The first 32 picks of the 2025 NHL Draft have come and gone. The Philadelphia Flyers made two bold selections with winger Porter Martone at sixth overall and then trading up to snag center Jack Nesbitt at 12th overall. But, luckily for us, the Flyers still have seven picks to make in the final six rounds of the Draft on Day 2.
Some surprising names were taken in the first round, so that of course means that some prospects we assumed could’ve been taken in the first 32 picks, are now sitting and waiting to hear their name on the second day. Before the picks start getting taken, let’s look at some prospects we really like for the Flyers to take with one of their three second-round picks.
Blake Fiddler, RD
Fiddler is maybe the most surprising name that is still available. He is a 6-foot-4, 209-pound, right-handed defenseman that is the son of a longtime NHLer and has impressive tools beyond his size. He can skate very well for such a large teenager and has a plus ability for distributing the puck.
We see him as almost a surefire player to make it to the NHL in some capacity and could even be a complementary top-pairing defenseman if he is able to achieve his peak. That is what is so confusing about him still being available after the first round, but the Flyers should be all over this.
To have a sizeable, right-handed defenseman that can move well, in the NHL is basically like hitting the lottery a dozen times in a row. Fiddler can be that and it is so easy to see him becoming that.
Milton Gastrin, C
If the Flyers want to re-address the center position with one of their second-round picks, Milton Gastrin would be a great option. The 6-foot center from Sweden isn’t overly flashy or overwhelmingly good at one area of the game, but is just incredibly solid in every facet. A smart, two-way player that has all the tendencies to make his teammates better when on the ice with him — Gastrin is just a pure supporter.
His ceiling might be that of a bottom-six player, but every team needs that and if he maybe develops some more scoring pop as he climbs the professional ranks overseas, he can achieve more than that. Gastrin just feels like an incredibly safe bet to make, but maybe it’s too safe for the Flyers at this point.
Alexander Zharovsky, RW
If we’re talking about unsafe and making swings, it’s all about Alexander Zharovsky. The uber-skilled Russian winger dazzles opponents and makes highlight-reel plays that go viral through the too-online hockey world, like its nothing.
Zharovsky can work on his skating, as that has been a lack of focus for him; but when it comes to stickhandling and weaving his way through opponents while in the offensive zone, the 6-foot-1 winger can do it as well as some players who were taken in the top 10 Friday night. Zharovsky is just a player that oozes skill and he’s someone who the Flyers could just leave over in Russia, let him cook in the KHL for a few more years before eventually coming over and joining Matvei Michkov to form some dynamic dual-threat down the right side.
Shane Vansaghi, RW
Shane Vansaghi has been more of a role player on Michigan State, so the ceiling is fairly limited, but watch the heck out when he’s on the forecheck. His main goal in almost every hockey game is to disrupt as many plays as possible and he does that on a consistent basis. Vansaghi possess all the tools needed to be a bottom-six NHL player that every single team in the league points at and tries to replicate by signing some bruising and bad free agent.
With such a limited role on Michigan State, there might be more of an offensive game when it comes to Vansaghi too, but even if he stays as the player he has been for the Spartans, he can make an impact in pro hockey. He is a potential two-way weapon that we could see developing his shot well enough to be NHL-ready and being an annoying middle-six winger that scores 20 goals a couple times.
Every team would love to have a Shane Vansaghi and he should go fairly early on during Day 2.
Luca Romano, C
For some reason, there seems to be not a whole lot of noise surrounding Kitchener Rangers center Luca Romano, but we love him a heck of a lot. To us, he profiles like a secondary Jett Luchanko, where he has top-end skating ability but also the brain and work ethic to develop a strong defensive base and be a neutral-zone disruptor.
Oh, and he also scored 25 goals in 67 games last season. There is a level of talent here that feels untapped and after the main players were taken in the first round, there are some CHL players who have been getting hardly any recognition despite profiling as extremely solid bets to make.
For the Flyers, it’s adding another center that could reasonably be a middle-six pivot that is responsible in all three zones. Maybe it’s a bit redundant but it’s not like they’re going to have to make that decision soon. Romano would give so much to this prospect pool in terms of offensive upside and dynamism up front.
Eric Nilson, C
Nilson is an incredibly interesting prospect that we will probably follow no matter whether or not he’s a Flyer. He is skinny, so he needs to add mass and therefore get a more powerful skating stride, but he is also committed to Michigan State next season, being the lone Swedish player to make the trip over to play college hockey, so far.
Like other Swedes in this class, Nilson is a very good skater and has the brain to commit to backchecks, keep offenses at bay, and plays a thoughtful high-pace game with buckets of workrate. There is just something that feels like an eventual draft steal, to us. If he is able to gain some mass and get stronger, there is no reason why he will not excel in college hockey. And suddenly every fan is asking their team why they didn’t draft him earlier.
The Flyers can draft someone who cares about the puck every single shift, and is thoughtful in his distribution and movement up the ice. This team will always need more centermen, and if that means taking a skinny Swedish kid before he starts to lift weights every day in college hockey, then we say do it.