The Lehigh Valley Phantoms are getting electric. After not having a major Philadelphia Flyers prospect of note for the majority of the season that we are highly anticipating — we already knew Emil Andrae’s impact and Samu Tuomaala was familiar — they made a few late-season additions after other seasons wrapped up.
Jett Luchanko joined from the OHL’s Guelph Storm, making it his fourth hockey team he has played for in one single season. And most recently, after winning a national title with Western Michigan last weekend, winger Alex Bump made his professional hockey debut Saturday for the Phantoms. And just the very next day in their final game of the regular season against the Hershey Bears, the 21-year-old scored his first career AHL goal in his second game.
Bump with the back door makes for the second first AHL goal of the night!#LVvsHER | #LVPhantoms pic.twitter.com/767GfdiRq0
— Lehigh Valley Phantoms (@LVPhantoms) April 19, 2025
To give the Phantoms the 2-1 lead in the first period, Bump got his tally on the power play in a very Alex Bump way. Jett Luchanko on the half wall was able to draw in the attention of all four Hershey penalty killers, leaving almost half the zone completely empty, and with a lay-up chance driven through Elliot Desnoyers at the netfront, Bump was perfectly set up for the one-timer. A real nice team goal that just shows exactly what Bump can be as he ventures further into pro hockey.
Bump’s goal was his third point since joining the Phantoms, after earning an assist in his first game and another one just earlier in the first period against the Bears. At the time of writing, that is now three points in just four periods. That’s right, just four periods of hockey. Eighty minutes and Alex Bump has a goal and two assists.
And for a fun bonus, Luchanko got his third AHL point on Bump’s power-play goal. That’s good.
After this game, the Phantoms will begin the three-game first round of the playoffs and with some new additions on the roster, should pose much more of a threat than before.
At the time of writing, their opponent has not been decided but it will be after Saturday’s games are wrapped up. Right now, it is between the Providence Bruins or Wilkes-Barre Penguins that will be playing the Phantoms in the playoffs. Either way, will be a very interesting series and at this rate, Alex Bump might lead the entire league in postseason scoring.
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It’s the end of the 2024-25 NHL season, and the Flyers are finishing near the bottom of the standings. The rebuild marches on: the team has seven draft picks in the first two rounds of the 2025 draft, they have some RFA contracts to sign (perhaps a UFA as well?), maybe a trade or two, and they’ve got a number of prospects beginning their professional hockey careers after aging out of juniors or finishing their time in the NCAA.
All of those things are important to the success of the rebuild, but that last point may be the most critical. Denver Barkey, Oliver Bonk, Carson Bjarnason, and Alex Ciernik are all–at the very least–joining the Lehigh Valley Phantoms next year. All four of those players were drafted in 2023, Danny Briere’s first draft as general manager. At time of writing, Alex Bump and Devin Kaplan (both from the 2022 draft, where Briere was an assistant to the general manager) are likely Phantoms bound for at least the start of the 2025-26 season as well, and there’s the possibility the Flyers sign another prospect to an ELC before day one of training camp, too.
Long have accusations of poor prospect development plagued the Flyers and, early in their tenure, Briere and Keith Jones recognized this issue. They turned over some staff, brought in a couple of “professional best friends” like Patrick Sharp, and made a genuine effort to revamp the organization’s player development office, save one glaring omission: the Lehigh Valley Phantoms coaching staff.
That must change this summer. Ian Laperriere has been a good soldier for the organization, and the Flyers have tried to do right by him for years, but it’s time for them to look in the mirror and ask themselves, “Do we stick with the guy we know, or do we try and improve?” Over four seasons as head coach, Laperriere has led the team to a 132-120-25 record, which is good for a pretty average .522 win percentage. They’ve clinched a playoff berth this season, which means the team’s going to the playoffs for three out of the four seasons Laperriere’s been coaching. That may look good on the surface, but 23 of the AHL’s 32 teams qualify for the playoffs each season–squeaking in as a low seed isn’t all that impressive. Barring a surprise run this season, the furthest they’ve gone in the playoffs under Laperriere is round two. It’s time for a new voice in preparation for the next crop of prospects turning pro.
That new wave–Bonk, Barkey, Cierink, Bjarnason, and even Bump and Kaplan–could be considered Briere’s “babies,” so to speak, as Briere either drafted them himself or, in the cases of Bump and Kaplan, was working closely with then-GM Chuck Fletcher when he made those selections. Entrusting their development to the current Phantoms coaching staff is a risk that could derail a lot of the good will Briere’s built up in the two years he’s been at the helm. Foregoing a tank means player development may be the organization’s best shot at pulling this whole thing off, and we have not seen enough to believe this iteration of the Phantoms will successfully accomplish that feat.
A lot of focus is going to be on the Flyers’ head coaching job–justifiably so, as choosing the right person is critical to the overall success of the team, and selecting a head coach is an opportunity for Briere to really put a stamp on his time as GM. Why not go the distance and bring in a new coaching staff with the Phantoms, too? A new AHL coach could have far broader and longer lasting impacts on the perennial success of the franchise than we might realize, providing a steady stream of NHL-ready young talent to a team in the thick of Stanley Cup contention. Choosing a fresh voice to shepherd this next wave of prospects into professional hockey is an opportunity for Briere to solidify that pipeline, and it’s one of the most important moves he can make this summer.
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Next on the annual Broad Street Hockey Community Draft Board is someone who has had a little bit of a rollercoaster junior career, Saginaw Spirit centerman Michael Misa.
Almost immediately, Misa became a player to watch out for. He showed enough strength and maturity during his minor hockey days with the Mississauga Senators to be granted exceptional status by the OHL, joining Connor McDavid, John Tavares, and Shane Wright as the only forwards to ever have exceptional status in the Ontario Hockey League. That is pretty good company and with those shoes to fill, Misa was thrown into one of the best junior leagues in the world at just 15 years old. He was able to quickly carve out a role that made everyone peak with interest and put his name at the top of this class almost immediately.
Misa had a relatively disappointing Draft-1 season, barely scratching over a point per game, but then followed it up with an absolutely explosive season that just ended (more on that later). Going on this up-and-down ride of expectation and hype, Misa has quickly returned himself to being the player that most saw him becoming when he was granted that exceptional status.
Whatever fan base has the pleasure of saying that their team drafted Michael Misa, should be jumping for joy at every chance they can possibly get.
