The Philadelphia Flyers hold seven of the top 48 picks in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. This includes three picks in the first round (sixth, 22nd and 31st/32nd). On Tuesday morning, Flyers general manager Daniel Briere and assistant general manager Brent Flahr met with members of the local media for the annual pre-Draft press conference.
Briere stressed the amount of flexibility the Flyers have in the first two rounds of this year Draft. The Flyers could keep their seven picks or use some of them in NHL roster OR Draft move-up scenarios. Perhaps, with the latter picks, some might be moved around as assets for future picks. The GM said that the organization is exploring all of these options as well as internally discussing final rankings.
Contrary to popular belief, the 2025 Draft is not a shallow talent pool. It’s actually a deeper-than-average Draft. However, there is one significant caveat. There isn’t much in the way of slam dunk superstar talent. Rather, there’s a wide variety of projected (or potentially) above-average players.I corresponded with a scout who predicted that this year’s Draft pool could have an above-average number of players who go on someday to have lengthy (even 1,000 game) NHL careers if they are healthy and develop to their potential.
Superstars? That’s going to take some luck. Nevertheless, there are a few players — perhaps Michael Misa, Porter Martone, James Hagens and expected first overall pick Matthew Schaefer — who could take the step from star (All-Star type) to superstar (award finalist caliber) players. There also could be a couple of unexpected stars to emerge. What’s above a superstar? A true generational player, like a Sidney Crosby or Connor McDavid or a Chris Pronger on the blueline. There is not such a player this year. Gavin McKenna, the projected first overall pick in 2027, might fit the generational level of talent.
Before the Briere and Flahr presser, Jason Myretus and I did an exclusive 2-on-1 interview with Flahr for tomorrow’s Flyers Daily. We talked extensively about the evaluation process, what traits the Flyers value and how much emphasis the organization assigns. After we spoke to Brent, Jason and I discussed several players. I mentioned that Brady Martin is now so commonly picked within the top six in pundit forecasts that he can’t be considered an “off the board” selection anymore if he’s taken in the 4th to 10th range.
Look for Flahr interview on tomorrow’s Flyers Daily. I’ll post it, too, to Hockey Hot Stove. Additionally, on the Flyers’ official website today, I wrote a 10K foot view of the top-six pool as part of the Road the Draft series. In upcoming articles, I will go into more detail about specific players in positional groupings. The article series kicked off with Brian Smith looking back at the Drafting, signing and development process with Matvei Michkov.
Thanks Bill
It’s criminal that Stuart Skinner is the goalie for McDavid and Draistal.
the Oil were not going to win with their lineup, forget Skinner for a minute. McD didn’t deliver. Their coaches need to make better adjustments, even with the superstars. It seemed the plan was to let McD skate as fast as possible and set up in the zone. The Panthers are too good of a team, they were able to defend that, I think the Oil needed some set neutral zone plays, a give a go if you will with McD, shake the Panthers loose, make them chase a bit.