Reese, Modugno: Philadelphia Flyers 2025 NHL Mock Draft

It’s that time of the year. We’re gearing up for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, offering you a full mock for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Heading into the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, the Flyers amassed 11 selections. Daniel Brière set up Philadelphia with eight picks in the first three rounds, positioning the club to address significant team needs by staying put with his accumulated draft capital or trading some capital to swap places with a team like the San Jose Sharks. There’s some flexibility with assets and cap space to make a draft day splash.

Jake Modugno and I (Eric Reese) decided to provide our mocks, complete with the selection we would make at each pick, or if we feel a trade would be adequate, our school of thought regarding the likelihood Brière does offer to trade a player, prospect, or picks to move forward or back on the big board.

First Round; Pick 6

Eric’s Pick: Anton Frondell, C, Djurgårdens IF (HockeyAllsvenskan)

• 2024-2025: 29GP; 11G, 14A, +11
  • 2025 HockeyAllsvenskan Postseason: 16GP; 3G, 4A, +3
    • HockeyAllsvenskan Champion

Frondell was 6’1″ and 205lbs before the NHL Combine. He possesses the physical presence the Flyers need down the middle of the ice, is an elite shooter, and fits the Rick Tocchet system, getting off the boards to beat defensemen to deflections and rebounds. At the NHL Combine, Frondell tested as one of the more ‘well-conditioned’ prospects in aerobic (using oxygen to fuel longer, lower-intensity activity) and anaerobic (using stored energy for burst activity).

Scouts praise Frondell’s hockey sense, puck control, and two-way capabilities. He might be the best defensive forward in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft class, complementing his game in the offensive zone.

With the sixth pick, names like Michael Misa, James Hagens, and Caleb Desnoyers will likely have an NHL home already. Frondell is a physical menace at C. Russ Cohen compared Frondell to Tom Wilson on Locked On Flyers. Another prospect Philadelphia could choose at sixth overall is Jake O’Brien. If the emphasis is to add size and skill down the middle, then Frondell makes more sense.

When the Flyers eventually make it back into the postseason, he’ll be a skater you want in your lineup versus the other team’s.

Trade: 6, 40, and York to San Jose Sharks for 2

• Michael Misa, C, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
  • 2024-2025: 65GP; 62G, 72A, +45
    • 2025 OHL Postseason: 4GP; 2G, 1A, -10
      • OHL First Team All-Star
      • OHL Red Tilson Trophy
      • OHL Eddie Powers Trophy
      • OHL Bobby Smith Trophy

Mike Grier is dangling the second overall pick in front of the league as trade bait. Why not Philadelphia? Brière stockpiled enough capital to trade up. Surrendering the sixth and fortieth picks with Cam York is enough to move the needle. Currently, York is still a restricted free agent.

Toward the end of the regular season, York had a falling out with John Tortorella. Tortorella is no longer the head coach of the Flyers, but overall, York looked to take a step back from the 2023-2024 campaign, where he responded well to the challenges put forth by Tortorella. He’s due for arbitration, and if an agreement cannot come to fruition before the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, it’ll be intriguing to monitor the status of York on draft day.

Misa is the top center in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, noted for his drive in the offensive zone, passing vision, and speed, which Philadelphia desperately needs.

A potential squeeze without a player attached could include the sixth and twenty-second picks with a 2026 second-round selection. The second-round pick in 2026 would supplement the Sharks’ lack of a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.

Trade: 6, 22, 2026 2nd Round to San Jose Sharks for 2

• Michael Misa, C, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

Grier could accept good draft capital, adding another pick in the first round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and another in the second round of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. Brière, at least in the interim, would deplete Philadelphia of a pick in the second round of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.

