The 2025 NHL Draft is over. Some picks that were made were expected (Matthew Schaefer first overall), and others were big surprises. The Flyers were among the teams that kept fans and experts on their toes with just about every selection. It was thought that they might go center first, and they did not. It was also thought that somewhere down the line, they might grab a goalie. They did not.
Several sources have given out their draft grades for the Flyers. The Score gave the Flyers a B+, second highest in the Metro Division behind the NY Islanders. Daily Faceoff gave the Flyers an A+, a score only the Islanders and Sharks also received. The Athletic even rated the Flyers as one of their "Overtime Winners" as having a solid draft.
Adding all the scores together, we come to a grade that is just on the border of a B/B+. I'll leave it at that. There are a lot of gambles here, but if they pay off, Briere will look like a genius. If not, people might howl. However, even if just Martone pays off like everyone says, I doubt there will be many people complaining.
Now, let's take a look at every one of the nine selections made during the draft. We'll look at some of the chatter said about each pick specifically, and give our roundup and analysis as well.
First Round
#6: Porter Martone -- Right Wing
The high-scoring right winger is being hailed as a top selection by the Flyers. Martone is highly touted for his ability to score and his speed in setting up the play. Even before this draft, he was rated to be one of the top picks. The fact that he slipped to sixth overall is nothing short of a miracle; in the same way that Michkov slipped to Philly a few years ago.
Bleacher Report gives this selection a grade of an A+, saying, "It's like he takes one look at the ice and projects how a play is going to end before it's even really begun, which allows him to best position his teammates for success."
USA Today grades this as an A- saying "It's a bit surprising he fell to No. 6 to the Flyers, but he'll slide in along nicely with Matvei Michkov, Trevor Zegras and the rest of Philadelphia's young, but talented core."
I'll split the difference and give this pick an A. My only concern is where he'll fit in, as he is a right winger on a team with lots of them. However, he's going to be a star player in this league. He's going to be fun to watch.
# 12: Jack Nesbitt -- Center
This is where the debate starts up. It's not so much that he isn't good or talented. It's about whether the Flyers paid too much to move up to draft him. Also, could he have been there at #22? We'll never know. Maybe they heard rumors we didn't and acted fast to get their guy.
Bleacher Report did NOT like this selection at all, giving it a D+. In their words, "Jack Nesbitt was so off the board at 12th overall that we didn't even have him on our list of first-round potentials....His positioning is sound in all three zones, he's strong on the forecheck, and his passing shows real promise. But his skating mechanics are stiff, and I don't love his stride. His handling doesn't always keep up with his brain. These things will need to improve for this pick to pan out."
USA Today also wasn't thrilled with the pick. They like his skill set but feel that it "feels like a reach." They assigned this pick a B.
I'd give it a B as well. I think Nesbitt has a lot of raw talent, but he is less refined than some of the other centers they could've drafted. We'll see later on it he is a steal or not worth the price. Overall, though, Nesbitt is a solid pick.
Second Round
#36: Carter Amico -- Defense
Daniel Briere continued his trend of draft day surprises, trading for this solid defender coming off a major injury that probably cost him a first-round selection. Of him, the Athletic said, "He is huge and can move and defend, though."
The second round is where you start gambling. If he can get healthy, he's going to be a beast. He's big, but doesn't lumber around. Every draft profile I read on him talks about how agile he is. I'd give this a solid B just for the injury. However, he could be remembered as one of the biggest steals in this draft.
#38: Jack Murtaugh -- Left Wing
The Flyers need help at left wing. Murtaugh is a guy who can perform well there. Scott Wheeler of The Athletic (subscription required) said, "Murtagh’s a strong, physically mature goal-scoring winger who loves to put the puck in the net and adds a potential middle-six scorer to their pool." Many of the other scouting reports suggest he’d be a borderline first-rounder or solid early second-round selection.
With his size and abilities, he could be a strong second-line guy. This isn't a gamble. This is a great pick. I'd assign this one as an A for a second-round pick.
#48: Shane Vansaghi -- Right Wing
There is a lot of chatter about the Vansaghi selection. I think a lot of it comes down to the fact that he plays a lot like his potential head coach, Rick Tocchet, used to play. This could end up becoming a very sneaky pick. Perfect coach, perfect player, perfect system. I'd give this a solid B+. I have a feeling he could be a guy Flyers fans fall in love with, almost like a Wayne Simmonds.
#57: Matthew Gard -- Center
The reviews of Gard are mixed. First of all, the size is impressive. The fact that he can shift his body around fairly well is a testament to his potential. The drawbacks are his lack of speed and his undeveloped offensive abilities. Still, he is young and raw and could develop further. Worst comes to worst, he becomes a reliable fourth-line center who can win faceoffs and control the puck. The Flyers need a center. He's a big guy and a bit of a project. Still, I'd say he's a solid C+ selection.
Fifth Round
#132: Max Westergard -- Left Wing
Usually, when you get to the fifth round of a draft, you are picking up scraps. However, the Flyers have done moderately well recently in the fifth round, with Sam Ersson being selected in 2018 and Noah Cates the year before. But when others are raving about your pick, you take notice. There is a lot of praise for the Flyers with this pick.
Wheeler, in his draft review for The Athletic, said, "Max Westergard didn’t quite make my list, he was one of my honorable mentions. He’s small and his skill level isn’t dynamic but he was productive at the J20 level this year, he can skate, and he works.". Other sources look back at him and wonder why he wasn't rated higher. Maybe it is because there are a lot of hockey leagues to draw from. Despite being 5'10" and 158 lbs, he scored 19 goals in the Swedish juniors. Talk about a diamond in the rough. I'd give this one an A- as a fifth-round pick.
#157: Luke Vlooswyk -- Defense
For most of the picks in this year's draft, the Flyers went big. A teammate of Gard's, he was also a highly rated shutdown defender, the sort of defender the Flyers lack right now. Give him some time to develop, and he could end up climbing the prospect chain. This looks like a solid C+
Sixth Round
#164: Nathan Quinn -- Center
His draft profile said he is a very intelligent center and has some nice defensive metrics. However, the concern is his lack of playmaking skills. The last pick the Flyers selected in the sixth (or later) rounds that played more than 50 games is 2008's Zac Rinaldo, and he played a lot of those games for other teams. Quinn is a typical sixth-round pick. Draft him and hope for the best. He's raw and teachable. C
Now, we await what will happen during free agency. Some of our divisional rivals have already been making moves. We can't stay put just yet.