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[Philadelphia Flyers]

2025 BSH Community Draft Board, No. 37: William Horcoff is a strong, big netfront presence

After yesterday’s profile on hulking Russian winger Danill Prokhorov, we’ll now move to one of the larger centers of this draft class: Michigan center William Horcoff. Horcoff is the son of former NHLer Shawn Horcoff, who carved out quite the NHL career across parts of 15 seasons with Edmonton, Dallas, and Anaheim.

Horcoff measures in at 6-foot-4.75 and 190 pounds, and he’s been known to use all of his frame in molding his power game to the collegiate level. During his time with the USNTDP, Horcoff was never the highest skilled player on the ice, but he leveraged his size, strength, and positional awareness to be a relatively important piece on those teams. So, let’s get into what makes Horcoff an intriguing early-second round grade in this draft class.

Pre-draft rankings​

No. 50 by The Athletic (Scott Wheeler)
No. 57 by Elite Prospects
No. 50 by TSN (Bob McKenzie)
No. by Daily Faceoff

Bio​

DOB: January 23, 2007
Birthplace: Birmingham, Michigan, USA
Position: Center
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 190 lbs
Shoots: Left

Statistics​

What’s there to like?​

Horcoff is really good at the things you’d expect a third-line center in the NHL, power-forward type to excel at. He’s real sturdy on the ice, goes to the front of the net, battles for rebounds, has a surprisingly good set of hands and moves, and he’s shown a capability to deflect pucks with regularity. In a 6-foot-4 frame, Horcoff’s a massive skilled body in front of the net, and it’s not hard to imagine Horcoff scoring quite a lot of “dirty but good” goals in the pro game.

We’ll get into the flipside later, but Horcoff’s stock really shot up after his move to Michigan. With the Wolverines, Horcoff registered 10 points in 18 games and started to mold his game into the power forward style that might best suit him in the pros. A good example is in the play below, where Horcoff (No. 44) holds his ground in the front of the net to simply force the puck past the Ohio State goaltender.

It’s a really simple, translatable game for Horcoff, but it showed early signs of really working at the collegiate level. He kind of parks himself at the front of the net, and relies on his sheer strength and stick skills to be an effective deflector of pucks, rebound-collector, and to make himself available for netfront passes from his teammates.

Horcoff’s also a bit of a physical specimen in general, backed up by his ridiculous results at the NHL Combine. He was one of the highest performers last week, even breaking the all-time long jump record at the event. It’s not everything, but it’s at minimum a positive sign that Horcoff has the work ethic off the ice to really maximize his size and physical tools.

What’s not to like?​

The things that are not to like about Horcoff can really be traced back to his time with the USNTDP and what prompted his midseason move to Michigan. Horcoff’s development was really stagnating with the national program, in a relatively down year for the USNTDP. Horcoff’s one of the top guys from the program this year, alongside fellow late first round to early second round projections William Moore, L.J. Mooney, and Jack Murtagh. Horcoff struggled with developing his game in terms of upping the pace with the USNTDP, and had mediocre scoring numbers against junior competition (14 points in 28 games). The skill with the USNTDP was at a considerably lower level than previously years, and Horcoff still looked a step below the rest.

Horcoff’s upright skating stride was often exposed, particularly in how slow his first few steps are. He has a pretty strong work ethic and is very willing to get to the dirty areas, but there’s not much separation speed at all, which really limits him as a puck carrier through the neutral zone. Horcoff might just be a guy who is the second or third guy on a line, and can really be maximized by players who are play-drivers and high-end puck carriers. If Horcoff can get set up in the offensive zone and allowed to be a menace up front, there’s probably 20-25 goal potential here at his best. We’ll see, but if he’s going to make it, he seems to have the makings of a bottom-six NHL center.

How would he fit in the Flyers’ system?​

Horcoff’s a center, and everyone in hockey knows the Flyers need quite a few in the system. Horcoff’s physical presence in the Flyers’ playing style is intriguing, but we do wonder if Horcoff could effectively play the fast-pace, north-south style that the Flyers are likely to employ under Rick Tocchet. He’s not a strong skater, not the best forechecker, and not dynamic enough carrying the puck quite yet. We’ll see, but there are a few notes of caution with Horcoff and how he’d adapt his game to a Tocchet system.

Could the Flyers actually get him?​

Definitely. Almost every prospect that we are profiling from here on out in the BSH Community Draft Board will have a realistic possibility of being a Flyer come draft week, as the Flyers have a haul of picks in the second round that they’ll have a chance to use on players in this tier. Horcoff belongs in that tier, and considering the Flyers’ organizational need at the center position, Horcoff could be one of the many darts they throw at the dartboard in their attempts to address the problem.

What scouts are saying​

“Horcoff, the son of former NHLer Shawn Horcoff, was doing just OK to start the year at the U.S. NTDP. He left midseason to join Michigan where his game took off from that point, making a real difference for his team at the college level as a U18 player. He’s a very skilled big man who can make small-man-type plays in tight areas. He sees the ice at a high level and has a creative offensive mind. Horcoff is also good enough in the hard areas and can play the body when he needs to. The issues in his game at the top level will all come down to pace. I’ve seen slower 6-foot-5 guys, but his first few steps are going to be a struggle in the NHL. The rest of his game is good enough, though, that I see a projected middle-six winger.”
—Corey Pronman, The Athletic

“Twice, he pulled a puck through an opponent’s legs off the wall after winning a battle, one time cleverly going out of his way to dangle through them, which created a clear lane to drag the puck to the net front for a chance. He has vision and the skill to prolong passing windows and shift defensive gaps when given some room. He attacks the middle, slows down, and kicks the puck wide, or delays along the wall to wait for his teammate to jump into the lane as he seals off pressure. He does a great job supporting plays: He controls his speed, adjusts his route, and presents his stick for passes.”
—Mitchell Brown, Elite Prospects Draft Guide Game Report

---

With one USNTDP player out, we’ll bring another one in. This time, it’s the small, controversial forward L.J. Mooney.