Again, monitoring York and his negotiations for an extension could provide a better blueprint of what it’ll take to potentially make a play for the second overall pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

Jake’s Pick: Anton Frondell, C, Djurgårdens IF (HockeyAllsvenskan)

• 2024-2025: 29GP; 11G, 14A, +11
  • 2025 HockeyAllsvenskan Postseason: 16GP; 3G, 4A, +3
    • HockeyAllsvenskan Champion

There’s a lot of ways the board could fall before the Flyers are up to pick at six, but if Frondell is there he should be the slam-dunk pick. The Trånsgund, Sweden native registered 25 points in just 29 games with Djurgårdens IF in his first full season in HockeyAllsvenskan – Sweden’s second-tier league. He can move the puck around in a flash, fires the puck as well as anyone, and he can skate extremely well.

However, what really makes Frondell a force is his size. Standing at 6’1” and 205 pounds, his frame fits the mold for a Flyers front office that wants to build themselves stronger down the middle. Frondell uses his size to his advantage, especially defensively. He can win board battles, is strong with his stick, and can muscle opponents off the puck. Frondell is the best two-way player in this draft class and the Flyers should be all over him.

If Frondell isn’t available, Desnoyers or O’Brien would be suitable second choices.

First Round; Pick 22

Eric’s Pick: Malcolm Spence, LW, Erie Otters (OHL)

• 2024-2025: 65GP; 32G, 41A, +10
  • 2025 OHL Postseason: 9GP; 4G, 5A, -6

Spence is 6’2″ and 201lbs; a commit to the University of Michigan. A scoring winger, his wheelhouse is the high-slot, and his bread-and-butter is his one-timer. He’s a good playmaker in transition, and scouts acknowledge his two-way acumen.

Jakob Pelletier is a restricted free agent, and after next season, Nicolas Deslauriers will be an unrestricted free agent. By that point, you hope Alex Bump and/or Nikita Grebenkin are contributing. Depth is a requirement at LW, and it can start with the hoard of picks Brière accumulated in the first round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Spence is a bargain if he’s still on the board when the Flyers draft with the 22nd pick.

Some of the narratives around this draft circle back to, ‘Will Philadelphia trade up to draft Misa?’ In the 2022 OHL Draft, Spence was selected second overall, right after Misa, and Craig Button went on record to say Spence was an ‘elite NHL skater’ at age 15.

If the Flyers don’t trade up for Misa, taking Frondell, then the people rallying for Misa should find comfort in potentially nabbing a very skilled LW in Spence.

Jake’s Pick: Cole Reschny, C/LW, Victoria Royals (WHL)

• 2024-2025: 62GP; 26G, 66A, +42
  • 2025 WHL Postseason: 11GP; 9G, 16A, +9
    • Hlinka Gretzky Cup Gold Medal
    • U18 WJC Gold Medal

Reschny is a bit on the smaller side at 5’10” and 178 pounds, but he is a hell of a playmaker and another phenomenal two-way player in this year’s draft class.

Scouts have raved about his ability to create offense with subtle plays, high attention to detail, and ability to create space for himself and his teammates. Having a center on your team with a combination of high skill and high hockey IQ is always the goal and Reschny fits the mold. Reschny’s 66 assists led the Royals and also led all 2025 Draft-eligible WHL players.

Committed to the University of North Dakota next season, Reschny is someone who could give the Flyers a much-needed boost up the middle in the future. Sean Couturier has seen better days, Noah Cates may not have as much offensive upside, and Ryan Poehling may not be a long-term option for the Flyers.

Adding Reschny in the system with top organizational prospect Jett Luchanko could form a dangerous one-two punch down the middle and hopefully Frondell can join them as well. These selections would give the Flyers their best center prospect depth in ages and provide an immense glimmer of hope for the future.

First Round; Pick 31/32

Eric’s Pick: Sascha Boumedienne, LD, Boston University (NCAA)

• 2024-2025: 40GP; 3G, 10A, +8
  • U18 WJC All-Star

Boumedienne is 6’2″ and 183lbs. If the Flyers want, they could boost their size at C, LW, and LD in the first round. In addition to his frame, Boumedienne uses his size to fight for position and close out forwards. However, Boumedienne is known more for his ability to contribute offensively along the blue line, especially on the powerplay, by using his speed and vision to anticipate and cycle the puck for scoring chances.

