The Florida Panthers skated to a 6-1 blowout win on Monday in Game Three of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. The Calder Cup Final between the Charlotte Checkers (Florida AHL affiliate) and Abbottsford Canucks (Vancouver AHL affiliate) gets underway on Friday in North Carolina. The first round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft is 17 days away.
Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, things are temporarily quiet. There is no update thus far as relates to Maxim Shabanov or other personnel moves. There is still at least one vacancy to fill on the NHL assistant coach staff. There is not yet a final decision on the next Lehigh Valley Phantoms head coach. However, it’s believed that, if the Flyers make an outside hire, Jay McKee will get the job. If they promote from within, John Snowden would go from assistant to head coach.
Here are some other Flyers-related quick hits for June 10, 2025.
Draft countdown: Is Martin a viable choice with the 6th pick?
There’s been a lot of buzz lately about Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds center/winger Brady Martin. Initially pegged in some publications as a late first-round candidate, the current thought has shifted dramatically. Now, many pundits predict Martin will go in the top five to top 10 selections of the 2025 Draft.
In Craig Button’s mock draft, the former NHL general manager and scouting director had the Flyers taking Martin with the 6th overall selection. Meanwhile, Elite Prospects’ Cam Robinson and The Hockey News speculated that the Utah Mammoth could take Martin fourth overall unless Utah trades their pick.
There’s enough smoke here not to dismiss these possibilities out of hand. However, personally, I just don’t see Martin as a true “best player available” candidate in the top-eight of this year’s Draft pool. He had an outstanding U18 World Championship for Team Canada following a strong year in the Soo for a so-so Greyhounds club. Martin is a very competitive player who is always physically involved. He’s no fun for opponents to play against because he’s relentless. Opponents are wise to keep their heads up and not coast after the puck.
I get all of these things. If the Flyers landed Martin 22nd overall with the pick acquired last year from Colorado — something that now seems unrealistic after seeming to right about the plausible range at midseason — I would say it’s a tremendous pick. Sixth overall? No. That’s too early, in my opinion.
First of all, I don’t know if Martin has sufficient offensive upside to take him off the board that early. He can score, but he’s not likely going to be a top dog in an NHL lineup. He’s more naturally suited to a middle-six (and, most ideally, rock solid third-line role). Secondly, it’s unclear whether Martin will ultimately play more center or wing at the professional level. Gut feeling: he’ll be a Swiss Army knife type of versatile forward. He fits the profile of a player who moves around the lineup as needed, plays some center and some wing, and is a valuable supporting cast “glue guy” as he gains experience.
Truthfully, here’s the player I see when I watched Soo game streams and the U18s: a young right-handed shooting version on Scott Laughton. I know the pie-in-the-sky comparisons often liken Martin to Sam Bennett (Martin’s own self-described style comparison) but I don’t think the somewhat smaller Martin will be a perennial mid-to-high 20s goal scorer in the NHL.
There’s nothing wrong at all with this type of player. Every team needs one or two. However, I think there will be more offensively impactful players available at sixth overall. Laughton went 20th overall in the (generally weak) 2012 Draft and turned out to be a solid choice in that slot. This year’s Draft is deeper than its 2012 counterpart, although neither Draft had much in the way of slam-dunk first-line talents. This year does have more projected top-six forwards and an array of potential top-nine longevity candidates.
Going safe at the 2025 Draft?
I don’t necessarily think the Flyers will “go safe”. They pounced on Matvei Michkov two years ago. Last year, they tried (unsuccessfully) to trade up to take Ivan Demidov. Ultimately. however, they moved down one slot and took Jett Luchanko. Incidentally, Luchanko’s Guelph Storm club was absolutely horrid the last two seasons. He’s a playmaking center on a team with almost no one who can finish. Weigh that factor when assessing the teenager’s progress over the last year.
Bypassing defenseman Zeev Buium had something to do with steering away from another Kurt Overhardt client. It had bit more to do with wanting to bring more blueline size into the system, and a lot to do with Luchanko’s speed, playmaking and mature character. It was not about “going safe” per se, although I understand that argument. Whether it was the right move is more important. There’s not enough sample size yet to make that judgment.
In Martin’s case, I do think selecting him near the top of the Draft class would be a very “safe” move. Too safe, in my opinions. For example, I personally wouldn’t bypass James Hagens, Jake O’Brien or Roger McQueen (despite the inherent risks) in favor of Martin. That said, I wouldn’t mind seeing the Flyers try to move up — if the 22nd overall pick isn’t used as an NHL roster trade bait asset — to take Martin in the middle of the first round. Thing is, I don’t he’ll still be there anymore.
Charity Classic Weekend: Fathers Day promo
From now through Father’s Day, the Flyers Alumni are offering a $10 discount coupon code for Walk/Run/Ride registration. Use discount code DADSDAY25 on the event’s registration page. For a look at all five major events the Alumni are hosting this summer, click here.
Thanks Bill, dog days of summer, wish more Buzzards where here
I’m here from the buzz, place is crazy there, random bans being handed out for no reason while others continue to spew garbage.
yea, the buzz is lost, I have never been suspended, then was suspended for random nothings, but they took my annual fee, then blitzed me with adds anyway. I sent 15 different communications to EK, not one return correspondence
6th is probably too soon to take Martin but this draft the rankings are all over the place. I’d expect a few suprises as the draft plays out.