Pre-draft rankings
No. 2 by The Athletic (Scott Wheeler)
No. 2 by Elite Prospects
No. 3 by TSN (Bob McKenzie)
No. 2 by Daily Faceoff
Statistics
While not every single stat sheet is notable and there is always context of teammates and competition to be added, we needed to speak on what Misa accomplished this season.
Obviously his 134 points led the entire OHL and his 62 goals was only beaten by Brantford Bulldogs winger Nick Lardis, who scored a historic 71 (who is also much older than Misa). To put what Misa was able to do through a historic lens, among all draft-eligible skaters in the OHL since 1990, just four players were able to score more points than Misa did: Marc Savard in 1994-95, Bob Wren in 1992-93, Patrick Kane in 2006-07, and our good friend Eric Lindros who scored 149 points in the 1990-91 season for the Oshawa Generals.
But, that is just total points. In terms of Misa’s total goals, it is just Lindros who was able to score more than he did during his draft year. Eric Lindros playing junior hockey. Adult-esque Eric Lindros among teenagers and only him was able to score more goals than Misa did this season in the OHL since 1990. An incredible feat.
What’s there to like?
But it’s not just all numbers when it comes to Misa’s game, there is on-ice evidence of him being a plain-and-simple dominant player in the OHL right now and should be considered one of the very few (and possibly the only) prospect that could step into the NHL as soon as next season. We’ve gone over all the point totals and statistics, but what makes Misa click? What is it about his game that he does exceptionally well?
“I just want to be the best player every time I’m at the rink,” Misa said earlier this season. “My determination on and off the ice. I’m a really coachable guy who is going to do everything it takes to win.”
Yeah, that about sums it up. Whatever the situation is, Misa can take advantage of it. If you need him to will himself through several defenders and score a highlight-reel goal, he can do that. If there is a penalty that needs to be killed, he can do that. If there is a power play that needs someone to run the entire thing and put his teammates in excellent scoring situations, he can more than just do that.
These fine details of his game and how he can apply them to almost every single game situation, is what makes him one of the elite prospects. And speaking of Elite Prospects, they put it super simply in a video not too long ago:
In quick summary: Misa is an incredibly smart player that is doing all the right things to show that he can be an impact NHL center that drives a top line.
It’s just everything about him. The way that Misa, at just 17 years old earlier this season, was able to see the ice better than anyone at his level, transition the puck through routes that would almost guarantee a scoring chance for his team, and then while set up in the offensive zone be able to create spacing and make thoughtful plays to create even more. It’s exactly what you want from a top centerman all wrapped up in one bundle.
For those that dip their toes into some basketball analysis — stick with us here — there is a thing about magnetism or gravity when it comes to offensive creators. A player that just sucks in the entire defense, or is able to see the flow of how his team is being covered in a split millisecond to make the top percentage play. The best players in the world have this attribute and Misa does this on the ice in every single game. Draws in defenders, or if they are focusing on another option, can make use of that space to punish the opposing team.
And it’s those smarts that keeps his defensive ability near the same level, too. If you see the ice that well and can read opposing plays to score goals, you can also do the same to prevent them and Misa does that. We can go on and on about what we like, but he just does everything so well that it’s hard to stop.
What’s not to like?
While Misa has so many attributes that will make him a very good NHL player one day, there is one area of the game where he gives little attention to that could cause some more traditional scouts to not love him: He doesn’t really play with a physical edge.
Misa has the size to protect possession and get his body into the high-danger areas in the offensive zone to create a whole lot of scoring chances, but he doesn’t hit dudes in a way that some teams might want their top centers to. The OHL doesn’t track stats or anything, but if you just watch a Saginaw game, it isn’t Misa that is trying to separate bodies from the puck with force — instead he is prying at the opposition and would rather win a board battle or retrieve some careless possession instead of trying to have a defender knocked down.
Other than that one little missing piece of the hockey player puzzle, there isn’t a whole lot to not like about one of the best players (if not the best) in this draft class.
How would he fit in the Flyers’ system?
Yeah, duh. Of course, any good center would be welcomed with as wide open as arms could possibly go, but there is no real down side if the Flyers went with Misa as their guy.
We know that there will be a choice eventually made to fill the Flyers’ top center role. There is always a catch when it comes to some players and you have to take the bad with the good (and the good typically outweighs the bad but it is still there). Marco Rossi could be seen as too small to commit long-term dollars to. Tage Thompson or Elias Pettersson would cost either a whole lot in a trade or you’re locked up to a very large contract with the risk of the player not living up to it.
But when it comes to Misa, there really is no bad side. He does everything you want a center to do and could create on his own. The Flyers wouldn’t have to pair him with Matvei Michkov. They could easily have two of the best, young offensive creators on separate lines in their top six and suddenly they are way more established down the middle and at the forward position than anything. Let Jett Luchanko go work his butt off to retrieve pucks for Michkov to put in the back of the net, and then Travis Konecny to cause havoc for Misa to score a billion goals. It instantly works.
Could the Flyers actually get him?
There is only one possible scenario where the Flyers would be able to draft Michael Misa. They have to win one of the draft lotteries. Okay, we guess that there are two possible scenarios but you know what we mean.
Misa will round out the first two selections at the 2025 NHL Draft. It is extremely hard to think of a situation where a team would see Matthew Schaefer come off the board, and would go with one of the other forwards available compared to Misa. There is almost a guarantee that these two players are the two that everyone is pining over for at the top of this draft.
There is a world where Misa is the first-overall selection by the Flyers, given just how desperate they are for a first-line center and how Misa is the only player projected to be almost a sure thing at that level. Going without Schaefer could be seen as a sizeable risk and might be considered a mistake, but Misa is just so exciting and an answer to a whole lot of the Flyers’ issues at the forward position.
Anyways, yes, there is a world where Michael Misa is a Philadelphia Flyer. We just need the lottery balls to go in their favor.
What scouts are saying
“Michael Misa has really grown as a player over the last calendar season in my eyes. It’s easy to see how his game might struggle on the wing, and plopping him up the middle is exactly where he should be. Misa feels the game unlike almost any other player I’ve seen in the last few years. Passes that appear difficult or poorly thought out are cleanly placed through tiny spaces. He has the capacity to wait an extra split second to create better chances and evaluate secondary options. He isn’t a pure sniper, but he’s a diverse and capable scorer. He isn’t a fancy spin-passing playmaker, but he cuts defenses to pieces. He doesn’t move his feet like some of the high motor players out there, but calling him slow would be incorrect. He’s explosive, jumps into space effectively, and picks his times to be quick extremely effectively. His last few games I’ve seen have been a bit quieter than previous performances when it comes to scoring chances for himself, but a large part of that stems from the presence of Igor Chernyshov as a partner in crime. Chernyshov is more of a pure offensive threat with finishing ability that Misa has been able to work off of to great success. Misa elevates whoever he plays with and covers all three zones with great anticipation and remarkable efficiency and likely slots into any NHL team well as a highly effective, but perhaps not a flashy centre that just plays darn good hockey.”