“I’m still so upset at the injury L.J. Mooney was handed earlier this year. Just when I thought he was finding his legs and confidence, he explodes and misses a length of time with a knee injury. I saw the first couple games he played on the mend and he just did not look the same whatsoever and my hopes of him being a favorite in the class were somewhat dashed. Since January 1, Mooney has landed 18 points in 16 games and my last few games have been a huge step up from early in the season. Mooney is incredibly exciting, hard-working and dynamic and the last handful of performances I’ve seen have been a ton of fun. Surprising to many, he’s one of the most physically involved players in the whole draft class, being relentless with applying pressure all over the ice and doing whatever he can to outperform the questions he faces about his size. He’s still very much a complimentary offensive player, but one heck of an exciting option at that. His quickness, agility, skill level, and playmaking creativity is simply wonderful, and he has the work rate to do his best to overcome his size limitations. He’s another player who I think people will overcorrect on and let fall in the draft, and while he’s a longshot to be an NHL player, if he hits, he’s going to be awesome. His style of play requires near perfect execution and constant effort, but I just can’t not believe in the guy.”
—Will Scouch, scouching.ca

Source

Source: https://www.broadstreethockey.com/p...am-horcoff-is-a-strong-big-netfront-presence/

 

[Philadelphia Flyers]

Zayde Wisdom rights the ship

This past season for the Phantoms was one with certainly no shortage of compelling storylines, from start to finish. Between new additions stepping up, the goalie carousel, and the constant swings in momentum game over game on the team level, there was excitement everywhere you looked. But with all of this taken into account, there was perhaps no more rewarding storyline to see unfold than the resurgence of Zayde Wisdom across this season.

Having just completed his fourth professional season, he’s certainly ridden the highs and lows throughout that span. Making his debut in the — admittedly taxi-squad depleted — league during the COVID shortened season, he came onto the scene super hot, scoring seven goals and 18 points in 28 games as a 19 year old and setting some likely outsized expectations in the process. And this was a bar he struggled mightily to reach again — in his second season, he only managed to score 10 points across 45 games, and in his third, he had just three and really struggled to find a place for himself in the AHL at all. The stakes were high as he headed into this fourth season, playing for a new contract and his place in the organization, and he rose to the occasion in a big way.

Games played	Goals	Assists	Points	PIM	Shots on goal	Shooting percentage
68	13	19	32	44	92	14.1

On the most basic level, Wisdom took a huge step forward as far as the counting stats are concerned. His 13 goals and 32 points on the season were good for fifth on the team in scoring — respectable enough, to be sure — but even more critically, it was a giant leap forward from the meager two goals and three points he scored in 49 games in his previous season.

Now, some of this surge in production can be explained by a bump in shooting percentage — that’s also up nearly 10 percent from 4.3 percent last season — but it isn’t the whole story, as this year saw Wisdom again bringing a more complete game, checking well and supporting his teammates in the offensive zone, but also getting himself into better shooting positions on the whole. And, what’s more, while that 14.3 shooting percentage from this past season feels a little bit high, it’s a much more reasonable figure than the 21.2 percent that he shot at during his scorcher of a rookie season. That figure was never going to be sustainable, but this might be something closer to it.

Games Tracked	Corsi-For %	Scoring Chances-For %	High Danger Chances-For %	Primary Shot Assists	Secondary Shot Assists
17	51.17	50.96	57.41	7	1

His underlying impacts, too, were quite solid. Looking at the shot attempt and scoring chance differentials, while those do fall each about three percent lower than the (very good, we should emphasize) team averages, they still tell us that the Phantoms were getting a slight edge in possession when Wisdom was on the ice — and additionally, we suspect those averages will go up as more games from the second half of the season, when he spent more time playing alongside noted strong play driver Jacob Gaucher, are factored in to his averages. All the same, those are impacts to be pleased with, and what’s more, that High Danger Chances-For differential is a step up, and falls right in line with the team average in that metrics, suggesting that more than anything else, Wisdom is doing a good job at driving offense right in and around the netfront (which does line up with what the eye would tell us from watching him over the whole of the season).

Three Questions​

Did he live up to expectations?

The expectations for Wisdom coming into this season, in truth, weren’t especially high. Coming off of a pretty disastrous third season with the Phantoms, in which he not only seemed to regress from an already somewhat difficult sophomore season but struggled to find a role for himself at the AHL level at all, his stock wasn’t trending well. Even after a strong camp, there were legitimate questions about what he was going to do through the regular season — because, we recall, he had a strong camp the previous season and couldn’t translate that into a positive season overall — but Wisdom clearly put in some excellent work in the offseason to prepare himself for this new season, and he was able to take off again.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that Wisdom was playing for his professional career in the Flyers organization this season, and he did some pretty tremendous work to not just find his game again at this level, but to make himself all but indispensable to them by season’s end. He was often playing minutes up on that top line with Gaucher, and when he wasn’t, because the line was working well with him on it, it was clear that him being moved around in the lineup was an attempt to give another line a bit more jump and get them going. At even strength, he became one of the straws that stirred the drink for the Phantoms, and became as well one of their go-to guys on the penalty kill, as his solid defensive game continued to develop, and the step he added gave them an extra speed threat for shorthanded chances. All in all, the sum of the effort here is really impressive, to such a high degree that probably no one outside of Wisdom himself expected to see it coming. So all the credit in the world to him for that.

What would we like to see him improve on next season?

The big thing for Wisdom going forward will be the same big thing it’s always been for him — consistency. Because even in his seasons which looked more challenging from a zoomed out perspective, he had some bursts of positive play, when it looked like he might be moving towards getting things back on track, but he wasn’t able to sustain it. He’s put in some really excellent work this season, but the next step is to keep this rolling, and prove that the changes and lessons he brought to his game have stuck, and that this wasn’t just another flash in the pan. Now, with a few more skilled wingers looking like they’ll be joining the mix for at least parts of next season and a new head coach to be installed, he might well see himself shuffled down in the lineup again, so he’ll have to work again to learn how to make the most of lesser minutes, but that remains a valuable lesson as well.

What can we expect from him next season?