Established earlier, York hasn’t yet agreed to an extension with Philadelphia. Emil Andrae and Egor Zamula are restricted free agents after next season. Hunter McDonald begins to creep into the conversation, and nabbing a skilled defender like Boumedienne replenishes the LD depth.

At the U18 World Juniors, Boumedienne was the only defender ranked within the top-10 point producers (2nd: 7GP; 1G, 13A). He was the best defenseman at the U18 World Juniors, scoring more than draft-eligible forwards labeled for the first round, such as Brady Martin, Braeden Cootes, William Moore, Cullen Potter, and Reschny.

It’s fair to argue Boumedienne instead of Spence at 22nd overall, as he might climb the big board closer to the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, especially after a solid showing at the NHL Combine.

Jake’s Pick: Blake Fiddler, RD, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)

• 2024-2025: 64GP; 10G, 23A, +6
  • 2024-2025 WHL Postseason: 7GP; 0G, 1A, -2

The Flyers are lacking in real organizational defensive depth, especially with righties; enter Blake Fiddler.

The son of former NHLer Vernon Fiddler, the blueliner stands at an impressive 6’4” and 209 pounds. What really stands out is how well Fiddler skates for his size and how he uses his size to his advantage. He almost resembles Travis Sanheim if he were right-handed, but even his skating ability at this age might be better than Sanheim’s in 2014 and he’ll most definitely bulk up when he reaches the pro ranks.

Looking at the long-term outlook of the Flyers’ right side as of right now, Oliver Bonk, Helge Grans, and Spencer Gill are really all they have in the pipeline that could be feasible options in the future. Jamie Drysdale is the only righty that’s currently on the roster that will be here for the long haul.

Rasmus Ristolainen could be shipped out at this year’s trade deadline and York’s contract situation hasn’t been resolved yet, so defensive opportunities could be up for grabs very soon. Even if Philadelphia signs a cheap veteran defenseman this offseason to a short-term deal, Fiddler can take time to develop before helping the Flyers.

Second Round; Pick 36

Eric’s Pick: Cameron Schmidt, RW, Vancouver Giants (WHL)

• 2024-2025: 61GP; 40G, 38A, -7
  • 2024-2025 WHL Postseason: 5GP; 4G, 5A, -2
    • Hlinka Gretzky Cup Gold Medal
    • U18 WJC Gold Medal

Schmidt is a versatile RW, and if he falls into the second round, it’s because general managers could doubt his size. He’s 5’7″ and 157lbs, and despite his size, he tested well at the NHL Combine in agility tests and the bench press. Agility and speed are essential to a shifty, streaky goalscorer like Schmidt.

The Flyers have RW depth with Travis Konecny, Matvei Michkov, Bobby Brink, and Garnet Hathaway. A name to watch is Brink, who was terrific this season with Cates and Tyson Foerster. Brink will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of next season, but if he keeps up his pace, he’ll have a place in Philadelphia. That works perfectly because Schmidt will need time to develop, particularly his defensive game.

Size shouldn’t scare Brière from selecting Schmidt; he possesses the offensive prowess and explosiveness worth highlighting.

Jake’s Pick: Cameron Schmidt, RW, Vancouver Giants (WHL)

• 2024-2025: 61GP; 40G, 38A, -7
  • 2024-2025 WHL Postseason: 5GP; 4G, 5A, -2
    • Hlinka Gretzky Cup Gold Medal
    • U18 WJC Gold Medal

As Eric mentioned above, Schmidt’s size and speed shouldn’t deter the Flyers from selecting him.

The last time Philadelphia passed on an available small goal scorer, they settled on York while Cole Caufield was taken with the very next pick and he has gone on to become a star in Montréal. That shouldn’t be taken as a slight against York at all as he’s been a fine defenseman so far, but the Flyers could really use a guy like Caufield on their team.

