The 2025 NHL Draft is now just two weeks away, and there are still plenty of questions about who the Philadelphia Flyers might have available to them at the sixth overall pick.
Things are clearing up at the top with Matthew Schaefer and Michael Misa holding strong. After that, though, it gets a bit murkier.
The next group of centers — Caleb Desnoyers, Anton Frondell, and James Hagens — and winger Porter Martone could be selected in any order. Then you have late-rising centers Brady Martin and Jake O’Brien, and even Roger McQueen could go higher than expected after a healthy combine.
Desnoyers and Frondell were the most popular picks for the Flyers at six in our post-lottery mock draft compilation. Who are the experts expecting now after the scouting combine?
The Athletic (Staff): Porter Martone
“The top-tier centers coming off the board in the top five might not be ideal for the Flyers, who still need depth at that position. But they also need more size and physicality on the wings, and Martone gives them that, along with some scoring punch. — Kevin Kurz“
The first post-lottery mock draft had the Flyers taking Frondell as the last of the top six on the board. Martone is now the last of that tier, with Frondell’s stock rising to third overall.
While it’s not one of the top-tier centers, Martone is a playmaking power forward who could turn out to be a top-line winger in the NHL. He had 98 points (37 goals, 61 assists) in 57 games with the Brampton Steelheads in the OHL this season.
The Athletic (Pronman): Caleb Desnoyers
“Desnoyers is a complete center with the size, skating, skill and off-puck play to be a big-minute NHL center, which is something Philly truly craves.“
Note that Pronman’s most recent mock draft came out before the scouting combine, but he still has the Flyers landing one of the top centers after Fondell, Martone, and Hagens go three through five.
Desnoyers is a familiar name to Flyers fans as his brother Elliott was drafted in the fifth round of the 2020 draft. He was named MVP of the QMJHL playoffs as led his Montcon Wildcats to the Memorial Cup Final.
He racked up 30 points (9 goals, 21 assists) in 19 playoff games after putting up 84 points (35 goals, 49 assists) in 56 regular-season games. It’s worth noting that the QMJHL is one of the higher-scoring junior leagues, but Desnoyers has impressed at every level.
The Athletic (Wheeler): James Hagens
“If Hagens gets here, I think the Flyers like him and would consider taking him. Same goes for Desnoyers, whose well-rounded game and smarts could really support and complement Matvei Michkov. But Desnoyers isn’t going to be there. If Hagens isn’t, I think they lean Martin over Jake O’Brien here in terms of the other centers (though they did take O’Brien to dinner in Buffalo). The pull of a center, and a player like Martin, is real in this range.”
Wheeler gives some good insight into the potential options for the Flyers in his blurb. He is the first one to have Hagens drop to six.
Hagens was considered the top prospect for this draft heading into last season before having a strong — but not amazing — freshman year with Boston College, posting 37 points (11 goals, 26 assists) in as many games. He has the ceiling of a top-line center and the Flyers should be thrilled if he’s available at six.
NHL.com (Kimmelman): James Hagens
“General manager Daniel Briere has said the Flyers plan to spend some of their draft assets — they have seven of the first 50 selections, including three picks in the first round — on centers. Hagens would be a good place to start. He was a point-per-game player as a college freshman and was a standout for the U.S. at the World Juniors. What he lacks in size he makes up for in dynamic skill and skating.”
Kimelman also has the former No.1 prospect in this draft dropping to the Flyers at six. He’s remaining consistent in the Flyers passing on Martone, who he has going to the Sabres at nine.
NHL.com (Morreale): Jake O’Brien
“The right-handed shot (6-2, 172) was tied for seventh in the OHL with 98 points (32 goals, 66 assists) in 66 games and had 50 power-play points (nine goals, 41 assists). O’Brien, named OHL Rookie of the Year in 2023-24, has good hands, creativity and can read the ice well with the puck. The Flyers certainly could use some size and flash down the middle and O’Brien, who compares his style to Dallas Stars forward Wyatt Johnston, offers plenty.”
Morreale is in line with his colleague in having the Flyers pass on Martone to land a center, except it’s O’Brien instead of one of the top guys falling to six.
O’Brien (no relation to Jay), had 98 points (32 goals, 66 assists) in 66 games with the Brantford Bulldogs in the OHL this season with 11 points (3 goals, 8 assists) in 11 playoff games as well.
Not landing one of the top centers and passing on the potential of a Martone would be disappointing, but O’Brien’s stock has been rising and you can’t get too mad if the Flyers opt to add another prospect down the middle.