Photo Credit: Philadelphia Flyers PR

With the 2025 NHL Draft now officially in the books the Philadelphia Flyers selected nine prospects with picks at #6, #12, #38, #40, #48, #57, #132, #157, #164.

A key theme of the draft for the Flyers scouting staff appeared to be focusing on players with size and skill that are willing to bring the puck to the net.

Along with that, it’s evident Philadelphia valued prospects who not only had size but are intelligent and think the game at a very high level.

One trait the Danny Briere regime certainly seems to covet is a player’s hockey IQ and this 2025 draft class has only further cemented that.

In relation to overall draft strategy the major trait that stands out is compete level. Every single prospect Philadelphia selected has work ethic as a feature of their play.

When analyzing the combination of wing prospects and center prospects that are now in the organization you can see how their skill sets complement one another.

The wingers have dynamic abilities within their games and the centers are big, with strong sticks who can open up space for those skilled wingers. 

If we look at the overall identity being built moving ahead that to me is what the Flyers have attempted to put into place with the prospects they’ve added to the organization today.

It’s apparent the combination of size, hockey IQ, and, compete level are all traits they were looking for in their draft selections.

Below is a full analysis of each prospect selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2025 Draft and some insight regarding their skill sets and what they could project to be at the NHL level. 

Pick by Pick Analysis

#6 Porter Martone – 6’3, 208Ibs – RW – Brampton Steelheads (OHL)

In terms of hockey IQ Martone has an abundance of it and could be considered one of the most adept playmakers in the draft class.

Impressively enough, he improved his assist totals from 38 in the 2023-24 season to 61 assists in his draft year.

That exemplifies Martone’s willingness to work on areas of his play and hone his skills despite already being an impactful player just a season ago.

As the Steelheads Captain the left winger registered 37 goals and totalled 98 points in just 57 games. 

What propelled Martone to produce 27 more points this season than last were a multitude of factors. The winger showed his compete and tenacity on a nightly basis, while his passing ability was on full display.

His decision making with passes, pass accuracy, and, vision from behind the net while battling defenders allowed him to create lanes for teammates and find them around the net and slot for scoring opportunities.

Martone’s phenomenal stick handling is one other trait that stands out from a majority of other forwards in this draft.

He typically uses his size to protect the puck and draw defenders in towards him. From there he will stick handle around the defenseman to open up plays and lanes to use his plus shot.

When assessing areas to potentially grow in, Martone can certainly work on his defensive support, as well as his skating mechanics.

The big winger gets to the places he needs to be on the ice but he can improve upon his first step and explosiveness to become an even greater offensive threat moving forward.

Ultimately, Martone projects to be a first line talent in the power forward mold at the NHL level, and could be compared to wingers such as Mikko Rantanen or Corey Perry. 

Philadelphia drafted a top 4 talent and arguably the most talented winger in the draft with the Porter Martone selection.

The premium value on center allowed Martone to slip, Briere and the Flyers took advantage. 

#12 Jack Nesbitt – 6’4, 185Ibs – C – Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

A center with size, Nesbitt rose up draft boards throughout this season and Philadelphia executed a trade to ensure they could select a prospect that appeared to have considerable interest around the league.

There were rumors that if Philadelphia did not trade up to select Nesbitt, Nashville likely would have.

In relation to Nesbitt’s overall play he is a high compete and high motor type of player that’s always working hard out on the ice.

He racked up excellent totals in takeaways (4.8 per game), as well as retrievals of pucks this past season. What allows him to be so efficient in those areas are his stick details, reach and defensive positioning. 

Offensively Nesbitt had a close to point per game season. The 18-year-old center registered 25 goals and 39 assists for 64 points in 65 games.

Typically, Nesbitt was most effective offensively around the net, behind the net, in front of the net and in the slot.

In these high danger areas the big forward can use his size to protect the puck and bring pucks towards the net. 

Around the net is where his puck handling ability can come into play as well, to try and open up lanes for teammates. Additionally, Nesbitt has shown prowess with deflections in a net front role.

The concern regarding Nesbitt’s game is primarily his skating. It’s quite clear the forward needs to improve upon his ability to get up to top speed in a quicker manner.

One way this can negatively affect his game is when trying to race to loose pucks. His off puck reads can help him compensate in certain situations however, his skating can still put him in tough positions.

Jack Nesbitt likely projects to be a third line NHL center or even a second line center if all things break right in his development path. One comparable NHL center might be Adam Lowry.

#38 Carter Amico – 6’6, 232Ibs – RHD – USNTDP (NTDP/USHL)

Amico is a talent that could potentially be late first round level quality and a value selection at 38th overall.

The towering 6 ‘6 defender suffered a devastating knee injury (broken knee-cap) early in the season which naturally pushed him out of being a realistic first round option.

Nonetheless, one quality in Amico’s game that makes him so intriguing is his ability to shut down opposing players during one-on-one battles. Coupled with decent mobility and high hockey IQ.

Amico seems like a defender that can be a valuable player for a team looking to add size on the back-end.

Another facet in Amico’s game is his physicality, the defender has a mean streak and seems to put forth some devastating body checks.

The defenseman plays a premium position being on the right side and is committed to Boston University next season. 

