Exploring Trade Up Options for the Flyers

After Monday’s draft lottery, the Philadelphia Flyers are now in possession of the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

After finishing with the fourth-worst record in the NHL, getting the sixth overall pick was quite the disappointment. The Flyers will still be able to select one of James Hagens, Porter Martone, Anton Frondell, and Caleb Desnoyers at No. 6, assuming Matthew Schaefer and Michael Misa go first and second.

However, the Flyers will not be able to pick their ideal target. Instead, they’ll be left with the prospect not wanted by the five teams before them. There is a chance that the Flyers’ preferred player slips to them at No. 6, but that is unlikely.

If the Flyers want to get their preferred player, they’ll have to make a move up in the draft. That said, let’s explore some possible trade-up opportunities.

Would the Sharks be Willing to Trade No. 2 to the Flyers?

A move up in the draft order could be costly for the Flyers. I do not see a world where the Islanders move off the No. 1 pick, so eyes shift to number two. The Sharks picked at No. 1 last year and added Macklin Celebrini.

The Sharks have a solid young core, and with the slotted second overall pick being a center, Michael Misa, the Sharks could easily be persuaded to trade back. The Flyers would have to cough up a pretty penny to do so. Despite it being a four-pick jump, the jump from No. 6 to No. 2 will be costly.

The Flyers will have to deal No. 6, along with one of the Avalanche or Oilers picks, and maybe even one of the later second-round picks the Flyers own. A sweetener may need to be added, but for Michael Misa, it would be worth it.

If the Sharks Don’t Budge, Who Else Would?

Now, let’s say the Flyers are unable to get the Sharks to trade, the next available pick would be Chicago at No. 3. The Blackhawks won’t trade their pick, so all eyes shift to Utah at No. 4.

The fourth pick is much more attainable for the Flyers. The team that still does not have a name (Hockey Club) will likely want a defenseman. Given the amount of talented young forwards on the team, a blueliner makes sense. At No. 4, they would be reaching for the second defenseman off the board (Radim Mrtka?), so they could be convinced to trade back.

The two-pick jump would be far less costly for the Flyers. Flyers GM Danny Briere may be able to make the jump without having to cough up an extra first-round pick. With four second-round picks, it would be an easy decision for the Flyers to make. This move would secure the opportunity to land one of James Hagens or Anton Frondell.

The jump up to the second overall pick to select Michael Misa would be the flashier move. However, the jump to four for Hagens or Frondell would be much easier and more responsible.

A Late Teens Jump

The Flyers’ No. 6 overall spot is not the only pick they can move up from. Philadelphia also owns the first-round picks of the Colorado Avalanche and the Edmonton Oilers. Both picks are projected to fall in the early-to-mid 20s, assuming the Oilers do not make the conference finals.

There are a few teams that could have multiple picks between No. 11 and No. 22. To start, the Montreal Canadiens own picks No. 16 (via CGY) and No. 17. While picking back-to-back is a luxury, it would not be a shock to see one of the two become available at the right offer.

While it is not a jump up from No. 6 to No. 4, a similar compensation could be offered from the Flyers to move up from one of their later firsts to 16 or 17. The Flyers would likely need to throw in an extra sweetener pick to secure that.

The Calgary Flames could also be on trade-back watch. They own the New Jersey Devils’ pick, which won’t move from 18. They also have the Florida Panthers’ pick, which right now is No. 22, but if Florida makes the conference finals, it becomes pick No. 29 at best.

If the Panthers don’t make the conference finals, the Flames could be a team to watch.

Will a Trade Up Even Be Necessary for the Flyers?

The Flyers could make no attempts to move up in the draft order, and while they may not get the flashy prospect they had hoped for with their first pick, they’ll still get a solid pick.

Assuming one and two don’t change, the Flyers will still have a crack at Hagens, Frondell, Martone, and Desnoyers, four quality players. They’ll still be able to get a good player while keeping their picks to make other moves.

If the Flyers decide to trade up, it will be to get their pick of Hagens, Frondell, Martone, or Desnoyers. If they don’t, it shows that they are confident in rolling the dice and taking the player that falls to them.

No matter what the Flyers choose to do, they will get a good player.