— Will Scouch, scouching.ca
“Misa continues to impress, even if he’s not running up the scoresheet. He doesn’t need to. Every shift, every route he skates and completes, every puck touch is planned to perfection. It started early with overwhelming off-puck pressure and defensive support to get pucks recovered and out safely. It continued with shorthanded give-and-go rushes to create scoring chances. And he still picked up two primary assists in this one. He entered the zone, dropped the puck off to Dima Zhilkin, then drove the middle and drew both defenders towards him, screening the goaltender on Zhilkin’s shot. Later in the game he circled high in the offensive zone and his point shot was tipped in through traffic. He picks up speed so quickly in just his first couple of strides, charging through the neutral zone, drawing pressure, playing through checks, delaying and cutting back, executing slot passes. And Barrie’s defenders made life difficult for him in this game, shadowing him for large stretches, trying to keep him at the perimeters. He was still a threat to create on every shift — his details are so impressive, and his game is so well-rounded. He could play in the NHL next season.”
–Lauren Kelly, Elite Prospects (Scouting report from Feb. 27 game vs. Barrie)
“Misa is a beautiful skater with some quiet explosiveness and a real knack for weaving, cutting, turning and spinning in control of the puck to either shake defenders under pressure in the offensive or defensive zone or slip past them in transition with his speed and agility. He’s also a very smart player who makes his linemates better with his playmaking, vision and ability to execute while tightly covered. Off the puck, he’s willing to track, stick with plays and compete (I’ve seen him sacrifice the body to block shots, etc.), hallmarks of his game in minor hockey that have also been more consistent this year — though I’d argue they were always present and he played a more well-rounded game last year than he was given credit for by some. He finishes his checks and has good defensive instincts on interceptions and support. He gets the puck a lot and then protects it beautifully. There are times when he’ll turn over pucks, or when I’d like to see him work to get open and glide less, but he has done a nice job cutting back on both of those this season and has been a top player in the OHL at five-on-five, on the penalty kill (where he leads the league in short-handed points), and on the power play.
Misa’s a slippery player in the offensive zone. He’s a weaving skater in transition and has developed more of a scorer’s mentality and started to look for his own looks more, using his natural curl-and-drag wrister more intentionally and getting to the guts of the home-plate area with more consistency. And there’s natural skill and playmaking layered in, which lights up when he gets the puck inside the offensive zone.”
–Scott Wheeler, The Athletic
One player comes off the board, so one needs to be added! Welcome Moncton Wildcats center Caleb Desnoyers to the poll.
Caleb Desnoyers — C — Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
“Desnoyers is a puck hound all over the ice. He was always the first player pressuring the attacking players and made sure to be the first forward back on the backcheck. He was also strong at the faceoff dot, which helped the team start with possession in the attacking zone more often than not, and he was a reliable player for all defensive zone faceoffs. Desnoyers will struggle to score as many points at the pro level if he doesn’t improve his offensive game, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be a center who can play up and down the lineup for any team that takes a chance on him in the first round of the 2025 draft. [He] is the type of player you win with.” – Nathaniel Duffet, FCHockey
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Next on the annual Broad Street Hockey Community Draft Board is James Hagens, a highly touted playmaking center whose stock has fluctuated throughout his first year at Boston College.
The highly-touted Hagens burst onto the scene with the U.S. U-18 National Development Team in 2023, scoring 102 points in just 58 games, to go along with his USHL output of 47 points in 26 games. At that point, he was largely regarded as the “can’t miss” prospect of this draft, however some scouts have begun to question his long-term viability at the NHL level as he failed to live up to sky-high expectations in his first year with a powerhouse Boston College program.
Hagens is a victim of the lofty expectations that his past play set for himself, and when he in all likelihood returns to Boston College next year, he could light the NCAA on fire and make everyone who doubted his skill ceiling look silly. While this year wasn’t a total banner season, it still showed why Hagens is a tantalizing prospect that will certainly go in the top 5 selections, and has a real NHL future.
Pre-draft rankings
No. 4 by Elite Prospects
No. 2 by Bob McKenzie
No. 4 by Corey Pronman/The Athletic
No. 4 by Sportsnet/Jason Bukala
Statistics
What’s there to like?
Hagens is a dynamic centerman with a knack for offensive creation, and a skill ceiling that is unrivaled by any other forward in this draft, bar maybe Michael Misa. He is a very cerebral playmaker who finds his teammates anywhere on the ice, and is adept at finding and manipulating space with the puck. He can put the puck wherever he wants, and a lot of the time it leads to easy goals. His hockey I.Q. extends to every aspect of the game, and makes things look pretty easy for Hagens at times.
His 37 points were good enough for second among 18 year old NCAA players, only trailing Washington second rounder Cole Hutson. Hagens also outproduced 2024 first rounders like Michael Hage, Cole Eiserman, and Sacha Boisvert, all of whom have an extra year of seasoning on him.
His point-per-game pace at throughout his first season at Boston College puts him among a pretty select group of NCAA draft-eligible players, and it isn’t hard to imagine those playmaking chops translating to the NHL-level, especially if Hagens was to play with another young stud, like a Matvei Michkov.
There is also a decent chance that Hagens returns to be “the guy” at B.C. next season and lights the world on fire. This past year he was largely stuck in the shadows of blue-chip prospects Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault, both of whom took on major roles in their draft+1 years and sort of overshadowed what Hagens was doing.
James Hagens out here chuckin' sauce on the PP
: @TSN_Sports pic.twitter.com/ivzPYOnEGU
— Cam Robinson (@Hockey_Robinson) December 28, 2024
But there is a lot to like about his game, and even though he didn’t necessarily light the world on fire, it’s not as if he didn’t play extremely well for long stretches, and kept the mistakes to a relative minimum. He also possesses a sneakily good shot, and a quick release that he can beat goalies with at a standstill. As he predictably puts on some weight to prepare for the NHL, we could see that shot improving further.