#40 Jack Murtagh – 6’1, 200Ibs – LW – USNTDP (NTDP/USHL)

Murtagh could be considered a value type pick at 40th overall due to the fact he was rated in the 20’s as a potential late first rounder by many.

Additionally, he has positional versatility within his game because he’s played some center as well, not just left wing. 

One thing to note is the fact Murtagh is just 17-years-old and one of the youngest players in the 2025 NHL draft. In terms of growing and filling out his frame that may not be quite complete as of yet.

This past season Murtagh registered 22 goals and 31 assists for 53 points in 56 games. He also loves to shoot the puck and led his team with 165 shots on net.

Puck handling might be his biggest strength, but he’s also a pure finisher that uses his puck protection skills in the offensive zone to create space for himself to fire the puck on net.

Along with that, the left winger does not hesitate to bring the puck to the net when the opportunity arises as well.

In terms of comparables one NHL player Murtagh has similarities to would be Colorado Avalanche forward Ross Colton. 

#48 Shane Vansaghi – 6’3, 216Ibs – RW – Michigan State University (NCAA)

Vansaghi is a high motor, high energy type power forward that is best suited in your bottom six of the lineup.

He brings all the typical traits you’re looking for in an energetic player from the hard hitting, to his tenacious forechecking, and never giving up on a play.

To simply put it Vansaghi brings physicality to the table and a lot of it, making him a difficult player to play against.

There’s a variety of aspects within Vansaghi’s play that already make his game pro ready, but the one thing the big winger loves to do is bring the puck out of the corners and towards the net.

Vansaghi realizes that’s where he can make the most difference through getting the puck in and around the net.

The 18-year-old right winger played for Michigan State University this past season in the NCAA and registered 16 points in 37 games.

One player in the NHL that Vansaghi’s game resembles would be Minnesota Wild left winger, Marcus Foligno.

#57 Matthew Gard – 6’5, 195Ibs – C – Red Deer Rebels – (WHL)

The trend of selecting sizable players continued with Philadelphia’s final second round selection.

Gard, a lanky center, registered 19 goals and 17 assists for Red Deer in the WHL throughout 2024-25. Strengths of his game include, hockey IQ, size, and defensive play.

Although his game didn’t jump off the page offensively this season it’s worth noting he did score 19 points in his first 26 games.

However, the center’s production slowed down significantly in the second half, with only 17 points in the final 40 games of the season. 

His hockey IQ might be his strongest trait as he uses his defensive positioning and reach to battle in his own zone and take space away from opposing players.

Gard is a prototypical checking center that played in all situations and was routinely called upon to take important defensive zone faceoffs as well.

A particular facet of Gard’s game that will need work as he continues to develop is his acceleration, specifically due to the fact he can have troubles separating himself from defenders at times.

#132 Max Westergard – 5’11, 168Ibs – LW – Frolunda HC J20 – (J20 Nationell)

Westergard is another value type pick for the Flyers in the fifth round. He was projected to be a second or third round level talent by many but fell all the way to round five.

The 17-year-old is also one of the youngest players eligible for the 2025 draft.

Essentially, Philadelphia takes a swing with this pick on a gritty, tenacious winger, who plays with a lot of pace to his game, and has a very high compete level. 

One trait of Westergard’s that really stands out is his skating speed, which helps him create opportunities off the rush and get to high danger scoring areas.

If all were to go right in Westergard’s development path he could top out as a middle six winger.

When looking at skill sets, one NHL player that Westergard could be compared to is Tampa Bay Lightning forward Yanni Gourde.

#157 Luke Vlooswyk – 6’5, 200 Ibs – RHD – Red Deer Rebels – (WHL)

Vlooswyk is a right shot, shut down defender with size and mobility.

The defenseman typically uses his stick work and long reach to break up plays in his own end and in front of the net. Not to mention his ability to line opponents up for hits when the opportunities present itself.

One key component to Vlooswyk’s game is using his size in board battles to retrieve pucks in the defensive zone. 

There’s certainly room for improvement in the right shot defender’s play, particularly in relation to his skating and puck moving abilities.

Nevertheless, Vlooswyk’s combination of size, mobility, and, physicality make him an intriguing fifth round pick with bottom pair NHL upside.

#164 Nathan Quinn – 5’11, 173 Ibs – C – Quebec Remparts – (QMJHL)

With their final selection in the sixth round the Philadelphia Flyers added another center to the prospect pool in Nathan Quinn. Similar to Max Westergard, Quinn is also one of the youngest draft eligible prospects.

The forward registered 17 goals and 29 assists for 46 points in 54 games for the Quebec Remparts in the QMJHL last season.

A specific facet of the 17-year-old’s game that stands out is his positioning and hockey IQ. To add on, he has also shown flashes of a very sneaky wrist shot release that can beat goaltenders as well.

One final thing to mention, the center uses deception quite well through his puck handling and skating ability to throw defenders off balance.

Nonetheless, Quinn will really need to mature physically to have a shot at the NHL despite the fact his compete level is high. 

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Photo Credit: Vasili Gianarakos

With the 2025 NHL Draft set to begin later this evening at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles the Philadelphia Flyers have six draft picks in the first two rounds they may potentially use on prospects.

