Official 2025 NHL DRAFT Thread

[Magua]

Rereading this quote: “We obviously are aware (they need more center depth), but there’s also a couple other players that it’s going to make it hard.”

Ummm it’s actually NOT hard? Unless you’ve drafted regularly for fit and look like a moron each time, but damnit that high feels so good, maybe just one last time……

 

[bauer]

Which Defenseman does he mean?

i'm guessing Mrtka. he's 6'6.

the two wingers have to be Martone and Eklund.

 

[Gregor Samsa]

That statement by Flahr is a bit of a double edged sword. On one hand it’s good Martone could be an option. Maybe Eklund. I’ll believe Martin is a Flyers pick when I see it. As far as Dmen go, they seem to have more quality RHD than LHD, so I’d guess Smith or Aitcheson. Last name is scary but bold.

Still think this is the standard sportsspeak before draft along the lines of “our options are open”. Still bet it’s Frondell, Desnoyers, or Hagens at 6

 

[BiggE]

I’m willing to bet that Flahr’s top 10 is something like

Schaefer
Misa
Desnoyers
Martin
McQueen
Martone
Mrtka
Frondell
Aitcheson
O’Brien

If we had won the lottery we’d be ok, even these clowns aren’t that stupid and the top 2 guys are both at least 6’1. At 6OA though, well, my prediction?

 

[Flyerfan4life]

#buckle in...

 

[Magua]

With the tier 2 defensemen talk….

Mrtka looks pretty not good. Moves with the nimbleness of an aircraft carrier. Toss up between the USS Gerald R. Ford and Mrtka. It’s not great when I think Bonk runs laps around a defensive skewing guy. Definition of “too big.” No bend, can’t handle or even find pucks in tight. His hands aren’t terrible if no one is around, even if I don’t like his passing touch, but with anyone in his orbit, it goes to shit. Seems like a guy you could forecheck to death, or chip it and make him turn. He’s like Jiricek if he was less skilled and less fluid.

Not feeling good about Aitcheson either. He’s got sluggish feet too. Better skill than Mrtka, but I’m not in love with his feel under any pressure either. Settling for meh shots. A commonplace skillset.

I watched a game of Cootes though, and I have time for him. Positive thoughts for sure. More skilled than the scoring; physical abilities are above average too.

 

[JABEE]

If a good drafting team was making that statement, I would think it was a nothing comment that maybe surfaces to trick a team into thinking the team is picking a defenseman to make teams not trade up in front of them, but this is the Flyers.

 

[BigToe]

With the tier 2 defensemen talk….

Mrtka looks pretty not good. Moves with the nimbleness of an aircraft carrier. Toss up between the USS Gerald R. Ford and Mrtka. It’s not great when I think Bonk runs laps around a defensive skewing guy. Definition of “too big.” No bend, can’t handle or even find pucks in tight. His hands aren’t terrible if no one is around, even if I don’t like his passing touch, but with anyone in his orbit, it goes to shit. Seems like a guy you could forecheck to death, or chip it and make him turn. He’s like Jiricek if he was less skilled and less fluid.

Not feeling good about Aitcheson either. He’s got sluggish feet too. Better skill than Mrtka, but I’m not in love with his feel under any pressure either. Settling for meh shots. A commonplace skillset.

I watched a game of Cootes though, and I have time for him. Positive thoughts for sure. More skilled than the scoring; physical abilities are above average too.

Watching Mrtka and Aitcheson before Smith is choice

 

[Magua]

Watching Mrtka and Aitcheson before Smith is choice

I’ll end up at the same place, biyatch. You’re yelling at me for eating my veggies before my fries. I’ve already watched a game of Smith too. But Flahrsy wasn’t talking about Smith!

 

[BigToe]

I’ll end up at the same place, biyatch. You’re yelling at me for eating my veggies before my fries. I’ve already watched a game of Smith too. But Flahrsy wasn’t talking about Smith!

Mrtka and Aitcheson aren't veggies

 

[FLYguy3911]

With the tier 2 defensemen talk….

Mrtka looks pretty not good. Moves with the nimbleness of an aircraft carrier. Toss up between the USS Gerald R. Ford and Mrtka. It’s not great when I think Bonk runs laps around a defensive skewing guy. Definition of “too big.” No bend, can’t handle or even find pucks in tight. His hands aren’t terrible if no one is around, even if I don’t like his passing touch, but with anyone in his orbit, it goes to shit. Seems like a guy you could forecheck to death, or chip it and make him turn. He’s like Jiricek if he was less skilled and less fluid.