Schmidt is an example of someone who has first-round talent but will probably slide based on teams’ positional needs. He was just one of nine players to score 40 goals in the WHL this year and only one of two in this year’s draft class (Carter Bear). This would be an ideal landing spot for Schmidt and he would serve as a solid option down the line once he’s NHL ready with the likes of Konecny, Michkov, Tippett, Foerster, Brink, Grebenkin, and Bump.

Second Round; Pick 40

Eric’s Pick: Ryker Lee, C, Madison Capitals (USHL)

• 2024-2025: 58GP; 31G, 37A, +9
  • 2024-2025 USHL Postseason: 6GP; 3G, 3A, +5
    • USHL All-Rookie Team
    • USHL First Team All-Star
    • USHL Rookie of the Year
    • WJAC-19 Champion

Lee is a 6′ and 181lbs playmaking center. He makes crisp passes by drawing defenders on the rush, delaying, and reading the open winger. His affinity for jamming the middle upon entry creates various scoring chances in the offensive zone, which he’ll continue as a commit to Michigan State University.

Using his frame, Lee is committed to the forecheck. The Flyers will still dump-and-chase, an attack philosophy Lee is familiar with. Cates is a good comparison of the skaters already on the Philadelphia roster. Lee has a higher offensive upside, but the forechecking and puck control are similar.

Another steal for Brière in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, should he choose to run with the picks already stashed.

Jake’s Pick: Jack Ivankovic, G, Brampton Steelheads (OHL)

• 2024-2025: 43GP; 25-12-5, .903SV%, 2.83GAA
  • 2024-2025 OHL Postseason: 5GP; 1-3-0, .877SV%, 4.77GAA
    • Hlinka Gretzky Cup Gold Medal
    • U18 WJC Gold Medal
    • U18 WJC All-Star Team

Ivankovic is one of the best goalie prospects in this draft class and the Flyers desperately need to replenish their pool at that position.

Opinions are split on Sam Ersson’s abilities while Ivan Fedotov has been a major disappointment as his backup. Aleksei Kolosov looked horrendous and may not return to North America this coming season. Carson Bjarnason and Egor Zavragin are the only other organizational goalies left and neither are close to being NHL-ready yet.

Ivankovic went 25-12-5 in 43 appearances this season, posting a .903 SV%, 3.05 GAA, and two shutouts in the process. His postseason performance left more to be desired, but he’s a young goalie who just turned 18 less than a month ago. He also led Team Canada to the U18 World Junior Championship gold medal after going 6-0-0 with a .961 SV% and 1.05 GAA. He led the tournament in SV% and GAA as well.

At 5’11” and 178 pounds, he’s not the biggest goalie but he’s incredibly athletic. His lateral movement is extraordinary and his reflexes are lightning quick. As is the case with most goalies, he’ll still need more seasoning but he is unquestionably talented and gives the Flyers another strong option in the system. He is committed to the University of Michigan beginning next season.

Second Round; Pick 45

Eric’s Pick: Linus Funck, RD, Luleå HF J20 (J20 Nationell)

• 2024-2025: 48GP; 5G, 23A, +3
  • 2024-2025 J20 Nationell Postseason: 3GP; 1G, 1A

At 6’3″ and 187lbs, Funck is an underrated defenseman in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. He’s an efficient puck-moving defenseman, pushing his team from the defensive to the offensive zone. In addition to keeping pace, he changes the flow of opponents with equally responsible defense. Funck has a sturdy, reliable skill set.

Something to improve upon would be his physicality. He doesn’t need to be the most physical defenseman on the ice, but it would be a bonus to help win more board battles. Funck is more of a rangy defender, disrupting passing and shooting lanes.

Selecting Funck this early could be viewed as a reach, but his upside and raw talent, with more development, makes him a ‘sleeper’ in the second round.

Jake’s Pick: Kurban Limatov, LD, MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)

• 2024-2025: 46GP; 8G, 15A, +7
  • 2024-2025 MHL Postseason: 7GP; 2G, 3A, -3

Limatov is another mobile defenseman with solid size at 6’4” and 190 pounds, which fits the Flyers’ mold for what they’re looking for in building a defense.