Aside from that, there’s always the possibility the picks could be traded for other draft capital, prospects or NHL roster players.

According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, Philadelphia appears to be interested in moving their 22nd and 31st overall selections if the right trade presents itself.

Considering the Flyers are likely only interested in trading said draft capital for roster players aged 22-26, it may limit the chance of any trades actually occurring.

Most NHL organizations typically aren’t in a hurry to part with young players entering their prime-aged seasons. Though there are always outliers, such as we just saw with Trevor Zegras.

For the purpose of this article we’ll assume Philadelphia will select all three picks within the first rounds of the draft. 

Below is my Flyers mock draft and the prospects I believe the organization would possibly select with the sixth, 22nd and 31st selections.

6) James Hagens, C, Boston College (NCAA)

The 5-foot 11-inch and 176-pound center from Hauppauge, NY, was a scoring machine with the US National Team Development Program during the 2023-24 season, registering a dominant 102 points (39 goals, 63 assists) over 58 total games. Along with that, Hagens put forth 47 points (18 goals, 29 assists) in 26 contests in the USHL that same season. 

(stats credit: Elite Prospects, https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/597747/james-hagens)

Similarly to Hagens, current NHL stars such as Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, Clayton Keller, and Jack Hughes also scored over 100 points in the USNTDP in their draft seasons.

Another impressive feat for Hagens was securing the record for points at the U-18 World Championships which was previously held by Nikita Kucherov.

These stats don’t guarantee the young center is penciled in to be as impactful as the NHL players listed above but it’s certainly something to consider and take note of.

There’s no other way to describe Hagens other than exceptional playmaker. He sees the ice and can distribute the puck to open areas better than the whole draft class.

While his hockey IQ allows him to think several steps ahead of the opposition. He understands the areas of the ice he needs to place the puck to have success. Hagens demonstrates his ability to attack scoring areas on the ice because he passes with precision at the perfectly timed moments to find his teammates.

One component of Hagens play worthy of critique is his shot selection and shot generation. His shot has power but he needs to be more aggressive with his shooting and provide more frequent looks to the net. 

This past season Hagens made the jump to Boston College of the NCAA and did not dominate as he did with the USNTDP.

As a result, his stock has fallen amongst league circles over the past 12 months, from potential first overall pick to out of the top five of the draft.

This is what has allowed Hagens to become a realistic option at sixth overall for the Flyers.

Despite the criticisms, fifty percent of his 26 assists were primary assists and Hagens also scored 11 goals for a total of 37 points in 37 games in his freshman season. 

If James Hagens is available to select when Philadelphia is on the board for the sixth pick he’ll undoubtedly be the best player left in the draft at that point.

It would be a selection very reminiscent of when Matvei Michkov fell into the Flyers lap at seventh overall in 2023.

22) Blake Fiddler, RHD, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)

Blake Fiddler is a 6-foot 4-inch right shot defender and is the son of former NHL forward Vernon Fiddler.

Fiddler’s size makes him an attractive defender teams will be looking to target in this draft but his skating ability is what really allows him to stand out. 

Typically, defenders of Fiddler’s mold don’t have the skating and transition ability that he does. This is just one reason as to why the defender is such a fascinating selection at 22nd overall.

This past season with the Edmonton Oil Kings, Fiddler registered 10 goals and 23 assists for 33 points in 64 games.

Offensively there is room to improve, however what allows Fiddler to be a pick most teams are comfortable with is the fact he plays the premium position of right defense.

Fiddler is a high IQ defenseman, who’s physical and extremely mobile for his stature. If he manages to improve his offensive game the 17-year-old could end up being one of the steals of this draft. 

That alone makes Fiddler worth the selection for Philadelphia at 22nd overall.

31) Alexander Zharovsky, RW, Ufa Tolpar (MHL)

Alexander Zharovsky is an intriguing forward with high-end skill prominently featured within his game. 

The 6-foot-1 and 176 pound right winger registered 24 goals and 26 assists for a total of 50 points with Ufa Tolpar of the MHL last season.

Zharovsky finished with the most points of all U18 players in the MHL during the 2024-25 season. Additionally, he scored 35 points in his final 22 games and appeared to start dominating the league.

The aspects of Zharovsky’s game that make him stand out as a prospect are his elite puck handling abilities and overall creativity.

He can weave through defenders seamlessly and create offensive opportunities in very tight spaces due to his stick handling prowess. 

Some other facets of the wingers game that make him a swing on talent are his abilities to execute high danger passes and draw defenders to him using his puck handling skills.

One flaw of Zharovsky’s game is that he doesn’t use his wrist shot nearly as much as he could.

Despite that particular flaw and the questionable skating which mainly surrounds his explosiveness and acceleration, the talent Zharovksy possesses is too abundant to pass up on.

One piece of information to note that may tie the Flyers to Zharovsky is Danny Briere attending the Gold Star Hockey Development Camp recently.

The camp took place in Florida between June 20th-26th, and apparently 20 teams sat down with the prospect.

Philadelphia has been rumored to be interested in Zharovsky’s skill set due to that.

The 2025 NHL Trade Deadline has come and passed and it was an eventful day for the Philadelphia Flyers. General Manager Danny Briere traded away Scott Laughton, Erik Johnson and Andrei Kuzmenko all in separate deals.