Wisdom is still in need of a contract for next season, but one imagines that given the work he’s done over this past season, that he’s more than earned himself a new NHL deal, having gotten himself back on the map with the organization, as it were. Now, he’s still a long ways off from legitimately competing for a job with the big club, but he’s certainly in a much more favorable position heading into this new season than he was the last. And while, as we said, we don’t exactly expect him to be playing top line minutes game in and game out like he was to end the season, we still expect him to play a meaningful role for the team, both at even strength and on the penalty kill. Because, as much as he’s still working to rebuild his stock as a prospect, he is still one of the more experienced players on that roster, and we can also expect to see him embrace a bit more of a leadership role as the team sees more and more even younger prospects brought into the mix.

Source

Source: https://www.broadstreethockey.com/post/zayde-wisdom-rights-the-ship/

 

[Philadelphia Flyers]

Thursday Morning Fly By: Accept no substitutes

*Noah Cates spoke with the media in the wake of his new contract, and he’s pretty psyched about the idea of playing for Rick Tocchet. [BSH]

*It seems like if James Hagens somehow falls to six, the general vibe is that it should be a no-brainer for the front office. Should be. [Inquirer]

*There are several prospects in this draft being compared to some of the Flyers’ best players, which is pretty neat. [BSH]

*Speaking of draftees, up at 38th overall on the BSH Community Draft Board is a center who may not have a super high ceiling, but definitely has a pretty high floor. [BSH]

*Related, we’ve got the latest full mock draft from the brain trust over at the New York Times. [The Athletic]

*Maddie continues her series reviews of the Phantoms with a look at Zayde Wisdom, who really took some strides this year. [BSH]

*One good thing about being in the midst of a rebuild is the relative lack of pressure on both players and front office. Which is why you won’t find the Flyers on this list of teams who are really under a microscope this offseason. [Sportsnet]

*The trickle of NHL Awards winner announcement continued yesterday with the Norris Trophy, which went to Cale Makar. [TSN]

*Apparently Jonathan Toews wants to make his way back into the NHL. What would you think about using him as a very, very short term stop-gap for the Flyers? [Sportsnet]

*And finally, have you gotten your ticket to the Draft Party yet? All of the proceeds from the $5 ticket sales will be going directly to Snider Hockey, so while I know Paying For Things and Doing Stuff is annoying, at least you can feel good about where this five bucks is going. There’s only one Draft Party, and it’s this one. Get your tickets! It’s going to be so fun!

Source

Source: https://www.broadstreethockey.com/post/thursday-morning-fly-by-accept-no-substitutes/

 

[Philadelphia Flyers]

2025 BSH Community Draft Board, No. 39: Henry Brzustewicz is a solid right-shooting defender

As we hit the 39th spot, the draft board shifts to a name that might be familiar to even some of the more casual prospect watchers around here. Henry Brzustewicz, a big, right-shooting defender, just wrapped up his second season with the London Knights of the OHL, playing on that team with Flyers prospects Denver Barkey and Oliver Bonk, who made it all the way to (and away with, in the end) the Memorial Cup this spring.

The long playoff run likely gave him some valuable experience in playing in big, high-leverage situations, but with more eyes than ever turning to watch the pinnacle of junior hockey, it also gave Brzustewicz a bit more name recognition, even as he’s projected to go somewhere outside of the first round. Of course, there’s a lot more to Brzustewicz than just the name and the highest of achievements, so let’s get right into all that.

Pre-draft rankings​

#19 by NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters)
#38 by Elite Prospects
#46 by FC Hockey
#37 by McKeen’s Hockey

Bio​

DOB: February 9, 2007
Birthplace: Washington, Michigan
Position: Defenseman
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 194 lbs
Shoots: Right

Statistics​

What’s there to like?​

Brzustewicz, on the whole, isn’t an overly flashy player, but he does play a solid, well-rounded game. There’s a clear high level vision of the game with him, and he’s shown that he’s able to break down plays for opponents before they’re able to make them into something overly dangerous. Whether it’s chipping a puck off their stick on the rush, or pinching them up the wing on the wall in the neutral zone, or closing up on them in front of the net to force a turnover, he can neutralize a play in a number of ways. What’s more, he isn’t an overly physical player, but he’s strong enough to push opponents off of pucks with relative ease.

He might be a little rarer to do it, but Brzustewicz does have the skills to make a flashier play, when he feels confident enough to do it, and we’ve seen in flashes this year some positive play from him as a puck carrier in transition, an extra option to help his team create on the rush, as well as an option to activate in the offensive zone, as he brings enough illusiveness in his skating where he’s able to cut through defenders to help keep a cycle alive.

Along with that, there’s also still a bit of untapped offensive potential in his toolkit — his numbers for the season are respectable, and while he’s clearly shown more of an aptitude as a setup, support player, making that quick pass over to the forwards to let them get to work, his shot does have some power to it, and he’s good enough at getting it through traffic that it could be more of a weapon for him, if leaned on a bit more.

Overall, though, Brzustewicz brings a really high level of engagement to his play, and whether that’s manifesting on the offensive or defensive side — and while it can sometimes mean he gets himself pulled out of position — he’s always looking to make something happen.

What’s not to like?​

The one big drawback of Brzustewicz’s game is that while he clearly has some interesting tools at his disposal, he’s still very much working on putting it all together. That is, for much of this season Brzustewicz has served as a good support player on that Knights team, but he hasn’t nearly as often stepped up and found a way to be more of a play-driver. His skillset would suggest that he could do it, but it hasn’t all fallen into place for him yet (maybe this is at least in part a product of how loaded that team is, that he’s felt he can take a bit of a backseat to the older and even more skilled players), and it will take some targeted work and likely a bit of a shift in mindset and approach to get him to a point where he’s comfortable stepping up in that way on a more consistent basis.