Hagens is adept at playing a stop/start game where quick changes of pace keep defenders guessing, and that combination of playmaking ability and slippery movement makes him a surgeon in the offensive zone. Hagens teaming up with elite shooters all around him would be a nightmare for potential defenders, and he should be a power play asset immediately, whenever it is he actually makes his NHL debut. And also, there is still a chance that this season was not his final form, that Hagens was struggling with finding his footing in a new league, with a new team, and didn’t exactly meet the heights he did at a younger age. Yet, he still outperformed a lot of legitimately very good hockey players. There is still a decent chance we look back at this draft and wonder how this guy fell.
What’s not to like?
The reason why Hagens lost his grip on the number one spot has a lot to do with his assertiveness. At times, it seemed like he was content to be a passenger, distribute the puck, and just make the right play to keep the offensive flow moving, instead of taking the game by the horns, and taking it over. He is still a very smart and capable player, and there was a time where Hagens was in conversation for being the #1 overall selection not all that long ago, but that game-breaking ability was lacking at times, and it was clear that Perreault and Leonard were the alpha-dogs on that B.C. team.
He also isn’t huge for an NHL center, at 5 ’11 and just under 180 pounds, Hagens isn’t small, but he will need to bulk up a bit to be a two-way force. And therein lies the other problem, if Hagens’ high-end skill doesn’t translate enough to be a consistent live driver in the NHL, his frame will be somewhat prohibitive to playing a game that requires consistent board battle wins and puck retrievals. He could risk falling into a middle-six role where he isn’t dynamic enough to take on consistent first line minutes, but also struggles to take on a more balanced, two-way role.
Ultimately, Hagens has enough hockey sense and playmaking ability to be a long time NHLer, but he has left some wondering if he is worth the top 3 pick, and if his long-term potential truly stands out amongst a top-5 that includes some other intriguing player archetypes, like Porter Martone and Anton Frondell.
How would he fit in the Flyers’ system?
Does he play center? Yes. Is he good at the sport of hockey? Also yes. Ok then.
The Flyers could definitely use Hagens, and he would fit perfectly as a supplement to the young talent that the Flyers are already bringing through the ranks. He should be a power play weapon immediately, which is something the Flyers desperately need, and he would provide another element of play driving and plamking down the middle. Hagens isn’t the massive, tough, Eric Lindros-esque hulk of a center that the Flyers would typically try to have as their 1C, but he could definitely be an asset as a top of the lineup player if everything pans out in his development.
And as was mentioned before, Hagens playing alongside Michkov sounds like a match made in heaven, and with names like Tyson Foerster and Owen Tippett likely sticking around in Philadelphia for a long time coming, there is a world where Hagens could wind up centering what would be a very fun and dynamic top line.
Could the Flyers actually get him?
Hagens could very well fall right into the Flyers lap at a perfect time. He is currently projected to go somewhere between picks three to six, and the Flyers pre-lottery are projected to pick at number 4. Hagens is definitely one of the players that the Flyers will be focused on, especially since it seems that Michael Misa will remain locked in as a top two pick.
It wouldn’t exactly be the biggest draft shock if Hagens was to go before the 4th selection, but as long as the lottery balls are friendly, the Flyers should have a shot to take him.
What scouts are saying
“At No. 2, Boston College freshman pivot Hagens played well for Team USA en route to a gold-medal performance at the WJC. He got off to a bit of a slow start at BC this season. Hagens is not quite 6 feet tall (5-foot-10 1/2, 177 pounds), which is probably why the scouts are projecting him more as a second-line centre than a first liner in the NHL. But he’s a smart and skilled player, probably a better playmaker than goal scorer, but he certainly has the ability to finish.” – Bob McKenzie, TSN
“Hagens is always in motion. He’s exceptionally difficult to check and contain. On the power play he floats around the offensive zone in an attempt to find open ice and get pucks to the net.” – Jason Bukala, Sportsnet
“Hagens’ game is about skating and playmaking. He’s extremely breezy as a skater, making his patterns look easy out there. To use a hockey cliché, he’s on top of the ice, he’s agile and his stride and edges are dynamic, light, mobile and adjustable, with legitimate speed and quick acceleration through his crossovers and cuts (he often beats guys on angles and loses them on cutbacks).” – Scott Wheeler, The Athletic
One player comes off the board, so one needs to be added! Welcome Victor Eklund from Djurgardens IF onto the poll.
The younger brother of Sharks first-rounder William Eklund, Victor gets above-average grades for his smarts, skill and skating, but he’s also a standout competitor who works and plays hard for a 5-foot-11 winger. He wins races. He keeps his feet moving. He gets inside body positioning. He can play the bumper or the flank on the power play. He finishes his checks. He’s got great edges and handles, and a quick and accurate wrister. And he plays an intuitive, heady game on and off the puck. I think he’s got the tools to develop into a nice top-six player in the NHL..” – Scott Wheeler – The Athletic
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After yesterday’s profile on Boston College center James Hagens, we now shift overseas for our first North American skater on our list – Swedish center Anton Frondell.
Playing in the second-tier Swedish league HockeyAllsvenskan, Frondell became one of the most productive 17-year-olds to ever play in the league. With Djurgårdens IF, a team based out of Stockholm, Frondell and fellow projected lottery pick Victor Eklund vaulted together to the top of draft boards over the course of the season. As we’ll get into with Eklund later in the rankings, there were particular strengths of each player that made the combination quite dynamic for Djurgårdens, and deciding between the two which has the higher upside really depends on what playing style you value and think will translate to the NHL.
With Frondell, there’s some really raw tools that you can really see trickling over into the NHL. For one, the shot is one of the best in the draft class (particularly his one-timer). He’s got a way of finding soft areas on the ice and racking up points, as the puck seems to find him at all times in dangerous areas. He finds a way of staying engaged in everything, even if he’s not the primary puck carrier in the neutral zone. Having said that, he’s not the biggest play-driver, which makes some question his future at center in the pros. Based on the tools that we’ll dive into below, picking Frondell is about betting on raw tools and his knack for the net, and a team with proper development could get a whole lot out of the player.
Pre-draft rankings
No. 5 by The Athletic (Scott Wheeler)
No. 12 by Elite Prospects
No. 5 by TSN (Bob McKenzie)
No. 6 by Daily Faceoff
Statistics
With Frondell, it’s important to put his statistics into league contexts, especially when we think about the gaudy point totals of players like Michael Misa and Porter Martone in Canadian juniors. The HockeyAllsvenskan is akin to the AHL in Sweden, where it’s a second-tier league that is a place for development for many Swedish prospects, but the league is still filled with grown men. Even with his faults as a prospect, the appeal of Frondell’s raw scoring totals is undeniable. On a point per game basis, Frondell is literally the most productive under-18 skater ever to play in the HockeyAllsvenskan. Per Elite Prospects, here are the types of NHL players that Frondell’s 2024-25 season eclipsed in their respective U18 seasons.
