but hit the post.

He had some PK time and looked good, and also hustled back to breakup a play when Moncton was on a PP.

Looked like he was playing wing for at least part of the 3rd? Wasn’t taking face offs and lining up on RW.

He looked soft along the boards. No real hustle or bite to his game. Didn’t look very fast either. Not slow but probably average.

Overall he looked very good but I wouldn’t say he was the play driver. He wasn’t the one running the PP, and wasn’t the one controlling the puck or driving play 5v5. Pekarcik was much more noticeable in that regard, as were the defensemen.

Anyway, game was great, atmosphere was insane. They won 4-1 (one EN goal) but it could have easily been much more lopsided.

 

[TheKingPin]

Sell "high" on Cates.

With an aging and deteriorating Couturier and a young Laughtchanko™ in the wings, do the Flyers really need another 3C after they go "Big Game Hunting" this year and next? Seems to me 3C is locked up for the next 15 years.

Don't overpay him to play 4C. But then again, we're not that far removed from the... "Build from the 4th line out like the Islanders"... whole timeline bullshit either.

Agreed. If Jett ends up a really good 3C then what is the point of Cates? He could be a 4C but then can’t make more than 3.5 ideally. Probably/hopefully what the Flyers are thinking. Maybe a playoff level team for 2026 wants him to move up in the draft?

I went to the Moncton/Rimouski game last night.

Moncton completely dominated - kinda shocked at how bad Rimouski looked. I think shots were 30-8 after the 2nd.

Desnoyers got a nice assist on the first goal. Dangled through a few defenders, drew coverage to his side of the net, and slid a pass across the crease for an easy tap-in.

Had a few other high grade chances on offense. Skated through a few defenders again and had everything but the finish - beat the goalie but hit the post.

He had some PK time and looked good, and also hustled back to breakup a play when Moncton was on a PP.

Looked like he was playing wing for at least part of the 3rd? Wasn’t taking face offs and lining up on RW.

He looked soft along the boards. No real hustle or bite to his game. Didn’t look very fast either. Not slow but probably average.

Overall he looked very good but I wouldn’t say he was the play driver. He wasn’t the one running the PP, and wasn’t the one controlling the puck or driving play 5v5. Pekarcik was much more noticeable in that regard, as were the defensemen.

Anyway, game was great, atmosphere was insane. They won 4-1 (one EN goal) but it could have easily been much more lopsided.

Thanks for going. NHL 1C vibes?

 

[ybnvs]

Agreed. If Jett ends up a really good 3C then what is the point of Cates? He could be a 4C but then can’t make more than 3.5 ideally. Probably/hopefully what the Flyers are thinking. Maybe a playoff level team for 2026 wants him to move up in the draft?

I'd look to keep Cates until next year's deadline because I don't think he'd garner much anyway, like a late first from a desperate team or second round pick. Aside from any potential incoming FAs, we're looking at Couts - Cates - Poehling - ? down the middle next year. I hope Laughtchanko™ doesn't make the team out of camp. 1 year deal leading up to UFA to bet on himself (which the Flyers shouldn't be interested in anyway - if he plays C on this team).

IMO Laughtchanko™ would be better served for another year honing his offensive game, and that's not happening if he plays for the Flyers next season, but I think management is in a rush to get him into the NHL in a desperate attempt to quiet the Buium vs Laughtchanko™ mistake.

In all honesty I'd really like to see Cates at LW, you know, the position he played his whole life until Torts made him a 1C, but the demand at center will never allow for that.

 

[FLYguy3911]

Listened to the radio for 5 minutes and heard Morganti saying he wants Martin lol. Thankfully he and Jones didn't work together for 20 years.

 

[flyersnorth]

Agreed. If Jett ends up a really good 3C then what is the point of Cates? He could be a 4C but then can’t make more than 3.5 ideally. Probably/hopefully what the Flyers are thinking. Maybe a playoff level team for 2026 wants him to move up in the draft?



Thanks for going. NHL 1C vibes?

Hard to say. He was the most consistently dangerous player on the ice. Seemed to have great vision with his passing and offensive instincts in general.

The lack of urgency I noticed is not necessarily a bad thing. He seemed to know when plays were developing and anticipated very well.