Based on the Flyers trajectory as an organization and their position in the standings this season it was a no-brainer the team had to sell certain players when considering some of the assets Philadelphia received in return.

Here is a full picture of all three trades executed yesterday by Philadelphia:

Laughton Trade

The most impactful trade of the day for Philadelphia was long time Flyer of over a decade Scott Laughton (a 2025 fourth-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick) being sent to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a 2027 first-round pick (top 10 protected) and 21 year-old left winger Nikita Grebenkin.

The Flyers also retained fifty percent of Laughton’s $3 million dollar cap hit for the remainder of his contract.

Laughton has been a fixture within Philadelphia’s lineup and locker room for years at this point and losing such an integral part of their team’s culture will be tough for the Flyers to overcome.

However, the team appears poised to allow some younger pieces to step into leadership roles going forward, such as Travis Konecny, Travis Sanheim, Noah Cates, Tyson Foerster, Owen Tippett and Bobby Brink.

When dissecting the return the Flyers received for Scott Laughton they got beyond fair value for a player that has only produced 27 points so far this season.

If Laughton’s play were to have starkly declined next season or if he were to have gotten injured, the Flyers could have opened themselves up to a scenario where they missed out on a very valuable trade package for the center. 

There was no guarantee Laughton would command such a return in a year from now. As a result, Philadelphia decided to maximize their asset in Laughton and take advantage of the opportunity that presented itself in a sellers market. 

The prices to acquire top nine centers were at a premium throughout this particular trade deadline and there’s no telling if the same premium would continue to be paid moving ahead. Philadelphia chose to part with Laughton now due to the fact this may have been the best return they could have ever gotten for the veteran forward.

Although, the first-rounder the Flyers got from the Leafs is a 2027 pick, draft capital is always valuable and there’s a possibility Philadelphia may choose to use the asset in another deal to acquire other players.

Acquiring a talented prospect like Grebenkin that has the potential to top out as a 50 point winger in the NHL if all goes right with his development made this an even more attractive deal for the Flyers. 

Scott Laughton has never had a 50 point season in his career, there’s no guarantee Grebenkin ever does either, but the skill and upside is certainly there. Philadelphia will need to do their part and assist Grebenkin with his development to ensure he reaches his ceiling and finds success as a Flyer.

Grebenkin will start in the AHL for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and the goal should be to provide the forward with extended minutes and looks in various different situations.

It will take several seasons to judge which team came out on top in this trade whether it be Philadelphia or Toronto.

Nonetheless, this is a deal that benefits both teams for different reasons. Toronto is looking to win now and they believe this will help them do so. While from the Flyers point of view this is a move geared towards the future. 

Kuzmenko and Johnson trades

In terms of the other two trades executed by Briere they clearly indicated the Flyers wanted to sell off expiring assets and contracts on trade deadline day.

Philadelphia traded Andrei Kuzmenko and a 2025 seventh-round pick to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a third-round pick in 2027. 

Additionally, the Flyers dealt veteran defenseman Erik Johnson back to the Colorado Avalanche for right winger Givani Smith.

In both cases above the Flyers sold off expiring contracts. Philadelphia being able to flip Kuzmenko for a third round pick is solid value when taking into account the winger was almost a waiver wire candidate for Calgary earlier this season.

The Johnson trade appeared to be a favour to the veteran defenseman. Essentially, Briere gave his former teammate in Johnson one last shot at a Stanley Cup run with the Avalanche, a team Johnson was formerly the captain of for several years.

Givani Smith was a player Philadelphia needed to take back for cap purposes and will likely not be signed once his contract is up at the end of this season.

Overall Outlook

After this Trade Deadline here are the additions and subtractions made by the Philadelphia Flyers during the 2024-25 season.

Subtractions:

-Laughton (50 percent of cap hit retained)

-Kuzmenko (50 percent of cap hit retained)

-Frost

-Farabee

-Johnson

-2025 4th round pick

-2025 7th round pick

-2027 6th round pick

Additions:

-2025 2nd round pick

-2027 1st round pick

-2027 3rd round pick

-Jacob Pelletier (RFA)

-Nikita Grebenkin

-Givani Smith (UFA)

-Created millions of dollars in cap space from trading Laughton, Frost, Farabee

In light of the transactions above it’s evident Philadelphia is currently a rebuilding team. They subtracted several players this season with the intention of likely using the cap space created to eventually make additions to their roster in the upcoming off-seasons.

Since becoming the General Manager of the franchise in 2023 the Danny Briere led Flyers have removed 19 of the 35 players he inherited either through trade, buying players out, or by letting them reach unrestricted free agency.

Ultimately, it seems the Flyers have positioned themselves to start making additions to their roster in the next two off-seasons. When looking at the cap flexibility they’ll begin to have and the draft capital that’s been accrued over the past few years, Briere has put Philadelphia in a spot where they should be able to take big swings for highly skilled players fairly soon.

