The dust has settled, the picks are in, and the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft is over for the Philadelphia Flyers.
After going with the best player available at the No. 6 pick, the Flyers then got aggressive and made a 10-spot jump to move up for the big, physical center they were coveting.
That ten-spot jump cost them two first-round picks, both to their rival Pittsburgh Penguins.
Friday night was just the first round of a very busy weekend for the Philadelphia Flyers, so with that, let’s grade the Flyers’ first round of the NHL Draft.
Pick No. 6: Porter Martone – A+
Porter Martone should not have fallen to the Philadelphia Flyers, yet he did. Flyers GM Danny Briere had to have been jumping for joy with Martone falling to No. 6. I did not do a player rankings, but I would have had Martone at No. 3, closer to Michael Misa at No. 2 than Misa was to No. 1.
In fact, I would not be shocked if Martone becomes the best forward out of this draft class.
That said, the Flyers took a big risk by not selecting a center with their top pick, a risk that Briere righted later on in the draft.
Martone is a power forward with fantastic puck skills, elite vision, and a BIG shot that can pick corners. He is truly the complete package.
In my own opinion, Martone could crack the NHL as soon as this year. With a good summer in the gym, he is a real threat to make the NHL roster this season. If not, he could roll the dice and return to juniors if he is not ready. Or, he could go the route that has seemingly become the new norm and head to the NCAA.
Regardless, the Flyers got an absolute steal and earned an A+ for their first selection.
Read More: NHL Draft: Flyers Select Porter Martone 6th Overall
Trade: PHI Receives Pick No. 12 from Pittsburgh (Via NYR) for Picks No. 22 & 31 – A
Danny Briere continued his hot night by making a trade up into the early teens to go up and get a center.
The Flyers dealt two first-rounders in Friday night’s draft, picks No. 22 & 31 to the Pittsburgh Penguins for No. 12.
It became clear that the Flyers would become a threat to trade up for a center after they selected Martone at No. 6, and that’s just what they did.
As for the trade itself, the Perri Pick Calculator had the Flyers winning the trade. The score rated the 12th overall pick with a score of 29.98, and the Flyers’ two firsts a combined 27.73.
It was a close trade in value, but the Flyers secured solid value and avoided the rival tax.
Pick No. 12: Jack Nesbitt – B-
Jack Nesbitt was a great pick; I would not have done it at No. 12, let alone trading up for him. However, as I mentioned after he was drafted, there must have been a sense that he was going to be selected around that pick if the Flyers had moved up for him.
The good of Nesbitt: He is huge, 6’4″-6’5″, 185+ pounds and growing, and plays at his size. He brings a ton of physicality, plays a 200-foot game, and has a pretty solid offensive game.
Downside: He is not the best skater. Nesbitt’s skating ability is likely what kept him low in many NHL Draft rankings.
The Flyers most definitely reached for Nesbitt. I would have been thrilled with the pick if they had remained at No. 22, but taking him at 12, especially with guys like Braeden Cootes, Cole Reschny, Victor Eklund, Jackson Smith, and Kashawn Aitcheson on the board, seemed a bit disappointing.
However, Philly definitely had their sights set on Nesbitt and felt the need to make the move up. The potential is there, I certainly see the vision. I will give Nesbitt the benefit of the doubt before judging too harshly.
Read More: Flyers Trade Up; Draft Jack Nesbitt at No. 12
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