Player PPG Anton Frondell 0.86 William Nylander 0.77 David Pastrnak 0.67 Filip Forsberg 0.40 Elias Pettersson 0.36 Jesper Bratt 0.35
That’s some elite company for Frondell, to say the least. Not to say the weaknesses in Frondell’s game can be thrown aside, but the pure scoring numbers are something that deserves consideration in the evaluation of the prospect. It’s undeniably impressive.
What’s there to like?
Now that we’ve discussed the fact that Frondell has scored a lot for his age, let’s get into how he’s scoring. As mentioned previously, Frondell has one of the best shots of the draft class, and it kinda happens in all possible ways. Most noted by scouts is his one-timer, and for very good reason. It’s a quick, easy wind-up for Frondell that he’s proven to be accurate with, especially from the circle and on the powerplay. A good example is in the clip below, where he makes himself available on the rush for a one-timed option.
On that note, really strong Frondell shifts look a lot like the one in the second video – Frondell heads into the offensive zone with linemates, Frondell fights through contact, and finds his chances by combing through the soft spots in the defense. The puck just seems to find him, and while that might require some play-driving linemates in the future – it’s impressive just how often Frondell pops up with the puck in a dangerous area.
With his wrist shot, Frondell didn’t score from all over the place nearly as much as he did with the one-timer, but it still proved to be a weapon. Particularly on the rush, Frondell showed a willingness (really, a preference) to shoot, and was able to beat goaltenders clean on various goals this season. Like the slapper, Frondell’s got a quick windup, and can rip a puck nearly as fast as he retreives it. There’s some major upside in this aspect of Frondell’s game, especially if a team can put Frondell on a line where he’s with a really good distributor or two.
One of the other major pluses of Frondell’s game is his complete lack of fear and tentativeness in and around the offensive zone. Playing in a league with much older players, Frondell hasn’t merely survived physically – he’s been imposing his will. He’s a tough, forechecking player that forces himself into dangerous areas, creating his chances in a variety of ways. There’s the one-timer, but there’s also a continual focus on driving to the net and cutting to the middle of the ice. He doesn’t have the highest motor or peskiness about him, but he skates in powerful strides (even if his starting speed is a little slow), and he wills himself into the middle of the ice through whatever means possible. There’s a lot to like in how Frondell plays at his absolute best, and a pathway to the player becoming quite the combination of physicality and skill is something scouts have raved over.
What’s not to like?
Among his center counterparts in this draft, there’s more of a worry with Frondell that his ultimate NHL position will be on one of the wings. That belief stems from the fact that Frondell has been primarily characterized as the second-or-third guy on his lines – often having Eklund as the primary carrier through the neutral zone. It’s fair to have this play-driving concern for Frondell’s long-term fit at center, but as an effective NHL scorer? There’s plenty of examples of players that thrive doing similar things that Frondell does. Think of the best seasons of Zach Hyman, where Hyman’s strength of finding his way into soft areas of the ice is magnified by plus-plus linemates (Connor McDavid). Frondell might bring a bit more of other stuff to the game than Hyman, but the really good version of Hyman feels like the best outcome here. Maybe he stays down the middle as a serviceable middle sixer, but upside wise it’s hard not to see a better fit on the wing.
How would he fit in the Flyers’ system?
When looking at the centers in this draft class, it’s really important to consider the question of stylistic fit with Matvei Michkov. With Frondell, it’s an intriguing fit if he can stick down the middle, but we’re not sure if it’s the best possible fit in this draft class. Frondell has some passing chops, but placing a shoot-first center next to Michkov might not be the smoothest of fits. Grabbing a center that has stylistic qualities that will enable him to drive play and be a distributor should be a vital consideration for the Flyers pick, as Michkov has proven to have quite the goal-scoring upside thus far. On that note, there’s other centers in this draft class – like Caleb Desnoyers – that are around similar production projections to Frondell but might be a better fit if the Flyers are truly trying to find a linemate for Michkov.
Could the Flyers actually get him?
It feels like the most likely outcome for Frondell is anywhere from picks 4-7, so it’s safe to say the Flyers have a very realistic ability to get him. It’s hard to see a team reaching for Frondell at No. 3, unless Hagens continues his fall down the public rankings, and a team is really craving the next best center available (over a guy like Martone). So, we’re in the realistic range now of players the Flyers could get if they either remain at pick 4 or slide down a few spots.
What scouts are saying
“There’s a lot to like about Frondell’s game. He’s heavy but plays with intention, strength and some power (there are some questions about his fitness level/weight after the time off but also belief that he’ll work on it and that it would come around once he got into game shape). He’s competitive. He’s got high-end skill on the puck as a handler and play-creator (which, again, we’ve seen more of recently). He engages himself on and off the puck, offensively and defensively, to get involved in impacting play. He’s got quick hands, a natural release and a good sense for spacing and attacking. He’s got an ability to both create his own looks, challenge defenders and find and use open ice to play off and to his linemates. Though he has played mostly wing for Djurgården’s men’s team, he has played center for the national team and I’ve liked him at both positions but project him as a center. He’s got pro quality and offensive skill. Now it’s just about staying healthy and continuing to score and show the pace/offense that he has shown since late-January, because he has looked outstanding. He’s got a chance to be a very productive second-line center in the NHL with continued development.”
Scott Wheeler, The Athletic
“Frondell makes a huge jump up the list this time around from the mid teens into the late top ten. I am really unsure of exactly how high up a lineup Anton Frondell will find himself, but that’s only because I could see him adequately filling a role on almost any line complimenting almost any other player. He’s physical, he goes to the net, he forechecks well, and his puck touches through the neutral zone are strong. I question the puck carrying and handling ability and how it could limit his potential, but as an off-puck do-it-all type, there’s lots to love about Frondell. He finds gaps and seams well, grinds the game down and does the dirty work you need a player to do. I don’t know if he’s a centre in the NHL and I’ve found his HockeyAllsvenskan play was at it’s best while he was on the wing, but as a great 200-foot 3C down the road, I could see a future there, but as a winger he could compliment just about anyone and be a projectable and effective player able to chip in everywhere you need. I might be cooler on him than many, but there are just a few other names that may be less projectable but bring tools that I think could bring more of an impact in multiple areas.”