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248 – Flyers Uneven at Mid-Season

The Philadelphia Flyers have been up and down all season long. Now as we reached the second half of the season, nothing has changed. What works during one month has not worked during another and the inconsistency of the goaltending has exacerbated that problem. The team right now has some bright spots offensively and even on the back-end, but none of it has managed to sustain a consistent effort to get them out of mediocrity. A perfect example of that trend is the recent home-and-home games against the Maple Leafs. It’s arguable that the Flyers were the better of the teams in both games, but inconsistency in net lead them to only walk away with 1 point out of a possible 4. Unfortunately, that has been a sign of the times and where the team currently stands. The most inconsistent part of their game has been goaltending which has been a roller coaster since Carter Hart left the team. If they are to find their way out of this mess it probably needs to start in net.

On this episode of Gettin’ Gritty Wit It, Yariv and Vasili go through all of the trials and tribulations of the 2024-25 NHL season and how the team has responded to the up and down nature of their game. Will they look to the offseason to improve the team or can GM, Danny Briere, improve the team during the season. It’s probably in their plan to be overly patient, but we’ll see if the fanbase can hang along with the.

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238 – Magic Michkov & The Flyers Not Playing In Fives

The Flyers have been struggling mightily this season. It’s not that there are no positives to take from the early going of this NHL season, but the disappointment in the Flyers five on five play has been quite prevalent by the numbers and the eye test. The games just haven’t been as interesting from shift to shift as the team has lacked any kind of consistent offensive attack and have been prone to big mistakes that lead to one, two and, sometimes three goals in quick succession that has the team consistently fighting to come back from behind. Tortorella referred to the problem as the team’s inability to play in fives. Referring to moving as a cohesive unite in all even strength situations that have left players trying to do things on an individual effort and that just isn’t a recipe for success at the NHL level.

Some good news of late though is that Matvei Michkov has been lights out looking like the best rookie in the NHL and the best rookie the league has seen since Connor Bedard, living up to his reputation. Not only has Michkov turned into the star we hoped for, but his two linemates Travis Konecny and Sean Couturier have also chipped in their own heroics. Konecny is above a point per game with 5 goals and 5 assists in 9 games and Couturier has 6 points in 9 games after they each pulled off a 5 point game against the red hot Minnesota Wild. While they can’t be relied upon to put up those numbers on a regular basis, it’s obvious that the Flyers found their top line with Konecny, Couturier, and Michkov all leading the way and creating the most opportunities on the roster. On paper they look like they could be the top-line this team has been looking for since Claude Giroux and Jake Voracek departed the team.

On this episode of Gettin’ Gritty Wit It, Yariv and Vasili go through the Flyers current troubles at even strength and how it has held back the team from improving from last season even though they have had solid special teams performances on a nightly basis. How will this affect the Flyers ability to adapt and how will Tortorella get his team back on track to their high volume solid even strength play from last season?

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After Saturday’s 3-0 loss taking on the Vancouver Canucks the Philadelphia Flyers find themselves 1-3-1 to start the 2024-25 season.

Through these five games there’s been a plethora of trends and statistics to point out. I’ll be releasing articles in five game intervals analyzing the interesting facets and trends I’ve noticed within the Flyers play.

As we get closer to the end of the article series, a better understanding of what exactly this Philadelphia Flyers team is this season, including their strengths and weaknesses should be developed.

5 Observations

1) Struggles at five on five:

In relation to their even strength play Philadelphia has not looked like a cohesive unit through the majority of the first five games this season. 

Although they’ve had stretches where offensive opportunities were created, there’s been a lack of finish associated with many of their scoring chances. Along with an inability to sustain offensive pressure for prolonged periods of time once a chance has been created. 

Much of this stems from their transitional play and the struggles the team has encountered moving the puck up the ice effectively and quickly on certain breakouts from their defensive zone. 

In a lot of situations once the Flyers finally moved the puck up through the neutral zone and into the offensive zone, their players on the ice would have to go for a shift change.

This has resulted in the Flyers overall offensive zone pressure and transitional offense not generating as many scoring opportunities as their opposition at five on five early this season.

When examining total scoring chances and high danger scoring chances created at five on five through five games this season, Philadelphia has been significantly out chanced in both metrics.

In total, the Flyers created 91 scoring chances and 30 high danger scoring chances through the first five games. On the other hand, they’ve given up 108 scoring chances and 44 high danger scoring chances.

That cements the idea that Philadelphia’s struggles sustaining offensive zone pressure and puck possession has likely had an effect on their scoring chance creation as a whole. In addition to their goal output at five on five. 

It’s no surprise that the Flyers have been outscored 16-6 in five on five scoring to begin this season. When considering that statistic it explains why Philadelphia has started the campaign 1-3-1. 

The ability to control the puck at 5 on 5, and move the puck up the ice in a timely fashion directly leads to scoring chance creation and goal scoring within the NHL. Ultimately, the disjointed play in this area has a direct correlation with the Flyers lack of scoring to start the season.

One thing to note, is the Flyers were a very good five on five team throughout the 2023-24 season.

With most of the roster being similar there’s certainly a possibility the habits that made Philadelphia an effective five on five team last season start to creep back into their game.

2) The power-play has improved:

A very large question mark heading into the 2024-25 season was the Flyers power-play and if it could improve. Obviously, it’s still very early into the season however the power-play has continued to look better, just as it did during the preseason.

Primarily, the puck movement on the power-play has looked less hesitant. That was a major flaw of Philadelphia’s man advantage last season. 