Not feeling good about Aitcheson either. He’s got sluggish feet too. Better skill than Mrtka, but I’m not in love with his feel under any pressure either. Settling for meh shots. A commonplace skillset.

I watched a game of Cootes though, and I have time for him. Positive thoughts for sure. More skilled than the scoring; physical abilities are above average too.

Flahrsy sees this is his sleep on loop at night.

 

[Magua]

Mrtka and Aitcheson aren't veggies

Well, Flahr doesn’t eat veggies.

 

[renberg]

Any GM can miss on a first round pick; it happens. Blow two firsts in two years is asking to be fired (except if you’re the Bruins GM. Then you can blow three of them in one draft)

 

[Gregor Samsa]

The sword of Damocles would be hanging over Briere if he goes off the board for a non-center prospect who isn’t Martone. Such a pick would have to show major promise next year in order for Briere’s head to not be called for. They need centers badly. Most of the players around #6 are centers. It would almost be a middle finger to the fans and media

 

[hystyk1921]

Mason West is a great skater, especially for his size

Isaac ratcliffe

 

[ValeriKamensky]

In regard to Flahr’s statement, why everyone is in a panic?
In the 1st round, especially in top10, you take BPA. That’s what it is. Or maybe someone would bet house for f.e. O’Brien will end up C?

 

[Gregor Samsa]

In regard to Flahr’s statement, why everyone is in a panic?
In the 1st round, especially in top10, you take BPA. That’s what it is. Or maybe someone would bet house for f.e. O’Brien will end up C?

Probably not worth panicking about until we see otherwise but it just sounds like the generic pre draft spiel of “we are going to explore all options”. This draft is just seen as a ~6 player draft before it falls off a bit and the Flyers are at 6. Draft just needs to happen as there’s lots of clickbait type mocks that scare people

 

[Larry44]

Well, Flahr doesn’t eat veggies.

Let’s hope he hasn’t had too many Aitcheson pancakes…

Pancake recipe

 

[CerpinTaxt]

The sword of Damocles would be hanging over Briere if he goes off the board for a non-center prospect who isn’t Martone. Such a pick would have to show major promise next year in order for Briere’s head to not be called for. They need centers badly. Most of the players around #6 are centers. It would almost be a middle finger to the fans and media

No it wouldnt

 

[TheKingPin]

Everyone wants Hedman. No way we take Mrtka at 6.

Mrtka and Luchanko vs Buium and Hagens

Don’t double down on mistakes.

I more read Flahr’s comments that they are very much ok drafting wing which is the way to go this draft. I think dman makes 0 sense. They could have said we like several centers here and are ok we dropped to 6. Then you are thinking JOB and McQueen…

 

[DAVIDE1333]

In regard to Flahr’s statement, why everyone is in a panic?
In the 1st round, especially in top10, you take BPA. That’s what it is. Or maybe someone would bet house for f.e. O’Brien will end up C?

Because they did this very thing last year.

 

[Gregor Samsa]

Everyone wants Hedman. No way we take Mrtka at 6.

Mrtka and Luchanko vs Buium and Hagens

Don’t double down on mistakes.

I more read Flahr’s comments that they are very much ok drafting wing which is the way to go this draft. I think dman makes 0 sense. They could have said we like several centers here and are ok we dropped to 6. Then you are thinking JOB and McQueen…

Yeah. Reading his quote again it doesn’t seem as bad. Not sure how much worth there is in doing a close reading of it lol. But he starts out good and states the obvious with center depth. He says there are a couple wingers that will make it difficult, which doesn’t mean they are the pick and it’s fine if it’s Martone or Eklund. I’ll believe it’s Martin when I see it. A defenseman “could be in the mix” which doesn’t necessarily mean they are.

Still think it’s a generic type of quote that all GM/scouts use. If there is reason for concern we probably won’t know till the draft is closer

 

[BiggE]

How I think it will go
NYI Schaefer
SJS Misa
CHI Frondell
UTA Hagens
NAS Desnoyers

So, the guy we should take in this instance is Martone, but I can absolutely see them reaching for McQueen, O’Brien or, worst of all, Martin.

 

[iceman42]

How I think it will go
NYI Schaefer
SJS Misa
CHI Frondell
UTA Hagens
NAS Desnoyers

So, the guy we should take in this instance is Martone, but I can absolutely see them reaching for McQueen, O’Brien or, worst of all, Martin.

I think you can switch Frondell with Martone as well. My feeling is that either Martone or Frondell makes it to our pick. The rest feels correct.

 

[freakydallas13]

Flahrsy sees this is his sleep on loop at night.

I mean he gets away with it because he's big, but like, his skating looks somewhere between meh and not good in that clip. INCREDIBLY hunched over.