Will Scouch, scouching.ca
“Oh baby. What a season for Frondell. Injuries derailed the early part of the season, but he finished with one of the most productive seasons by a U-18 player in Allsvenskan history – the second-tier Swedish league. Frondell has experience down the middle and on the wing, which makes him intriguing. Frondell has a fantastic shot release and he’s getting even better at attacking pucks, too. Frondell has had to make up for lost time, but he has put himself back on the map as a potential top-five pick.”
Steven Ellis, Daily Faceoff
With Frondell off the list, we now welcome to the poll one of the most divisive players of this draft class, Brandon Wheat Kings forward Roger McQueen!
“McQueen missed the bulk of the year dealing with an ailing back, but he’s returned with purpose and looked strong down the stretch for the Wheat Kings. He’s a giant of a man who has a presence. McQueen is equally adept at directing pucks on net, using his size and strength to shield opponents in the process, or extending plays and distributing the puck. In his last 10-game segment McQueen averaged 16 minutes of ice time and produced 2G-7A. Almost all of his shifts come at even strength and the power play. I especially appreciate his puck touch and vision with the man advantage. He has the ability to slide off the weak side flank and rotate up top in the zone to open up shooting and passing lanes.”
Jason Bukala, Sportsnet
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The Lehigh Valley Phantoms, thanks to two Jett Luchanko assists, are moving on in the American Hockey League playoffs, eliminating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a thrilling 3-2 win Friday night in Lehigh Valley.
The basics
First period: No scoring
Second period: 14:33- Anthony Richard (Jett Luchanko, Garrett Wilson), 19:35- Tristan Broz (Boris Katchouk, Ville Koivunen) (PPG)
Third period: 6:26- Harrison Brunicke (Tristan Broz, Ville Koivunen), 7:54- Jacob Gaucher (Zayde Wisdom, Olle Lycksell), 18:00- Helge Grans (Anthony Richard, Jett Luchanko)
SOG: 31 (LHV) – 33 (WBS)
Some takeaways
Old-fashioned fisticuffs?
At the end of the first period, the teams left the bench and went on the ice. However, a brief scrum was shut down a minute later when neither side dropped the gloves, avoiding what could’ve been a bench-clearing brawl with 40 guys on the ice. The referees also decided to not call any penalties, keeping things even to start the second.
Bump avoids any bumps and bruises
Phantoms forward Alex Bump didn’t mince words after Lehigh Valley’s win Wednesday night, describing the Penguins blueline corps as “soft defenders.” In game two at home, Bump wasn’t much of a factor early, stuck in his own zone for an extended shift that wasn’t solved by an icing. However the same shift saw Bump rushing up ice before he was tripped, drawing the minor.
The subsequent power play was decisive with plenty of great chances that just didn’t find the back of the net. Bump was on the second unit with Jett Luchanko and Garrett Wilson. The trio was unable to carry that momentum over. Through two periods Bump was rather quiet after his two-goal opening game. He did have an impressive opening shift in the third, drawing another penalty on the Penguins. That quickly turned into almost a full two minutes five-on-three as a Penguins defender broke Olle Lycksell’s stick with a slash.
The power play ended up with nothing close to a great chance as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton limited them to a single shot. It almost made one wonder if Rocky Thompson was designing it.
Givani Bowling Ball Smith?
Givani Smith never got a whiff of action with the Flyers after being acquired in a trade. It didn’t deter Smith from hitting anything that did or didn’t move throughout the contest. And not just hits to hit, but hits to hurt given his size. He made the Penguins’ defense evening quite hellish, having to take the huge check to make the play and clear the puck.
Smith also made a great pass in the second to Luchanko storming down the ice. Luchanko’s one-timer missed the target. Although I sound like a broken record, Luchanko’s temper started getting the better of him as he took a slashing minor (his fourth minor in roughly the first 90 minutes of the series).
With age comes Wisdom
Zayde Wisdom made a great play midway into the third, winning a battle for the puck before feeding Jacob Gaucher to tie things up 2-2. The goal definitely tightened things up a bit more with both sides knowing they were essentially in an overtime period.
Everyone say thank you to your favorite Quebecois (well at least one of your favorites)#RallyTheValley | #LVvsWBS | #LVPhantoms pic.twitter.com/JeO5jpPjMk
— Lehigh Valley Phantoms (@LVPhantoms) April 26, 2025
Wisdom was also great late in the game, winning an important puck battle in the corner before the Phantoms iced the puck.
Parker pretty, pretty, pretty good
Phantoms goalie Parker Gahagen — sporting a Scooby Doo illustration on his mask — had his first test on a Penguins power play. A bang-bang play in front had Gahagen coming up big on Valtteri Puustinen. The best chance was courtesy of Lehigh Valley on a two-on-one as Rodrigo Abols had a fantastic chance that callup keeper Sergei Murashov got a piece of.
Although Murashov was the busier of the two, Gahagen was solid on stops by Tristan Broz. His best of the period was a blocker save on Vasily Ponomarev late in the first period. The Phantoms keeper had an adventure of sorts later in the middle frame, getting stuck behind his own net and minutes later out of position. Lucky for Lehigh Valley the Penguins didn’t capitalize. He made a highlight reel save during a Penguins power play for a puck that looked like it was heading towards the top corner.
Considering the two Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goals were basically in garbage time in Game 1, it’s possible Gahagen was starting to get in the opposition’s head more and more. Gahagen made 31 stops, leading the Phantoms to victory.
Slow start for Phantoms
Lehigh Valley looked a little sleep in the opening minutes, but a thunderous check by Rodrigo Abols in the Penguins end woke them up in a hurry. Luchanko set up a good chance but Murashov made the saves, the latter on a point shot by Hunter McDonald. McDonald was throwing his weight around yet found himself on the wrong side of a hit by Sam Poulin.
The Phantoms’ bigger bodies did a lot of damage on one shift midway through the first, with Givani Smith and Oscar Eklind hemming in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Murashov was peppered with shots but they couldn’t open the scoring. A up-ice rush on the next play was stymied by the keeper.
Jett propulsion
Luchanko atoned for his miscues in the first half of the game with an amazing cross ice pass to Anthony Richard. Richard beat Murashov to give the Phantoms a 1-0 lead. The pass made you wonder if Luchanko has eyes in the back of his head.