Also, for as much success as he’s clearly had with the team, there’s always going to be a little bit of concern with Brzustewicz as a Knights player, and the lingering question of whether he’s really something, or just getting propped up by the buzzsaw system they’ve put together out there. That is, there is in some ways a ceiling to how much a player can develop when they’re on a junior team that’s just rolling over everybody year over year, and that puts Brzustewicz in a bit of a strange developmental position. With him, more than with other prospects in other programs, the team that drafts him will have to be waiting for him to turn pro to really see what they have with him and what they can do with him. Of course, this isn’t an outright negative with the player, just a question of organizational fit — a team looking to fast track the development of their defense prospects might want to look elsewhere, with all this in mind.

How would he fit the Flyers’ system?​

Speaking of organizational fit, the fit for Brzustewicz within the Flyers’s system might be a challenging one. Now, on the one hand, it’s true that they always seem to be looking to stock up on right-shooting defenders who also bring some size, and Brzustewicz does fit that mold, so that might well be enough to make him at least interesting to them. But, on the other hand, the Elite Prospects Draft Guide compares him to someone like a Rasmus Sandin, who plays a game not dissimilar to Cam York, and players like him are already getting very close to coming a surplus within the pipeline, so the question, most broadly, is — do the Flyers need another Cam York-type of player? Or would a high second round pick maybe be better spent elsewhere?

Could the Flyers actually get him?​

The range of projections for Brzustewicz isn’t too spread out like crazy, and with it looking pretty comfortably like he’s going to go somewhere in the early second round, it looks like he’ll all but certainly be an option for the Flyers to grab with one of their earlier picks in that round.

What scouts are saying​

“A 6-foot-1, right-shot defenceman capable of playing a solid two-way game, Brzustewicz has the foundation necessary to transform into a high-end prospect over time and under the influence of the Knights.

In most shifts, Brzustewicz plays a quiet and supportive style of game. Rotating ahead of plays, denying the middle, pushing opponents wide, and walling off the front of the net, he contains the opposition. When they put themselves in vulnerable spots, he engages, skating forward at them, and pushing them off the puck. He retrieves it and moves it to his partner, prioritizing safety over creativity.

For most of the season, Brzustewicz accumulated good tracking results, making those simple plays, but rarely became a playdriver.

What pushed him up our board was the transformation his game underwent when he earned more minutes some nights. His creativity started to shine through, giving us an indication of the player he could become in a larger role over the next two seasons. “Brzustewicz showed some great offensive instincts in this game, joining the rush, creating lanes, breaking out quickly to open up as a passing option high in the neutral zone, and was rewarded for his efforts with an assist on London’s first goal when he received a pass from Sam Dickinson,” wrote OHL regional scout Lauren Kelly in a February report.” He skated into the offensive zone to create an odd-man rush, and then funnelled the puck to the slot for Denver Barkey.”

Brzustewicz can deceive forecheckers, make plays around them and to the slot, and relocate to spots to get passes back and create scoring chances. These abilities, coupled with his all-around projectable defensive game, could turn him into a No.4 defenceman in the NHL, provided he continues to push his play-driving skills over the next seasons.”
—Elite Prospects 2025 NHL Draft Guide

“He skates well moving forward but also opens up and adjusts and uses his feet to get open off the puck, play in and out of give-and-gos, create zone exits and step up and close gaps defensively, with a willingness to play physically, compete and a desire to snuff out and end plays. He has shown confidence with the puck and assertiveness without it.”
—Scott Wheeler, The Athletic

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And just like that, we’re ready to move into the 40s, and we’ve got to add a new player to the poll in the process. Welcome, Adam Benak!

“Part of me is thinking that there’s been a bit of an overcorrection on Adam Benak, but it is also pretty clear that he has had to reprogram a lot of how he plays the game while in the USHL. His first few performances I saw were legitimately troubling as he looked like he was working his tail off trying to be a major focal point of the team and just couldn’t get anything going, especially with the puck. As time has worn on, I think he’s become much more comfortable in a more limited but concentrated role as a more complimentary play facilitator on the rush while coming alive a bit more in the offensive zone with a bit less overall responsibility. He’s quick, but I don’t think he has the speed necessary for a small forward in the NHL yet. He’s got skill, but his frame is so small that pulling pucks around opponents doesn’t really help him as much as it does at lower levels. To counter that, making passes quicker, being more aware of open space and using his quickness to pop in and out of play has been a benefit. He’s still responsible for half of Youngstown’s offense and I’d say his profile is more promising than a player like Kevan’s, but the concerns are greater with a bit more of a questionable map ahead. I still believe in Adam, and if teams overcorrect and he’s a player you could take a flyer on in the middle rounds, you could be rewarded in the future, but I’ll admit the chances may be lower than I thought they’d be to start the season.”
–Will Scouch, scouching.ca

Source

Source: https://www.broadstreethockey.com/p...zustewicz-is-a-solid-right-shooting-defender/

 

[Philadelphia Flyers]

Flyers fans’ dream top 13 picks in 2025 NHL Draft

As the 2025 NHL Draft quickly approaches, a flurry of mocks have hit the internet — scouts and writers alike begin to try and figure out who is going where and when. But what all of these draft guides or mock first rounds are missing, is that the only thing that really matters is how those picks can benefit the Philadelphia Flyers.

Thus, with such a lack of Flyers-centric draft lists making the rounds, I figured it was time to put together a top-13 that is solely based around benefitting the Flyers, while also trying to remain attached to reality at least a little bit.

#1 Overall: The New York Islanders select… Matthew Schaefer (D), Erie Otters (OHL)

Schaefer has been the consensus top pick since 2025 began, and while a broken collarbone at the World Junior Championship derailed the lion’s share of his draft year, his elite skating and dynamic ability to move the puck at a high-level has separated him from the rest of the pack.

He is the one player in this draft with the potential to be a number one defenseman, and in a class lacking the slam-dunk Celebrini or Bedard level prospect from past years, that has proven to be enough to convince scouts his is worth the 1-1 selection.

Not much else to say about this pick; the Islanders need whatever good they can get, and this is a good first step to building something beyond the middling outfit they currently possess.

#2 Overall: The San Jose Sharks select… Michael Misa (C/LW), Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

The Sharks say thank you very much, and select another dynamic center to put behind Macklin Celebrini in Saginaw’s Michael Misa. I am a big fan of Misa’s expansive toolkit, and the lack of any real deficiencies in his game, in 65 OHL games, Misa torched the entire league while scoring nearly a goal-per-game, finishing with 62 tallies and 134 points to take the scoring title by a whole 10 points.