His abilities to both move the puck and lay the body on opponents are what make him an attractive selection. His physicality also helps him as he can create space for his teammates and cause turnovers with crushing hits and smart closeouts.

We’ll see how long Limatov stays in Russia, but Brière has no problem selecting MHL/KHL talent and finding ways to bring them across the pond sooner than we expect. With due time, he could be a serviceable NHL defenseman.

Second Round; Pick 48

Eric’s Pick: Mason West, C, Fargo Force (USHL)

• 2024-2025: 10GP; 1G, 8A, -1
  • 2024-2025 USHL Postseason: 2GP; -3
    • USHS-MN State All-Tournament Team

West spent most of his 2024-2025 campaign at Edina High (USHS-MN), totaling 27G, 22A. A high school standout, West stands in at 6’6″ and 218lbs. If the Flyers are serious about adding size down the middle of the ice in their prospect pool, West is a literal ‘can’t miss.’

For a skater who is 6’6″, West is agile. He also generates a powerful shot, torquing his frame. West was also the quarterback of the Edina High football team before joining the Fargo Force. It takes an extraordinary athlete to be good enough to be considered for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and to complete his high school football career with 37TDs, 4INTs, and a 139.9 passer rating.

In terms of hockey, he’s narrowed his commitments to Michigan State and Boston College. If he’s on the big board when Brière makes his final decision for Philadelphia in the second round, genuinely one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft should join the Flyers.

Jake’s Pick: Benjamin Kevan, RW, Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)

• 2024-2025: 51GP; 13G, 30A, -18
  • WJAC-19 Champion

Kevan, at 6’0” and 183 pounds, had a down year compared to his first USHL season, dropping from 24 goals to 13 and his plus-minus fell from +1 to -18. That being said, he’s still projected as a mid-second round pick and his talent is undeniable. He’s just a very raw prospect.

Kevan also appeared in 13 games with the U.S. National U18 Team in the NTDP and played in the U18 World Junior Championship, Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and World Junior-A Challenge.

A strong playmaker who has incredible vision to accompany a great shot, Kevan will head to Arizona State University in 2026 once his USHL career comes to a close.

Third Round; Pick 68

Eric’s Pick: Alexei Medvedev, G, London Knights (OHL)

• 2024-2025: 34GP; 22-8-2, 2.79GAA, 91.2%SV
  • 2024-2025 OHL Postseason: N/A
    • CHL Memorial Cup Champion
    • OHL Champion
    • OHL Dinty Moore Trophy
    • OHL Dave Pinkney Trophy
    • OHL First Team All-Rookie

At the NHL Combine, Medvedev had the longest-measured wingspan of any goaltender prospect. He’s slightly larger than Ersson (6’3″ and 181lbs), making pro-size a non-issue. There’s a lot of noise for Josh Ravensbergen, who most project as the best G in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft class, but Medvedev is good enough to challenge that theory.

Medvedev already has roots in Philadelphia, too. Bonk and Denver Barkey are coveted prospects from the London Knights in the Flyers’ system. He’s also from St. Petersburg, Russia. Others who could make the transition less stressful from Russia include Michkov, Grebenkin, Zamula, Fedotov, Zavragin, and Ilya Pautov.

Jake’s Pick: Sean Barnhill, RD, Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)

• 2024-2025: 54GP; 4G, 8A, +9
  • 2024-2025 USHL Postseason: 7GP; 1A

Another massive right-handed defenseman at 6’5” and 214 pounds, Barnhill is a steady defensive presence who can break up plays with quickness.

As mentioned before about Fiddler, they need RD in the organization, and like Fiddler and Limatov both, Barnhill provides the Flyers with the size they’re looking for on the back-end.

While his numbers don’t fly off the page, the Flyers can afford to take a chance here with how many picks they have and see if they can find a mid-round gem. Barnhill will attend Northeastern University once his USHL career is over in 2026.