I mentioned him being soft along the boards and I mean that in the sense of losing more puck battles than he won and didn’t seem to fight real hard at it. But I think he’s more like Coots that way where he relies on instinct and positioning more so than general high energy.

1C? Maybe. I think he would look pretty great feeding Michkov and TK the puck. His passing was hands down the best on either team.

 

[iceman42]

Listened to the radio for 5 minutes and heard Morganti saying he wants Martin lol. Thankfully he and Jones didn't work together for 20 years.

I hope its a smoke screen, but I am thinking they are getting out ahead of it rather then having to try and sell it later. You have Button mocking him to us at #6 in his mock and few bloggers are going with articles laying out why Brady Martin #6 makes sense.

 

[FLYguy3911]

I hope its a smoke screen, but I am thinking they are getting out ahead of it rather then having to try and sell it later. You have Button mocking him to us at #6 in his mock and few bloggers are going with articles laying out why Brady Martin #6 makes sense.

Fwiw (not much!) he mentioned him as a pick in the early teens, but that ain’t happening.

 

[Gregor Samsa]

Even though I’d be disappointed if Martin is the pick it seems he would no longer be a reach as he is almost certainly going top 10 now. It wouldn’t be as big a reach is Luchanko last year. I have my doubts knowing Martin’s agent now though, but no matter the pick, I’m going to hope for the best as the consensus is often wrong. As long as it isn’t someone like Nesbitt I’m going to try to stay optimistic

 

[Random Forest]

Luchanko wasn’t a reach. He was a frustrating pick because of who we passed on, not because he was taken ahead of where he should have gone in that draft.

 

[FlyerNutter]

I think if they have a shot at Frondell, or Hagens. Both of which I think will be gone…

But if either one is there, and they take Martin.

It’s the same old incestous Flyer philosophies.

 

[sa cyred]

Luchanko wasn’t a reach. He was a frustrating pick because of who we passed on, not because he was taken ahead of where he should have gone in that draft.

I don’t remember all the rankings but I did a search and FCHOCKEY had him at 32. I remembered quite a few in the 20s.

Edit: Central had him at 20 for just NA players.

 

[FLYguy3911]

Luchanko wasn’t a reach tier wise once Buium was off the board BUT where he picked was absolutely at the earliest end of his range. Of the mainstream outlets, he was 18 at the highest point. 34 on the low end.

 

[Appleyard]

Luchanko wasn’t a reach tier wise once Buium was off the board BUT where he picked was absolutely at the earliest stage of his range. Of the mainstream outlets, he was 18 at the highest point. 34 on the low end.

Yeh, I mean... without hindsight looking just at forwards:

Helenius
Artamonov
Hage
Eiserman
Greentree

Were all probably safer picks with higher ceilings.

 

[scumpup]

I am not sure if anybody follows the QMJHL but does somebody have any info on Zonnon, Is he worth the risk for one of our later first round picks?

yea

 

[scumpup]

Even though I’d be disappointed if Martin is the pick it seems he would no longer be a reach as he is almost certainly going top 10 now. It wouldn’t be as big a reach is Luchanko last year. I have my doubts knowing Martin’s agent now though, but no matter the pick, I’m going to hope for the best as the consensus is often wrong. As long as it isn’t someone like Nesbitt I’m going to try to stay optimistic

just because dinosaur consensus has him top 10 doesnt mean hes top 10. the Truth reveals all. In Gritty Comcast prays sells more tickets. amen.

 

[DownieFaceSoftener]

The mocks are still lazily picking "Flyer" types.

 

[Sombastate]

Yeh, I mean... without hindsight looking just at forwards:

Helenius
Artamonov
Hage
Eiserman
Greentree

Were all probably safer picks with higher ceilings.

I'd like to add Boisvert. I had him higher than most (18th) but i always felt he was definitely a safer pick than Luchanko

 

[Magua]

Definitely not a fan of the logic of: “Well, we drafted a bust and he looked like a bust, but the consensus said he was good, so what can you do?”

Reaches, fallers, consensus — none of that means a damned thing honestly if you don’t get a valuable player. Case by case, you could get that in any instance. Why is a player a reach or a faller or consensus?