Misa plays a quality 200-foot game and is engaged in battles all over the ice, with or without the puck. He took on the full workload of a first line center, and performed admirably while showing that he will have the ability to play the position at the pro level.

This is another layup pick, this time for San Jose. With a crop of blue chip prospects already in the stable, Misa joins the aforementioned Celebrini to go along with guys like Will Smith and Sam Dickinson in what is a group of very high ceiling talents, and the Sharks jump all over what is to me, a very obvious selection.

#3 Overall: The Chicago Blackhawks select… Caleb Desnoyers (C), Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)

This is where things begin to get very interesting. Instead of selecting the prototypical big winger to play alongside Connor Bedard in Porter Martone, it seems like Bedard’s current lack of a two-way game has convinced Chicago’s brass that the most pressing priority is acquiring a more well-rounded second-line center to play behind him. Desnoyers is boring but effective, and while his high-end ceiling may not necessarily be there on either end, his archetype as a long, rangy centerman that can play a 200-foot game is something that the Blackhawks seem to covet.

He slots in behind Bedard long term and offers a little bit more size than the former option, but this is still an instance where a team is prioritizing a perceived need over taking the most skilled player available. Desnoyers as an intelligent, less flashy workhorse is a pick that seems to address the worry that Bedard may not be able to develop some of those traits in the future. We will see if that pays off.

#4 Overall: The Utah Mammoth select… Anton Frondell (C), Djurgardens (HockeyAllsvenskan)

There is a good chance that these last two picks are interchangeable, with the Mammoth selecting whoever the Blackhawks don’t select to be a bit beefier of an option up the middle to compliment the slighter stature of Logan Cooley. Frondell can really rip a puck and has more potential as a goal scorer than Desnoyers does, despite maybe being a bit rawer. He fits well in Utah, who also could be well served taking Martone to ride shotgun alongside Cooley, Keller, or Dylan Guenther, but instead decide to prioritize size and potential up the middle behind Cooley.

Frondell will look to serve as the long term second-line center with a slight chance of maybe becoming something more. His production wasn’t anything unbelievable, and we will still have to see if he can keep scoring when he takes a step up to the Swedish first division. He left a bit to be desired after the Under-18 worlds, but that hasn’t put a damper on his value, and it seems like he is destined to either go three or four.

The league-wide trend of valuing the ability to play center continues, and some very talented players keep falling.

Flyers feeling after four selections:

The Flyers would be interested in Frondell’s services, and Desnoyers has been on their radar as well, especially with his brother Elliot still being in the organization, but from a pure talent standpoint this may be the best possible outcome. If this top four ends up becoming reality, which is actually very feasible, the Flyers would be guaranteed either the hulking Jason Robertson archetype in Martone, or the deft playmaker with high-end pedigree in Hagens. Either player is great value for the sixth selection, and it would ensure the Flyers come away with someone to be excited about.

#5 Overall: The Nashville Predators select… Porter Martone (RW), Brampton, (OHL)

Barry Trotz can’t resist the big talented winger to join a prospect pool that already consists of 6-foot-4 Matthew Wood and 6-foot-2 and extremely physical, Yegor Surin. If past drafts are anything to go off of, Nashville seems to have a type of player it likes to take early in drafts, before branching out and taking more swings on potential later on. Martone should be a pretty sure thing at the NHL level, he isn’t the best skater, but he does have a dogged work ethic on the forecheck, and unbelievable hands for someone his size.

Trotz liked teams that played heavy as a coach, and now as a general manager I doubt his philosophy has changed all that much.

#6 Overall: Your Philadelphia Flyers select… James Hagens (C), Boston College, (NCAA)

This tees the Flyers up to take a guy who at one point not all that long ago, was considered the best pick in this draft. Hagens ran the show all year during his time with the USNTDP U-18 team, scoring 102 points in 58 games and establishing himself as a truly elite talent.

His debut season at the college level with Boston College left some wanting more, however. That combined with his slighter frame of 5-foot-10.5 and 186 pounds has soured the opinion of enough scouts to make it plausible that he could fall to Philly at number six.

Thirty-seven points in 37 games in the NCAA is nothing to scoff at, and there is an argument that Hagens was sort of glossed over at BC and overshadowed by already drafted studs Gabe Perrault and Ryan Leonard. I also would submit the opinion that if he had played somewhere like the OHL or HockeyAllsvenskan, with a less physical style of play to adjust to and a much wider talent disparity, he would still be a lockdown top-three selection. The transition that he had to make, especially when compared to some of the other players drafted around him who were just returning to the Canadian Hockey League with an added year of experience, was difficult, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see him rip up the NCAA in his Draft+1 year.

#7 Overall: The Boston Bruins select… Brady Martin (C), Sault St. Marie (OHL)

The Bruins select a mean, nasty, honey badger of a forechecker, because of course they do. Martin has shot up draft boards after a great display at the U-18 worlds, and is a handful for opposing defenders. He has a motor that does not stop, and while he isn’t the most skilled player, He brings the work ethic and leadership of a potential 20-year pro.

Boston needs to replenish its cupboards after the remnants of its old guard have all moved on. Martin is a good start to rebuilding that classic Bruins culture that has sort of fallen apart as of recently. Fraser Minten and Martin as prospect centers in the same system seems a little redundant, but this is the sort of selection Boston would love to make, and if Martin gets to them, I think they do.

#8 Overall: The Seattle Kraken select… Jackson Smith (D), Tri-City (WHL)

Seattle supplements its D-corps after taking forwards with each of their first three selections in all three of the drafts in their history, and they take the highly mobile and smooth-skating Smith, who still has some work to do re: thinking the game quicker and moving the puck accordingly, but he does have a lot of the skills that teams covet in modern defensemen.

The Kraken are wandering through the wilderness with their back end, and I think this slot is where the run on defensemen may start.