I fear no man, but that man…he scares me#RallyTheValley | #LVvsWBS | #LVPhantoms pic.twitter.com/rWUwApswrD
— Lehigh Valley Phantoms (@LVPhantoms) April 26, 2025
Tortorella-esque performance
The Phantoms were willing to do anything to keep the puck from crossing the goal line. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton were buzzing around on a late power play in the second when they finally beat Gahagen and the blocking efforts of the penalty killing quartet courtesy of Tristan Broz. Giving up the game-tying goal with 25 seconds left in the second, it could’ve been a huge momentum swing to start the third. The Penguins outshot the Phantoms 16-10 in the second, demonstrating how good Gahagen was through 40 minutes.
Speaking of Jett…again
With just over two minutes left in regulation, the Phantoms drove up ice and Luchanko nearly created the winning goal on a beautiful pass that Murashov stopped. The rebound was up for grabs and Helge Grans, on his knees, backhanded the puck into the net, giving Lehigh Valley a 3-2 lead.
The Phantoms iced the puck a few more times down the stretch, won a big faceoff with six seconds to go, and are moving on in the American Hockey League playoffs!
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Porter Martone just looks like he was born to be a hockey player. The prototypical power forward, he is a very skilled, very sturdy winger that piled up the points in the OHL last year as captain of the Brampton Steelheads. He was just too much to handle at that level, and despite still being raw in some aspects of his game, there just seems to be such a high floor with Martone. At 6’3, 207 pounds straight out of the draft, he should be able to withstand the NHL’s physicality immediately, whereas that is a concern with other forwards, you can totally checkmark that box here, and his hands and shot are just as impressive, especially for a man of his size.
It will always be a lame cliche that doesn’t even fit reality anymore, but I would be lying if I said Porter Martone didn’t look like a Flyer.
Pre-draft rankings
Ranked #3 by Elite Prospects
Ranked #6 by Sportsnet (Jason Bukala)
Ranked #4 by The Athletic (Scott Wheeler)
Ranked #4 by TSN (Bob McKenzie)
Statistics
What’s there to like?
Martone is the prototypical power forward for the modern age. A strong, yet still shifty skating stride has made the 6’3 winger near-impossible to defend at the OHL level. His 37 goals and 98 points over 57 games with the Brampton Steelheads is proof of that, and he was such a handful every time he got on the ice.
His hands are silky, especially for such a big body, and when he gets on a roll and really starts asserting himself on the game, there is very little that opposing teams could do to slow him down. Out of his 57 OHL games, Martone had 15 contests where he scored three or more points. He has an NHL frame right now, and he could jump into pro action and likely not struggle all that much with the physicality. There’s a very high floor with Martone, and if he was able to fall into the right development situation with a good system and teammates around him, the ceiling as a sort of Quinton Byfield archetype is very appealing.
Martone uses his weight in the corners to win puck battles and distribute to his teammates, and as he gets more comfortable and grows into his own even further, that snarl and grit should only get more apparent. He is just as adept in the open ice, however, and can really surprise defenders when they realize that this freight train skating at them just did a loose puck deke, and is now three strides behind them.
He also not surprisingly a handful in front of the net, he has that innate knack for just finding pucks in a scrum, and when he gets to them he has no problem finishing. Martone seems to enjoy being in the mix, and he has the frame and mindset to thrive in them without getting knocked off his game mentally, which is a plus.
I personally love Martone’s game, and if he can develop his skating stride just a bit further, which we’ve seen is very possible with NHL skating coaches, everything else about him just screams 15 year career as a top-line winger. He should have the ability to have a varied scoring diet, whether it be off the rush, netfront, or set up in the offensive zone. In any situation, he can fill the net, and with the added bonus of his value as a play driver, he should pile up the points wherever he goes.
Oh, and he has a little flash too.
BETWEEN THE LEGSpic.twitter.com/OuOahZ9msJ
— Elite Prospects (@eliteprospects) April 28, 2024
What’s not to like?
His skating is a little wonky, not shocking for a player his size, but it is something that he’ll need to improve if he truly wants to be an elite top-line winger. It’s not exactly his top speed that is even the issue, more the first few strides that get him up to that speed. His foot agility could definitely use improvement, and it’s kept him out of the discussion for being the first overall selection. If he was to not live up to his potential at the next level, it would be because of that foot speed.
Martone at times could alsp use his body more assertively, not that he needs to be a goon or some sort of Garnet Hathaway-esque bruiser, but if he could unlock a more visible mean streak to go along with his naturally heavy game, it would make him a more versatile asset and just that much more of a headache to deal with.
There was also the issue of his usage at this past World Juniors, where he was scratched, and found limited usage under Canadian head coach Dave Cameron. The argument against this point, however, would be that Dave Cameron is a fundamentally bad hockey coach who totally mismanaged that Canadian roster, but still, Martone looked unconfident and couldn’t really find a footing at the tournament, which should still be noted.
How would he fit in the Flyers’ system?
Positionally, the Flyers should be looking at centers primarily, but if they were to be left in a position where taking a center would be a reach, Martone would fit like a glove in the Flyers system. He has the potential to be a Wayne Simmonds-type of player with a bit more puck skills, and his playstyle would definitely be a hit with the fanbase.
He should be able to stack up points and that’s something the Flyers, especially at an individual level, have struggled to do for quite a while. Martone also seems like a very useful power play asset, either at the net front or in the slot, and the Flyers can always use those.
And with the Flyers forward corps skewing on the smaller side, (Konecny, Brink, Michkov, etc.), Martone would add an element of size that would definitely vary up the attack.
Could the Flyers actually get him?’
It’s possible, Martone could go anywhere from picks 3-6, and that will be in the Flyers wheelhouse, lottery balls pending. Again, there’s a chance that Flyers are looking center with their first pick, but if they wind up in the 3/4/5 range, and Michael Misa goes at two, they could view some of the other centers like Frondell and Desnoyers as reaches, and just go best player available with Martone.
That still remains to be seen, but if the Flyers really want Martone, they should be able to get him. It just seems like all signs are pointing center at this point.
What scouts are saying
“Martone plays a physical, direct game with real skill and scoring ability. My viewings before this year had honestly been a bit of a mixed bag, with game notes in which I thought he looked like a stud and others in which I left the rink not feeling like he made much of a mark and wasn’t in line with the hype. This year, though, he has looked dominant more consistently and has completely taken over some Steelheads games I’ve been to.
Martone’s got a pro game and frame. He battles, goes to the net, finishes his checks, and will drop the gloves. He handles the puck smoothly for his size and can be quite noticeable in possession when he’s playing with confidence and intention“. – Scott Wheeler
“Martone uses his size to his advantage in the hard areas of the ice, extending plays along the boards and driving to the crease. When pucks arrive on his stick in high danger scoring areas they usually end up in the back of the net“. – Jason Bukala
“Martone has the playmaking game down, and he can score, and he reads the ice well. The decision-making isn’t always on point, but it’s mostly positive, and he knows how to improve attacking conditions, how to drag defenders to him, and which plays to make. He makes some dynamic catches, and his net-front game could be a real strength at the NHL level, as he has the timing, deflection, and rebounding skills”. – David St. Louis
Another name gone, another name added, this time it’s the intriguing defender from the Tri-City Americans, Jackson Smith.
“Smith has generated a lot of NHL interest due to his combination of tools and production. He’s a 6-foot-3 defenseman who skates quite well. He’s funky-looking at times, going 10-2 with his edges a bit too much, but he’s a powerful, fluid skater who can easily get by checkers and skate pucks up ice. Smith often tries to attack with his skill and can break down players one-on-one easily. Smith’s decision-making isn’t the best at times, and I wouldn’t call him a natural playmaker, but he creates a lot of offense and has a good point shot. Defensively, he’s decent due to his frame and feet, and when he’s leaning into checks, he can be a two-way force. His defensive play is inconsistent, in part because he’s often up in the attack, but he has the potential to be a great top-four defenseman who can play on both special teams“.
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The draft board is moving out of the top-5, and landing on a familiar name. Caleb Desnoyers — whose name will be well known to Flyers prospect watchers, as his older brother Elliot was drafted by the team in the fifth round back in 2020 — is having a huge season for himself. He’s tops on his very good Moncton team in points, and fifth in the whole of the QMJHL, and looks to step out of his brother’s shadow and into a position as a top prospect in this year’s draft.
Pre-draft rankings
Ranked #9 by Elite Prospects
Ranked #5 by Sportsnet (Jason Bukala)
Ranked #5 by The Athletic (Scott Wheeler)
Ranked #6 by TSN (Bob McKenzie)
Statistics
What’s there to like?
On the most basic level, there’s a lot to like about Desnoyers’s profile. He’s got good size already, at 6’2 and 172 pounds — he has room to bulk up still, but he’ll fill out his frame with time — and he’s already showing that he’s willing to use that frame to keep engaged physically.
Desnoyers has a good scoring touch — he didn’t score 42 goals this season by accident — and has shown a good nose for the net, and that he can create a good volume of scoring chances, which is a real positive. But even more so, his playmaking is his real strength.
His passing is sharp, he’s decisive in getting pucks to his targets, and the puck is on their sticks quickly and with precision. He also has a particular aptitude for finding his teammates in good areas of the ice, evidenced by the high volume of shot assists that he’s been able to create this season. That passing, too, is deceptive, as he often uses his feet to fake that he’s passing one way, while he aims to set up a teammate in the other direction. We talk a lot about players who are able to find the soft areas of the ice to get open for a shot, and we see something similar to that, in a way, in how Desnoyers is able to quickly and effectively finding passing lanes to hit, and the decisiveness with which he hits them.
Desnoyers is strong along the boards as well, and he does well both to protect pucks and win them away, and isn’t afraid to take a bit of contact there in order to prolong a play. He’s deceptive coming off the wall, too, and all of this makes him difficult to defend.
Along with this, notable in Desnoyers’s game is the patience with which he plays. He brings good enough speed (he isn’t exactly explosive, but he has good enough speed to always seem to get where he needs to go), and can play with pace when the moment demands it, but he isn’t an all gas, no brakes kind of player, and rather, shows more patience in building up to the play he wants. The way he’s willing and able to stick with plays in the offensive zone makes him a particularly effective cycle player, as his tenacity and processing speed means that he’s dependable in being able to readjust and reload after an initial chance to keep an offensive zone shift going.
And, back to the basic level, Desnoyers has often been praised for his “winning mentality,” how he’s a player who just doesn’t seem to have any quit, who just gets what it takes across all areas. We see that in how he’s used — even in his first season with Moncton, he quickly earned himself a top-6 role — that he’s a player that can quickly earn the trust of his coaches, and there’s a lot of value in that.
What’s not to like?
We’ll begin here with the elephant in the room — Flyers fans have seen his brother Elliot working his way up through the Flyers’ system, and after an explosive burst in development over the end of his junior career to his rookie season in the AHL, have also seen his development stagnate as he struggles to figure out his game at that level. And while Caleb is certainly ahead of where Elliot was at this point in his career, and overall has more dynamic of a skillset, there are some legitimate concerns that his game also might not translate as well to the professional level as this high projection might suggest.
As Will Scouch points out in his ranking, he sees Desnoyers as not “particularly proactive but is very good at being reactive, and in my opinion that limits your NHL potential.” That is, a good portion of his game at the junior level relies on taking advantage of mistakes by opponents — jumping on turnovers and creating pressure through lapses in positioning — but those mistakes are going to be fewer and farther between as he moves up the levels. Additionally, as far as his offense is concerned, he can get caught relying on shots from the perimeter a bit too much, and overall can function a bit too much as a complimentary player on his line, rather than as a driver — which likely fuels some of the lack of consensus about his projection, as detractors point to him as someone who might be more of a third-line center, but a good one at that, at the NHL level. There’s still a very good player here, but is he one that is worth spending a top-5 (or so) pick on? That’s up for debate.
How would he fit in the Flyers’ system?
Stripping out the projection side of things — that is, resisting the urge to quibble about whether he can hit second line center potential, or if he maxes out as a 3C — there does feel like there could be a good fit here, purely from a positional standpoint. The Flyers are in pretty desperate need of bolstering of their depth chart at the center position, and while Desnoyers might not be the game-breaking top line center that the Flyers are also probably hoping they can pick up in short order, he would help to give them a boost a little further down in the lineup. And it’s hard not to imagine that his competitive style of play, and his strength in playmaking, is one that would complement the already assembled core of young players in the organization.
Could the Flyers actually get him?
The projections here are a little all over the place. If we say that the Flyers remain in the fourth spot in the draft, some would suggest that he might have just come off the board by the time to make their pick, while others might have him still on the board by the time their potential middle of the round picks come around. Now, the lack of consensus around where Desnoyers will or should go certainly makes the selection question a slippery one, especially for a team with a number of picks in the first round, but on the most basic level, Desnoyers should almost certainly be in play for the Flyers to grab, at some point.
What scouts are saying
Another name gone, another name added: welcome to the poll, Brantfold’s Jake O’Brien!
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