Flyers Mock Draft: Expert Predicts Controversial Scenario

Can the Flyers really afford to pass on James Hagens? (Photo: David Reginek, Imagn Images)

The 2025 NHL Draft is officially just one week away, and with that comes the final renditions of experts' Philadelphia Flyers mock drafts, complete with some educated guesses and inside scoops.

This latest Flyers mock draft scenario, with all 224 picks predicted by The Athletic prospects expert Corey Pronman, might be controversial for some Flyers fans. A little more controversial than is par for the course, anyway.

In Pronman's latest mock draft, the Flyers stay put with the No. 6 overall pick and select Brantford Bulldogs center Jake O'Brien. Ok, so, what's the big deal?

This one is more about who the Flyers did not pick rather than who they did.

For example, Boston College ace James Hagens, compared to New Jersey Devils superstar Jack Hughes, goes two picks later to the Seattle Kraken, who already have Berkly Catton, Shane Wright, and Matty Beniers in their system.

After Hagens goes Porter Martone, a bigger, meaner version of Matvei Michkov, to the Buffalo Sabres at No. 9.

These two forwards are widely considered to be the two most talented on the board after consensus No. 1 Michael Misa, who went second in this mock draft with Matthew Schaefer, of course, going first.

"James Hagens is possible here, although it would give them a rather small core," Pronman wrote. "O'Brien makes a lot of sense, though, and people in the league think this is a possible landing spot for him as well."

O'Brien is talented enough to go sixth, but probably not over Hagens and Martone. He's a playmaker in the purest sense of the term. O'Brien is big, crafty, has eyes in the back of his head, and can execute all the plays he imagines in his head.

The two biggest knocks against him are his foot speed and one-dimensional approach; O'Brien tends to defer, which allows smarter defenders to simply sag, play the pass, and shut opportunities down before they arise.

And the latter may give some Flyers fans brief flashbacks to the unceremonious end to Morgan Frost's tenure on Broad Street.

Skipping by the 22nd pick, Pronman also mocks right wings Jakob Ihs-Wozniak and Vaclav Nestrasil to the Flyers in the 30s, and Philadelphia ultimately passes on talents like Jack Murtagh (LW/C) and Semyon Frolov (G).

Ivan Ryabkin, one of my "guys" for the Flyers this year based on his talent level and playstyle, does end up going to the Orange and Black after a lengthy fall down to 48.

It should be noted, though, that with Frolov and Joshua Ravensbergen in range for the Flyers at different points in the mock draft, Pronman ultimately did not mock a single goalie to Philadelphia.

Given that the Flyers had the NHL's worst save percentage in 2024-25 and did not pick a single goalie in 2024, that is a scenario Danny Briere and Co. cannot afford to live out on the 28th.

Otherwise, they're putting all their eggs in the baskets of Carson Bjarnason and Egor Zavragin, and it wouldn't be fair to paint them as the saviors in goal before they play a single pro game in North America.

A controversial Flyers mock draft indeed, but it will be encouraging for fans to know how easy it will be to horde talent with the right choices made.