There’s been struggles with zone-entries on the power-play that will require some adjustment, but when Philadelphia has effectively entered the zone and controlled the puck they’ve typically created scoring opportunities. Largely due to their quick puck movement and attempts to create plays from low to high. 

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Another key factor in the power-play’s early proficiency has been Matvei Michkov. Michkov’s creativity and the skill he possesses to create offense when he has time and space adds a whole new element to Philadelphia’s power-play.

Currently, the Flyers are 11th in the NHL in power-play efficiency. They’ve converted 5 out of 22 total power-play opportunities so far this season for a 22.7 % conversion rate.

3) Shot Suppression has regressed compared to last season:

One common trend that has spanned the Flyers first five games has been their regression in shot suppression. 

Last season the Flyers were second in the NHL in shots against per game played (SA/GA) and allowed on average 27.13 shots per game.

Comparatively this season Philadelphia is 21st in the same metric and has allowed on average 30.0 shots per game. 

Despite the difference in shots allowed per game being roughly three more this season than last, it’s still a considerable surge to note. Such an increase could impact overall scoring chances and high danger scoring chances allowed for Philadelphia if it continues. 

4) Michkov looks like Philadelphia’s most dangerous offensive player:

Over the span of five games Matvei Michkov consistently looks like Philadelphia’s most dangerous offensive weapon. 

When assessing scoring chances and opportunities created this season, Michkov is typically at the center of them for Philadelphia.

His playmaking ability and hockey IQ has been on full display in just five games. There’s already several occasions where he’s set up his teammates for quality scoring chances in all types of offensive situations.

In certain circumstances it appeared as though there may not be a play to make. But Michkov’s vision and creativity still found a teammate or opened up a passing lane to create a play nonetheless.

Through five games Michkov has registered two goals and two assists for a total of four points.

This places the talented rookie at second overall in rookie scoring at the moment behind Logan Stankoven who has seven assists in six games played.

5) Sam Ersson has been very sharp while Ivan Fedotov has not:

The final observation I’ve had during the course of these first five games relates to Philadelphia’s goaltending situation. Both Sam Ersson and Ivan Fedotov are on completely different spectrums as it relates to their on-ice performances.

Through four appearances Ersson has registered a pedestrian 0.894 % save percentage and 2.99 goals against average.

Despite that, the 25-year-old netminder has been Philadelphia’s most consistent player to start the season and arguably their best player as well.

Ersson had a stellar showing in the opening game of the season and played very well taking on Edmonton and Vancouver.

His save percentage and goals against average does not reflect the fact that he kept Philadelphia in all three of the games he’s started during specific stretches of play. 

Unfortunately, the Flyers defensive shortcomings and missed coverages led to situations where Ersson did not have a chance to make the save. Or he was being overwhelmed by scoring opportunities in a short interval that eventually led to goals against.

Ersson’s back-up goaltender Ivan Fedotov’s performances over two games has been nothing short of atrocious.

There’s been many times when the netminder has reacted very slowly while tracking the puck laterally and when cross ice passes were made by the opposition.

Additionally, it looks like the 27-year-old has experienced difficulties with screens in front of his net. In particular, how to deal with traffic trying to block his view of the puck. 

Instead of trying to look around screens situated in front of him, Fedotov has attempted to look over-top of skaters on the ice. With his large stature this has opened the rookie up to allowing several goals through his five hole or his body over his first two starts. 

In two games Fedotov has recorded a 0.818 % save percentage along with a 6.09 goals against average.

To ensure he remains the back-up goalie for the Flyers moving forward and is not supplanted by (fellow former KHL goaltender) Alexei Kolosov in the coming months; Fedotov will have to provide more stability and reliability in net for Philadelphia. 

One aspect to take into account when it relates to Fedotov is it’s still very early in his NHL career.

Ersson started off his NHL career in a similar manner to Fedotov with an abysmal save percentage. In his first three starts last season Ersson put forth save percentages of 0.800 %, 0.720 %, and 0.778 % respectively.

As a result, the example above with Ersson exhibits that Fedotov and his ability to rebound should not be entirely dismissed.

Evidently, a larger sample size is needed to determine the 6’7 netminder’s overall dependability as a back-up at the NHL level.

Photo Credit:

234 – Michkov Playing Top Line & Luchanko Staying With The Flyers?

The preseason has come to an end and it looks like the Flyers’ opening night roster is set. As we sit right now, we do not know who will exactly fill the team’s final roster spot. Jett Luchanko, Olle Lycksell, Anthony Richard, and Emil Andrae seem to all be in a position to at fill that spot in the early going. However, with the recent update from training camp that Luchanko is the only one with the NHL squad, it seems that at the very least he will be getting his nine game trial from the Flyers. There is some hesitation in putting a guy who just turned 18 in August in the NHL so soon. Especially since he only recently emerged as a top player for his team in the OHL. However, with an extremely mature mindset and an already pro-level playing style, it could work. Time will tell if Luchanko is here for the long run, but he will have to add some points at the NHL level if he is going to prove to management that he is truly ready.

