James: What I would Do in the NHL Draft

PARADISE, NV - JUNE 28: Jett Luchanko is drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round during the Upper Deck NHL Draft on June 28, 2024 at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Speer/Icon Sportswire)

The NHL Draft is right around the corner–like, tomorrow night, around the corner.

After what has been a long offseason of talking and speculating about this draft, it is almost here.

There will be a lot of noise. Trade rumors and pick speculation will only intensify until the last pick of the draft is made on Saturday.

NHL teams will be looking to move up in the draft, just as other teams will be looking to move back and reacquire assets. Some teams will be looking to use draft capital to acquire players to help teams right now, while others will be looking to stockpile assets for the future.

The question for the Flyers: where do they fit in?

They already made a buy-low, high-reward trade with the Anaheim Ducks to acquire Trevor Zegras, but does that change the plan?

The Flyers are still rebuilding, so it should be the easy answer that they should just focus on the future. However, could they be just one more piece away from becoming a legitimate contender?

The Flyers will be in the middle of everything come draft night.

With that, I leave what I would do if I were the Flyers in the NHL Draft.

Take the Best Player Available, Plain and Simple

The Flyers have a history of reaching for positional need rather than taking the best player available. Just last NHL Draft, they took Jett Luchanko over Zeev Buium. While Luchanko has definitely been a surprise, passing on Buium’s talent could haunt the Flyers.

In 2019, the Flyers passed on Cole Caufield to select Cam York. Again, positional need influenced the draft, and it led to the Flyers passing on a talented scoring forward, which just so happens to be an incredible need for the team today.

Now, I am an Oliver Bonk believer, so I won’t write him off just yet. However, it’s worth mentioning nonetheless. The Flyers passed on Gabe Perrault in favor of Oliver Bonk in 2023 solely because they drafted Matvei Michkov earlier in the draft, and felt they did not need a forward.

This absolutely cannot be the case on draft night. For the purpose of this, let’s say Michael Misa, Caleb Desnoyers, James Hagens, and Anton Frondell are all gone by the time the Flyers pick. You are between Jake O’Brien and Porter Martone. The Flyers cannot leave Martone on the board; he is the best player available, plain and simple.

Or, for a different argument’s sake, let’s look at this scenario. You have to choose between Brady Martin or Hagens at No. 6. With the acquisition of Zegras, Martin’s physicality would be beneficial. However, do you still believe that he will be an all-around better player than Hagens? Talent should not be left on the board, early, for need.

Draft for need at No. 22, or even trade up. Stick with the best player on the board at No. 6. This is the most important thing I would do if I were the Flyers.

Leave Friday With At Least One Defenseman

Now, unless Matthew Schaefer has a massive slide, I would not sniff a defenseman at No. 6. However, that is not to say I would not take one later in the draft. I would actually try to take a defenseman at No. 22 or No. 31, or even trade up for one of the tier two defenders.

The Flyers’ defensive prospect pool is pretty bleak. It could use a shiny new prized prospect. Here is the list of enticing Flyers defensive prospects: Oliver Bonk.

See, not very deep. That is why taking a first-round defender is something I would prioritize with every pick after No. 6. I am a very big believer of not leaving talent on the board, which is why my own preference would be to trade up into the teens if Jackson Smith slips.

However, if staying put, Sascha Boumedienne at No. 22 or Henry Bzustewicz at No. 31 would be great picks.

The Flyers need another prospect, alongside Bonk, that will actually have top-4 potential. I don’t know if I see that with Helge Grans, and I am unsure where I stand on Emil Andrae. What I do know is that the Flyers would greatly benefit from the addition of a defenseman, and the back of this draft is full of them.

Don’t Make All Six Picks in the Top-48

The Flyers had seven picks in the top 48. After trading No. 45 in the Trevor Zegras deal, they now have six: 6, 22, 31, 36, 40, 48. Just because you’ve already traded one, doesn’t mean you should pick the rest.

The Flyers should not pick with all of their first and second-round picks.

Go out and trade for another key, young player. Go find another buy low with a high reward. They are still out there. Or, don’t sit and wait for the right prospect to fall. Do something. If you have as much draft capital as the Flyers do, it is a lot easier to wheel and deal to move up the draft order.

Don’t sit around at No. 22, hoping that a tier-three defender falls in your lap. Go make a move to land one of the top defensemen. Even six players in the top 64 players in the same draft year is absurd.

In an ideal world, the Flyers are drafting no more than five players in the first two rounds of the NHL Draft. At least, that’s what I would do.

Stick With Your Gut

The Flyers have put a lot of stock in the 2025 NHL Draft. They acquired Colorado’s pick in this draft because they preferred it; they pushed the Florida pick to 2025 when they essentially swapped first-round picks with Edmonton, signaling their preference for this class.

Since then, there has been a lot of criticism about this class being weak, and it is actually the next class that is stronger. Isn’t that how it always goes?

The Flyers need to block out the noise and stick with their gut. You acquired two additional first-rounders in this class for a reason. There are many reasons to stand your ground.

First of all, 2026 first-rounders have an abnormally high value as they are seen as Gavin McKenna lottery tickets. Teams will put a high price tag on picks, even though 31 of them won’t win said lottery.

In fact, it could eventually end up costing teams additional assets to try and push their first-round pick to 2026.

Don’t punt on this draft just because next year’s class is better. I would be willing to bet that this time next year, we hear, “It is a two-player draft. Outside of McKenna and Stenberg, 2026 is a much weaker class than 2027.”

If I were the Flyers, I would hold my ground and work with the class that the front office and scouts believed was the best class.