Fifth Round; Pick 132

Eric’s Pick: Petteri Rimpinen, G, Kiekko-Espoo (Liiga)

• 2024-2025: 40GP; 2.35GAA, 91.2%SV, 16-9-14
  • 2024-2025 Liiga Postseason: 5GP; 2.71GAA, 92%SV, 2-3-0
    • Liiga Rookie of the Year
    • U20 World Junior All-Star

Philadelphia ought to be a goaltending factory. Ersson and Fedotov are in the NHL, and Kolosov is returning to the KHL. Bjarnason is brand new to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Even if Brière snags Medvedev in the third round, he should double down with Rimpinen. Slightly smaller than Kolosov, Rimpinen is similar in that he’s a very athletic goaltender, and his final performances ensure other NHL franchises won’t pass on him in his second year of draft eligibility.

Jake’s Pick: David Rozsíval, LW, Bílí Tygři Liberec U20 (Czechia U20)

• 2024-2025: 30GP; 17G, 20A, +20
  • 2024-2025 U20 Postseason: 4GP; 4G, 0A, -1

Rozsíval had a solid season in Czechia’s U20 league, posting over a point per game. A 6’0”, 185-pound winger, Rozsíval is a late-round find who is quickly rising through the Czech ranks and could have some upside. With a low-risk, high-reward selection available here, Philadelphia could take a flier on him and see if he turns into something.

Fifth Round, Pick 157

Eric’s Pick: Nicolas Sykora, LW, Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)

• 2024-2025: 61GP; 20G, 20A, -12
  • 2024-2025 USHL Postseason: 5GP; 1G, 1A

Taking a swing on a local prospect with an NHL pedigree makes sense in the late rounds. Sykora, son of Petr Sykora, out of Roseland, NJ, makes due in traffic, deflecting shots and creating offense from second-chance opportunities, like rebounds. Next season, he’s committed to Quinnipiac University.

Jake’s Pick: Love Härenstam, G, Luleå HF J20/Skellefteå AIK J20 (J20 Nationell)

• 2024-2025: 23GP; 11-12-0, .901SV%, 3.13GAA
  • 2024-2025 J20 Nationell Postseason: 4GP; 2-2-0, .899SV%, 3.21GAA

As I mentioned before, goalies are an organizational need, and you can’t draft enough of them. After not taking any goalies in last year’s draft, I already mocked Ivankovic earlier in the second round and now I’m circling Härenstam.

Härenstam has a solid 6’2”, 194-pound frame and has great athleticism. He has a build that falls somewhere in between Ersson’s and Kolosov’s. Härenstam can move fluidly around his crease and can make the big save when called upon. He likes to be aggressive and stand firm at the top of the crease but he can stretch around and rob opponents if need be.

Härenstam will move from Sweden’s junior ranks to the professional level and play with Södertälje SK in HockeyAllsvenskan next season.

Sixth Round, Pick 164

Eric’s Pick: Carter Klippenstein, LW, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

• 2024-2025: 58GP; 14G, 14A, +20
  • 2024-2025 WHL Postseason: 3GP; -5

Klippenstein was a standout at the NHL Combine. The Flyers could put the exclamation point on adding size and physicality by selecting Klippenstein, who engages in board battles, offers the big hits, and has experience on the penalty kill. Philadelphia loves a checking forward, and the future role for Klippenstein provides sizable and imposing depth on the bottom line.

Jake’s Pick: Liam Kilfoil, C, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)

• 2024-2025: 62GP; 21G, 25A, -24
  • 2024-2025 QMJHL Postseason: 11GP; 3G, 2A, -9
    • Hlinka Gretzky Cup Gold Medal
    • U18 WJC Gold Medal

Kilfoil is a versatile center who can play in all situations. Despite being 5’11” and 176 pounds – a little undersized – he competes hard and was able to lead Halifax in goals and points. Kilfoil’s efforts helped the Mooseheads squeak into the playoffs and upset top-Western Conference-seeded Drummondville in the opening round.

Kilfoil is a leader as evidenced by his alternate captaincy and don’t let his plus-minus fool you, his defensive game is really solid. Physicality and faceoffs seem to be his weaknesses, but he can grow with time and keep working at his game.