Aside from Luchanko, the main highlight of the young players at camp and probably the highlight of training camp overall, has been the play of Matvei Michkov. If you have been listening to this podcast, you would know that we said he would be a big impact with the squad day one and even had a chance of playing on the top line to start the season. It seems like the coaching staff agrees with that assessment, as Michkov has been placed with top-line players Sean Couturier and Travis Konecny in the final practices before the season. Whether this will stay all season is unclear, however it is clear the Michkov might already be the best offensive talent on the team at just 19 years old. With 3 goals and 4 assists in 4 games in the pre-season, he is currently tied for first in points in the entire NHL during the pre-season. We believe that this kind of performance can continue into the regular season as we expect Michkov to hit anywhere near 60-80 points in his first NHL season. Let’s hope for the city’s sake, that our prediction comes to fruition because it would put the Flyers on the map, not just locally, but throughout the league.

On this episode of Gettin’ Gritty Wit It, Yariv and Vasili go through the results of the preseason and how the team has handled their training camp and early scrimmages. Even though preseason is overvalued when evaluating roster regulars, it is a brilliant opportunity to get a taste of the guys fighting for their NHL future. This season might be the most exciting one of the past two decades as not only is there a top first round pick in Luchanko fighting for a spot and looking to grab it, there is a superstar in the making in Michkov who looks to have already taken the league by storm.

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232 – Michkov Shines In Rookie Game, Kolosov Drama Continues

The Flyers rookie games are now behind us as Matvei Michkov made a splash in his first public stage in the orange and black. Michkov did not disappoint as he scored a goal and was an impact all over the ice for the Flyers. While he didn’t rack up the scoring numbers there were also bright spots from Emil Andrae, Jett Luchanko, Oliver Bonk, Spencer Gill, Carson Bjarnason, and others. Michkov proved to be a level above the rest and had the opportunity to produce even more than the stats showed on paper. While the Flyers didn’t win the game, they did have the better of the scoring opportunities as they fell short on some of their scoring chances. If it wasn’t for a late goal by Massimo Rizzo with under a minute left in the game, the team might have lost the game in regulation.

In the second game the team went without Matvei Michkov and it was noticeable as the team played poorly for the first half of the game. Ironically, they won this game with an overtime this time by a goal by Samu Tuomaala. The team managed to split their two game series in wins, but that wasn’t what was important. This was really an opportunity for the young guys to get a taste of pro hockey at the NHL level and while not everyone stuck out in these games, training camp is kicking off and there is still plenty of time to prove their readiness.

On this episode of Gettin’ Gritty Wit It, Yariv and Vasili go through the Flyers Rookie games, who stood out and who needs some time in the oven before they make the Flyers. We also review the recent Daniel Briere press conference where he addressed the Kolosov situation, the odds of players making the team, Joel Farabee, and the health of the players who had some injury concerns. The preseason is almost upon us and it’s time to get excited.

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E224 – Matvei Michkov Arrives In Philadelphia (Ft. Jim Jackson)

Matvei Michkov has finally arrived in Philadelphia. On July 23rd, the Flyers shared out a picture of Michkov being welcomed at JFK airport by Daniel Briere and Keith Jones on social media stating simply “Ladies and gentlemen. We got him.” From there the online Flyers community was in a whirlwind of emotion as they received a gift earlier than anyone anticipated after he was drafted 7th overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. But now he is here and the fanbase no longer has to track his performance online and can see it manifest on the NHL ice. What kind of impact can Michkov have in his first year in the NHL? We can anticipate a top-tier NHL rookie performance out of Michkov, but the range of production is still unclear. While betting markets have him as the favorite to win the NHL’s rookie of the year trophy, the Calder Trophy, we do not know the production it would take to make that happen. He will have lots of competition in that respect, but if Michkov can hit the 60 point mark in his rookie season, he would most likely be the favorite come the end of the season.

While you will find some naysayers online, mostly Montreal Canadian fans, talking about how he is not that skilled and is a one-dimensional player. That is not what his history displays. He has has constantly elevated his level of play every year of his development that not only saw him absolutely dominate players in his age group, but break records against men in the MHL, VHL, and KHL leagues even though he was always the youngest in the crop. With his draft year 12 months behind him, Michkov is more developed than the typical franchise caliber prospect coming into the NHL. Typically they come into the league at 18, but Michkov has had some more time to test his game against men and even battling pneumonia did not stop him from being one of the best players in the KHL.

On this episode of Gettin’ Gritty Wit It, Yariv and Vasili welcome back to the show long time Philadelphia Flyers broadcast legend Jim Jackson. Jim brings his long tenure of knowledge and experience in the NHL, as well as having a deep understanding of the Philadelphia Flyers franchise onto the show. We dig into the big Michkov news and what Jim’s opinions of the organization is now that we’re into the reflection point of the offseason. You can check out Jim Jackson’s Broadcasting school here.

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With the 13th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft the Philadelphia Flyers selected Jett Luchanko. 

This surprised many considering highly touted defenseman Zeev Buium was still available before the Flyers traded the 12th selection to Minnesota.

However, it’s evident the Flyers scouting staff were enamored with certain aspects of Luchanko’s game and his overall progression throughout 2023-24. 

This resulted in the forward rising up their draft board as the past season went along.

Luchanko is a 5 ’11, 185 pound right shot center from the Guelph Storm of the OHL. In 68 games he scored 20 goals and registered 54 assists for a total of 74 points.

