The 2025 IIHF World Championships open on Friday. The Carolina Hurricanes and Edmonton Oilers won Game One of their Conference Quarterfinal series. The annual NHL Scouting Combine in Buffalo starts on June 1. Meanwhile, here are your Flyers Quick Hits for May 7, 2025.
World Championships
Team Canada skated to a 6-0 rout of Hungary in World Championships prep-game action on Tuesday. Flyers winger Travis Konecny enjoyed a three-point day (one goal and two assists). Notably, Konecny set up Philadelphia teammate Travis Sanheim for Canada’s fifth tally. Tyson Foerster did not notch a point in the match.
Canada’s lineup:
71 Travis Konecny – 96 Macklin Celebrini – 67 Porter Martone
21 Adam Fantilli – 80 Ryan O’Reilly – 88 Kent Johnson
20 Will Cuylle – 8 Barrett Hayton – 63 Tyson Foerster
17 Brendan Perlini -53 Zach Boychuk – 12 Ty Ronning
11 Travis Sanheim – 79 Mackenzie Weegar
7 Ryker Evans – 24 Noah Dobson
23 Nicolas Beaudin – 77 Zayde Parekh
45 Harrison Bruinicke
35 Dylan Garrand
31 Carter George
Team Canada opens its seven-game preliminary round schedule on Saturday. Canada is in Group A, along with Sweden (Samuel Ersson), Finland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Austria, France, and Latvia. Elsewhere, Group B consists of Team USA, Czechia, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Hungary and Kazakhstan.
2025 Draft: Button Projects Martin to Philly
Former Calgary Flames general manager and longtime TSN scouting analyst Craig Button released his post-lottery mock draft. Craig is never afraid to be an outlier among the national pundits. He always stands by the courage of his convictions and does not care who agrees or differs.
That, by the way, is the mentality needed to scout professionally. It entails doing the legwork all season to build a notebook of first-hand viewings plus second-hand intel. Button works constantly on his list. He isn’t afraid to go against the consensus if he feels strongly.
This year, Button has Martone second overall to the San Jose Sharks. Button places Jake O’Brien fifth to the Nashville Predators. Surprisingly, he moves up Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds center/winger Brady Martin to the Flyers at sixth.
Martin thrived at the recent IIHF Under-18 World Championships in Texas. In fact, I noted Martin among the standouts who appeared to raise his 2025 (or 2026) Draft stock at the tournament. He’s a strong bet to be a first-round pick this year. Top six? That surprised me. I thought of Martin more in the mid-to-late first round range. I saw him as a possibility for the Flyers with the Colorado or Edmonton picks they acquired.
I agree with Button about Martone. I think he will go in top three. However, I see Chicago (third overall) as his likeliest destination. Would it shock me if Michael Misa slides down one spot from top two to top three? No. But I agree with the consensus: Misa is the top forward prospect in the 2025 Draft pool.
Most years, Jason Myrtetus has Craig as a pre-Draft guest on Flyers Daily. Craig always accepts the invite if his busy schedule permits. He’s generous with his time, regardless of the market. Typically, Jason and I do a tandem interview. Hopefully, we can do it again this year. If Craig is able to fit us in, Jason will make it happen.
Flyers Alumni Calendar
The annual Snider Hockey Celebrity Bartender event is tonight. Held at the Great American Pub in Wayne, PA, the event sells out each year. There are some genuine Philadelphia sports celebrities who attend the fundraiser each year. I have no pretensions that anyone goes there to see me. As “celebrities” go, I’m on the Z list. However, it’s a fun time for a good cause.
On May 20, the Flyers Alumni will be at the Great American Pub in Conshohocken for a meet-and-greet event. The purpose is to promote registration for the Walk/Run/Ride fundraiser in Conshy (June 22, 2025) during Charity Classic weekend. The lab retriever puppy Flyers fans named — a future service dog in training — will also be there. Brad Marsh will announced the winning selection from the name-the-puppy poll.
So great to have you back daily Bill!!
Thank you!
I’d trade back a bit and draft that RHD who’s supposed to be next best defenseman after Schaefer.
I never buy anything Craig Cutton is selling. I would like to know the margin between Caleb Desnoyers and Jake O’Brien because I do favor the fancy playmaking types.
He nailed the Luchanko pick when nobody believed that was possible.
Hey, what is the buzz, good seeing you blogging. Question, if Vegas loses to the Oil, can you see Vegas doing a reboot, hard retool, if so, with one year left on his contract, would they make Eichel available? Should/would the Flyers be inerested?