#9 Overall: The Buffalo Sabres select… Radim Mrtka (D), Seattle (WHL)

The Sabres tries their hand at the Ristolainen experiment once again because they need size on the back end, and their franchise has no direction to speak of. Mrtka is a big body at 6-foot-5, and is the classic big, raw prospect that needs to develop the rest of his game in order to stick as a top-four NHL defender. Bowen Byram is a restricted free agent, and will probably be moved due to being redundant on a team with Rasmus Dahlin already manning the power play. And after drafting Konsta Helenius last year, they pivot to defense and try to shore up a very confusing NHL unit.

#10 Overall: The Anaheim Ducks select… Jake O’Brien (C), Brantford (OHL)

O’Brien slides to the double digits, but not past Anaheim who scoops up another skilled playmaker to add to its collection. Measuring in at the combine just a hair under 6-foot-2, the Ducks can at least know that will at least have another rangy frame up front to help diversify their forwards. The Ducks seemed to have trouble at times getting all of their young defensemen playing time at the NHL level, and still need some middle-six depth, O’Brien should help.

#11 Overall: The Pittsburgh Penguins select… Victor Eklund (RW), Djurgardens (HockeyAllsvenskan)

A very Kyle Dubas pick here, as they select a slam-dunk middle six winger with the potential to be even more. As Crosby and Malkin reach the end, building up the forward core for the future is the key focus, and Eklund offers a solid building block to start to build up the position that has been a strength for two decades. Playing alongside Frondell with Djurgardens, Eklund played with pace and urgency, offering a bit more forechecking pressure without some of the more elite offensive tools.

His brother William has provided a template as to what Victor can become at the next level with San Jose, and I feel as if the Pens will think they’re getting a real high floor bet without much risk. Dubas has come under fire early in his tenure, so playing it safe here makes sense from his standpoint, too.

#12 Overall: The New York Rangers select… Kashawn Aitcheson (D), Barrie (OHL)

The Rangers have long had an organizational love affair with a more rough-and-tumble playstyle, and Aitcheson brings that in spades. The most vicious hitter in the class by far, the Barrie defender plays a well-rounded game that is already pretty polished. Aitcheson’s stock has steadily risen while the playoffs continue to highlight the need for hyper mobile physicality at every position. K’Andre Miller looks set to be priced out of New York, and this pick offers up a pretty decent replacement. He can score from the point, make the difficult breakout passes, and if it all pans out, he should be a solid middle-pairing defenseman for years to come.

#13 Overall: Your Philadelphia Flyers select… Roger McQueen (WHL), Brandon (WHL)

TRADE:

Red Wings receive: 2025 22nd overall, 2025 31st overall, 2027 3rd round pick

Flyers receive: 2025 13th overall

Danny Briere makes his move to take a big swing on a big man. The Red Wings aren’t going to necessarily give this pick away, but in a draft where picks 10-25 are mostly down to preference, they feel comfortable with moving back eight slots to grab another couple picks. Jeff Petry is a free agent this summer, and with Ben Chiarot, Justin Holl, and Erik Gustafsson all set to be free agents next year (mercifully), the Red Wings only have Moritz Seider under contract on the back end past 2026-27.

With the consensus top three defensemen already off the board in this scenario, Detroit shifts their focus to names like Blake Fiddler and Cameron Reid, who will still likely be available later on in Round 1. For their troubles, they get a chance to double down on defensemen and add some more assets to their war chest down the road.

The Flyers, meanwhile, add a potentially game changing prospect who, if not for a health scare that may not even be as bad as previously thought, would be locked-in as a top-5 selection. McQueen is a 6-foot-5 center with silky smooth hands for his size, and who got more and more comfortable with his physical side after returning from a long absence due to a pars fracture in his back. McQueen has the skill set, smarts, and size to be an elite top-line center at the NHL level, and if it all comes together, this has the potential to be an absolute steal.

The Flyers would readily give up some of their surplus of picks if it meant getting not only one, but two, potential top-line players for the future. Both have the ability to play center, but if both pan out and reach something resembling their ultimate potential, one could bump over to the wing if needed and you wouldn’t necessarily feel the sting.

This first half of the first round has the potential to push the Flyers into a very exciting territory. That’s why it would make every single Flyers fan smile ear-to-ear.

Source

Source: https://www.broadstreethockey.com/p...2025-nhl-draft-prospects-mock-draft-rankings/

 

[Philadelphia Flyers]

Who experts have Flyers drafting at No. 6 after scouting combine

The 2025 NHL Draft is now just two weeks away, and there are still plenty of questions about who the Philadelphia Flyers might have available to them at the sixth overall pick.

Things are clearing up at the top with Matthew Schaefer and Michael Misa holding strong. After that, though, it gets a bit murkier.

The next group of centers — Caleb Desnoyers, Anton Frondell, and James Hagens — and winger Porter Martone could be selected in any order. Then you have late-rising centers Brady Martin and Jake O’Brien, and even Roger McQueen could go higher than expected after a healthy combine.

Desnoyers and Frondell were the most popular picks for the Flyers at six in our post-lottery mock draft compilation. Who are the experts expecting now after the scouting combine?

The Athletic (Staff): Porter Martone​

“The top-tier centers coming off the board in the top five might not be ideal for the Flyers, who still need depth at that position. But they also need more size and physicality on the wings, and Martone gives them that, along with some scoring punch. — Kevin Kurz“

The first post-lottery mock draft had the Flyers taking Frondell as the last of the top six on the board. Martone is now the last of that tier, with Frondell’s stock rising to third overall.

While it’s not one of the top-tier centers, Martone is a playmaking power forward who could turn out to be a top-line winger in the NHL. He had 98 points (37 goals, 61 assists) in 57 games with the Brampton Steelheads in the OHL this season.

The Athletic (Pronman): Caleb Desnoyers​

“Desnoyers is a complete center with the size, skating, skill and off-puck play to be a big-minute NHL center, which is something Philly truly craves.“

Note that Pronman’s most recent mock draft came out before the scouting combine, but he still has the Flyers landing one of the top centers after Fondell, Martone, and Hagens go three through five.

Desnoyers is a familiar name to Flyers fans as his brother Elliott was drafted in the fifth round of the 2020 draft. He was named MVP of the QMJHL playoffs as led his Montcon Wildcats to the Memorial Cup Final.

He racked up 30 points (9 goals, 21 assists) in 19 playoff games after putting up 84 points (35 goals, 49 assists) in 56 regular-season games. It’s worth noting that the QMJHL is one of the higher-scoring junior leagues, but Desnoyers has impressed at every level.

The Athletic (Wheeler): James Hagens​

“If Hagens gets here, I think the Flyers like him and would consider taking him. Same goes for Desnoyers, whose well-rounded game and smarts could really support and complement Matvei Michkov. But Desnoyers isn’t going to be there. If Hagens isn’t, I think they lean Martin over Jake O’Brien here in terms of the other centers (though they did take O’Brien to dinner in Buffalo). The pull of a center, and a player like Martin, is real in this range.”

Wheeler gives some good insight into the potential options for the Flyers in his blurb. He is the first one to have Hagens drop to six.

Hagens was considered the top prospect for this draft heading into last season before having a strong — but not amazing — freshman year with Boston College, posting 37 points (11 goals, 26 assists) in as many games. He has the ceiling of a top-line center and the Flyers should be thrilled if he’s available at six.

NHL.com (Kimmelman): James Hagens​

“General manager Daniel Briere has said the Flyers plan to spend some of their draft assets — they have seven of the first 50 selections, including three picks in the first round — on centers. Hagens would be a good place to start. He was a point-per-game player as a college freshman and was a standout for the U.S. at the World Juniors. What he lacks in size he makes up for in dynamic skill and skating.”

Kimelman also has the former No.1 prospect in this draft dropping to the Flyers at six. He’s remaining consistent in the Flyers passing on Martone, who he has going to the Sabres at nine.

NHL.com (Morreale): Jake O’Brien​

“The right-handed shot (6-2, 172) was tied for seventh in the OHL with 98 points (32 goals, 66 assists) in 66 games and had 50 power-play points (nine goals, 41 assists). O’Brien, named OHL Rookie of the Year in 2023-24, has good hands, creativity and can read the ice well with the puck. The Flyers certainly could use some size and flash down the middle and O’Brien, who compares his style to Dallas Stars forward Wyatt Johnston, offers plenty.”

Morreale is in line with his colleague in having the Flyers pass on Martone to land a center, except it’s O’Brien instead of one of the top guys falling to six.

O’Brien (no relation to Jay), had 98 points (32 goals, 66 assists) in 66 games with the Brantford Bulldogs in the OHL this season with 11 points (3 goals, 8 assists) in 11 playoff games as well.

Not landing one of the top centers and passing on the potential of a Martone would be disappointing, but O’Brien’s stock has been rising and you can’t get too mad if the Flyers opt to add another prospect down the middle.

Source

Source: https://www.broadstreethockey.com/p...yers-drafting-at-no-6-after-scouting-combine/

 

[Philadelphia Flyers]

Friday Morning Fly By: Wonder if they Cam do it

*Folks were talking about Cam York’s contract situation yesterday. Which is interesting; wonder if it means there’s been some movement there. [Inquirer]

*Cam York’s contract was the big “I’m Hearing” thing yesterday, but there are other offseason stories to look at as well. [The Athletic]

*Other than that it’s all draft all the time in the hockey world, and here at BSH you people have selected a relatively solid right-handed defenseman with pick 39. [BSH]

*Obviously the main focus for the Flyers (and us, the Flyers fans) is what they’re going to do with that 6th overall pick, but there may be some gems to be found with those later round picks as well. [NBC Sports Philly]

*If you’re a subscriber over at Charlie’s website, you can check out which ten guys he thinks are worth a look once you get past the consensus Top Guys in this draft. [PHLY]

*Speaking of later round guys, Jackson Smith is a real interesting one. So we watched some tape to break down his game for you. [BSH]

*A pretty big trade went down in the Metro Division yesterday. Pretty big! [Sportsnet]

*Speaking of trades, the Flyers really shouldn’t be involving themselves in any bidding wars for mid-tier defensemen. [BSH]

*And finally, the idea of “letting them play” in the playoffs may seem like a good one, particularly if you’re a hockey fan of a certain age. But the fact of the matter is the NHL is ruining what should be the best hockey we watch all year by putting away the rulebook. [Habs Eyes On The Prize]

Source

Source: https://www.broadstreethockey.com/post/friday-morning-fly-by-wonder-if-they-cam-do-it/

 

[Philadelphia Flyers]

2025 BSH Community Draft Board, No. 40: William Moore is a center still putting it together

And just like that, we’ve made it through the top-40! What a journey, and with a ways still left to go. As we hit the 40th spot in our ranking, we’re stopping to check in with William Moore, an intriguing — if a bit projecty — center out of the National Team Development Program.

It’s been an interesting arc for Moore over these last few years — one of the more highly touted prospects coming out of his age-16 year (which saw him scoring two points per game at the junior level), Moore made the jump to join the NTDP but hasn’t really seen his game making the significant steps forward that we might otherwise have expected. The tools are there and often on full display, but he’s struggled to put them all together into a high-impact play style on a consistent basis. All of this brings some question marks about where he stands as a player, but it also might make him an intriguing option for a team looking to make a swing and confident in their ability to right the ship for him with their own development infrastructure.

Pre-draft rankings​

#29 by NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters)
#35 by Elite Prospects
#55 by FC Hockey
#35 by McKeen’s Hockey

Bio​

DOB: March 24, 2007
Birthplace: Mississauga, Ontario, CAN
Position: Center
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 174 lbs
Shoots: Left

Statistics​

What’s there to like?​

Despite the sort of strangeness of his development arc, to date, there’s still a lot to like about Moore as a player. His game might not be overly flashy in aggregate, but he falls more into the category of “guy who does just about everything right.” He can play a responsible game down the middle, bringing a focused, hard checking effort that makes him something of a menace to opponents with the puck. And while he’s not an absolute burner as far as the speed is concerned, he can bring a strong enough overall pace of play to make his game really effective.

Of course, Moore’s game isn’t completely devoid of flash, and he does have the skillset to pull off a high-skill play that really excites viewers. Whether that means bring a show of slick passing through traffic, or manipulating the speed of play to cut through defenders as the puck carrier in the offensive zone, or threading a shot through himself with some noticeable zip, there’s a clear high-level vision of the ice at work for Moore.

He brings a lot of finesse to his game, but he also isn’t afraid of getting to the front of the net for chances — he might not have the frame to be a really dominant physical presence there, but he has to hands to still come away with a good tip-in chance from time to time.

Consistency is going to be key when it comes to Moore’s development at large, and while, as we’ll see, there are some concerns about the habits he’s formed and the ceiling there is to his game, but there’s no doubt that, if he’s able to get things moving in the right direction as he graduated from the National Team Development program and the couple of underwhelming years put together there, there could well be some potential for him to be one of the more interesting steals from this draft.

What’s not to like?​

On the most basic level, Moore is still a bit slight, relative to his frame, at 6’2″ and just a 174 pounds. There’s certainly room for him to grow into that frame, and that’s encouraging, but he’s not there yet. Getting into a college program will likely help with him filling out over time, but he might struggle a bit with the physicality of play at the NCAA level in the meantime, and this might be, shall we say a yellow flag, for any folks who are generally more highly concerned with a prospect’s size.

But the larger concern about his game — if we even want to call it that — is the sort of flip side of the game we laid out in our last section. That is, Moore can bring these real flashes of brilliance, but so far, he hasn’t been able to sustain that in a way which would see him both developing into a higher end player, and raising his stock in the draft, in turn. As much as he can make a play and bring some high skill to the mix, he can look disengaged off-puck and take shifts off, leaving his games looking quiet as a result. The lack of physical maturity likely plays some role in this, but it goes to mentality as well — Moore can seem to pick and choose when he wants to compete at a high level, rather than having a consistently high motor seemingly innate to him, as we’ve seen from prospects elsewhere in this ranking. As it stands, it’s hard to parse out whether this is an issue with the player himself necessarily, or if he’s been somewhat stifled by the structure with the NTDP throughout his time there, so it will be interesting to see how things might change for him when he gets into a program like Boston College’s in the fall.

How would he fit the Flyers’ system?​

The question of fit here is a particularly slippery one because it’s not really clear just yet what exactly Moore is as a player. But, keeping it more basic, from a purely positional standpoint, there could certainly be a fit here. After all, the Flyers are very thin at the center position, and Moore would offer them a bit of much needed bolstering down the middle. And for all of the questions about whether he was held back by a poor fit at the NTDP or if there’s something not quite up to par with his habits, there’s no doubt that there’s the potential for a high-end skillset here, and with the Flyers being a team with draft picks to spare in the second round, Moore might well be the type of high-upside swing that they could look to take.

Could the Flyers actually get him?​

With Moore projected to come off the board somewhere in the early second round, there is a chance that a team might really like to take a shot on him and grab him just about as possible, keeping him out of the Flyers’ reach, but the odds are on him at least being an option for them with one of their own early-round picks. But we’ll see how this shakes out.

What scouts are saying​

“Moore does a bit of everything, from high-end plays right down to the finest details. In his best games, he manipulates defenders with driving crossover rushes, lands look-off passes, crashes the net, and puts on a down-low clinic with possession. He drives wide, gets the defender to follow, and then instantly cuts inside for a better look.

At times, power forward elements in Moore’s game surfaced, combining details with impressive handling skills for big results. Dir. of North American scouting Mitchell Brown wrote about March 22nd, one such performance:

“He was a menace along the walls and in front of the net. He had one shift where he won a battle by engaging the defender a few metres out from the wall, then screened the goalie, freed his stick, and grabbed the rebound. Down low, he battles off two defenders with one hand on his stick before setting up a chance. Won positioning proactively, giving him the inside track for loose pucks, and he also showed much more willingness to control contact/engage back pressure in these positions.”

Putting together all these great pieces has proved challenging for Moore. A lack of strength and sturdiness impacts his physical game and mobility, while a lack of consistent engagement and off-puck speed leads to many quiet nights. Too content to wait for the play to come to him, Moore will have to change his approach to achieve his lofty upside.

If he takes the leap in his development, Moore could become a middle-six, perhaps No. 2 centre. More likely, he gradually improves and becomes a well-rounded bottom-six forward who splits time between wing and centre.”
—Elite Prospects 2025 NHL Draft Guide

“Moore is a 6-foot-2 center who can challenge offensively and go directly at players with his skill and skating but can also at times drift to the perimeter and just needs to attack and create more consistently. When he plays to the middle and gets off the wall to the inside, he can show speed, skill and scoring and be a lot to handle.”
—Scott Wheeler, The Athletic

---

We’re getting closer to winding things down around here, but we’ll stick with one theme a little bit longer, and add another college-track player to the mix. Welcome to the poll, Benjamin Kevan!

“Benjamin Kevan is a little bit of a boom or bust player, but every time I’ve seen him, I’ve seen some very interesting potential. There’s a ways to go to get there and his offensive game is very difficult to project to the NHL, but he’s an impressive skater on the forecheck and creating gaps to make himself a breakout pass target. He’s one of the less active passers with the puck in transition, and he’s going to need to get stronger to fight off and evade pressure at higher levels, but he drove play up the ice very successfully more often than not. He’s one of the worst in the class when it comes to shot selection, peppering the net from all over the offensive zone and not really generating offense for linemates while on the ice. All that said, I can’t help but feel like there’s something more to Kevan in the future. Working dump and chases a bit more, making quicker decisions in the offensive zone to generate shots from other players he’s on the ice with, and coaching down the shot-based tendency he has a bit. He’s one of the most active transition threats of all wingers in this class, and he brings a great flow to his skating stride, but he’s a work in progress likely to need a good college stint to be a likely NHL projection..”
–Will Scouch, scouching.ca

Source

Source: https://www.broadstreethockey.com/p...-moore-is-a-center-still-putting-it-together/