One important thing to note is that Luchanko has an August 21st birthday. As a result, he was born less than 30 days from the 2024 draft eligibility cutoff and was very close to being a draft eligible prospect for 2025 instead.

Combine Testing Results

What’s particularly impressive about Luchanko is that despite being younger than many of the other prospects that were selected in the 2024 draft he outperformed a majority of them in the CHL top prospects on ice testing and at the NHL combine. Not only showing his skill on the ice but his athleticism as well.

Luchanko finished in the top five in six of ten on ice categories at the CHL top prospects on ice testing (30M forward skate, 30M forward skate with puck, 30M backwards skate with puck, Transition ability with the puck, Reaction).

Additionally, the center placed first in the reaction with the puck test and second in transition ability with the puck.

Overall, Luchanko finished first amongst his peers at the CHL top prospects on ice testing event back in January.

At the NHL combine that took place earlier this month Luchanko had similar results. He put forth several top ten scores in the physical fitness testing that took place.

Some of the categories in which Luchanko placed in the top ten are listed as follows.

• Pro Agility – Right Time (sec): 4.23, tied second
• Mean Power Output (watts/kg): 12.9, first place
• Peak Power Output (watts/kg): 16.2, 21st place
• Fatigue Index: 42.3, seventh place
• Body Fat Percentage: 7.2, tied seventh
• Vertical Jump: 24.63, second place
• Squat Jump: 18, eighth place
• No Arm Jump: 21.11, fourth place
• Left Hand Grip (Ibs): 172, first place
• Right Hand Grip (Ibs): 175, first place 

Even though the center is younger than the majority of the other draftees in this draft class he managed to outperform them in various fitness tests. This exhibits how athletically gifted Jett Luchanko is even at only 17-years-old.

Overall Skill Set and Play on the Ice

Firstly, Luchanko is a prospect that can make an impact in all three zones on the ice. His stand out trait would likely be his playmaking ability.

Passing and Playmaking:

The centerman is a deceptive passer and typically sets his teammates up for scoring opportunities. In terms of the deception in his passing Luchanko quite often uses look-offs (looking somewhere on the ice and passing to another area) when dishing the puck to confuse opposing defenders.

Along with that, he regularly looks for back door passes and his passes tend to  connect with his teammates even in tight defensive coverage. 

When discussing Luchanko’s playmaking skills patience must also be mentioned. He typically will hold onto pucks longer than usual to create space for himself, deceive defenses, and open up passing lanes on the ice.

Puck Handling:

When it comes to puck handling skills Luchanko is above average but can catch pucks in transition. His ability to corral pucks and retrieve them efficiently are a huge asset. 

Skating:

The facet of Luchanko’s game that is the most dynamic is his skating ability. Specifically his skating mechanics are some of the best in this draft class. In particular, the forward’s acceleration, agility and balance all highlight his skating strengths. This allows the center to make plays at high speeds quite regularly and that is a difficult thing to defend.

Another thing to point out that’s associated with Luchanko’s skating is his  high motor, intensity and durability. This correlates with the relentlessness in his game. 

For example, Luchanko at times covers a large portion of the ice. The forward can assist with breakouts in his own end and still get in on the forecheck of that same breakout because of his durability.

Defensive Play:

Luchanko may be one of the strongest defensive forwards in this draft class as well. In part, this is due to his hockey IQ, anticipation skills and how he reads the game. 

During board battles in the defensive zone the center is able to seal off opposing players with ease. In addition, he picks the right spots to be aggressive and pressure the opposition when they have the puck to create turnovers.

Shooting:

In regards to certain things in Jett Luchanko’s game that need refinement his shot would be at the top of the list. 

Particularly, Luchanko needs to work on his raw shooting mechanics and shot release. 

Currently he can struggle at times with beating goalies clean from distance. But shot strength and accuracy is something that can be focused on in order for Luchanko’s shot to improve.

Final Thoughts

When assessing the Flyers 13th selection Jett Luchanko’s playing style it’s evident it should translate to the NHL level quite easily. Although, he’s likely at least 2 years away from making the jump.

One final thing to touch upon is a potential NHL comparable for Luchanko. I asked the talented center if there are any specific NHL players he molds his game after at the NHL draft and he stated Nick Suzuki.

Ultimately, Jett Luchanko appears to be a speedy and talented two-way prospect with top six upside at the NHL level. Moving forward Luchanko’s draft plus one season will be critical to his development. 

The Flyers will be looking for the young centerman to build upon his 74 point season and continue to grow offensively.

Draft Content

Asked Flyers 13th overall pick Jett Luchanko about how important speed is to his game and how he creates offense:

Asked Philadelphia Flyers 13th overall pick Jett Luchanko about which NHLers he compares his game to and tries to mold his game after.

He stated Nick Suzuki:

Asked Philadelphia Flyers 13th overall pick Jett Luchanko about how important the defensive part of the game is to him:

Asked Flyers General Manager Danny Briere on the staff’s thought process behind trading the 12th overall pick and their selection of Jett Luchanko at 13th overall:

Asked Flyers General Manager, Danny Briere about the speed in Jett Luchanko’s game and how that played into their selection of the talented Center: