Even after selecting Porter Martone and trading up for Jack Nesbitt, the Philadelphia Flyers still have big business to get done in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Following the stunning Trevor Zegras trade, the Flyers still own three picks atop the second round of the NHL draft: picks 36, 40, and 48.
Flyers GM Danny Briere is expecting to use all of those draft assets unless blown away by a trade offer, which means the Flyers will have the opportunity to bolster their rapidly growing prospect pool even further.
And, Jack Nesbitt was one of a few surprises in Friday night's first round, which means the Flyers will have plenty of top talents ripe for the picking Saturday afternoon. Let's discuss the top available players heading into Day 2, in no particular order.
1. Malcolm Spence, LW, Michigan, 6-foot-2, 200 pounds
Malcom Spence was a projected top-20 pick for most of this draft process, but somehow fell out of the first round entirely.
Spence doesn't have a lot of high-end skills, but he's big, skates well, and plays a tenacious game. He's got a decent shot, as well.
The Flyers insist size isn't high on their wish list this year, but Spence could be a fantastic value play at 36 if he escapes the first few selections. I suspect some teams will try to trade up for him, too.
2. Ivan Ryabkin, C, Muskegon, 5-foot-11, 200 pounds
NHL Draft 2025: Final Flyers Big Board, Prospect Rankings
The <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> notoriously have the strangest and most mysterious draft boards, and the trade rumors and hype around the 2025 NHL Draft don't make them any easier to decipher.
Ivan Ryabkin, a former top draft prospect, reportedly tanked the NHL combine, and maybe he's evaded the Flyers' draft boards for that reason.
If not, he should be in consideration at some point in Round 2. The Flyers still need higher-end center talent, even after picking Nesbitt, and Ryabkin is going to be their best bet this late in the draft.
Plus, I selfishly think a Russian menace line of Ryabkin, Matvei Michkov, and Nikita Grebenkin would be lots of fun.
3. Blake Fiddler, RHD, Edmonton, 6-foot-4, 210 pounds
The Flyers already took a big right-shot defender last year in Spencer Gill, and they have Oliver Bonk coming through the ranks, too.
But, Blake Fiddler, like Spence, is found money this late in the draft, regardless of positional needs.
Having Bonk, Gill, and Fiddler in the pipeline means there is no pressure or sunk-cost fallacy if Jamie Drysdale can't put it all together this season.
4. Jack Murtagh, F, Boston, 6-foot-1, 200 pounds
Jack Murtagh is a versatile spark plug forward who would probably become a Flyers fan-favorite after some time in the middle-six.
Murtagh does a lot of things well, and he's a fierce competitor. His shot is great, he can skate like the wind, and he chases the puck like a dog on a bone.
Flyers Draft 2025: Who Are the Best (and Worst) Trade-Up Targets for Philly?
With seven picks in the first two rounds of the 2025 NHL Draft, the possibilities are endless for the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a>. They could use all seven picks, trade up once, trade up twice, or even trade down like they did in 2024.
In the right situation, I think Murtagh can actually be a top-six support winger alongside guys like Martone and Michkov. Adam Henrique is a name that comes to mind in some ways.
5. Alexei Medvedev, G, London, 6-foot-3, 180 pounds
Speaking of Bonk, the Flyers would love to add a goalie prospect in his London Knights teammate, Alexei Medvedev.
Led by overager Austin Elliott, the Knights were already too 'OP', but Medvedev did see some action in the interim.
The New Jersey Devils saw some success picking a Russian goalie playing in North America with average at best stats last year when they picked Mikhail Yegorov in Round 2.
Fast forward to today, a fast start to his NCAA career has made Yegorov one of the hottest goalie prospects in all of hockey.
The Flyers need a goalie, so Medvedev is worth a flier.
6. Shane Vansaghi, RW, Michigan State, 6-foot-2, 220 pounds
Shane Vansaghi, like Nesbitt, is a Flyer. A below-average skater who plays a heavy, physical game and scores at a decent rate, Vansaghi could be a fun addition to Philadelphia's crew.
I mocked Vansaghi to the Flyers once before, but after they added Porter Martone, I am starting to wonder how many right wings one NHL organization can conceivably horde at once.
There's no doubt he'll be in consideration, though.
7. Alex Zharovsky, LW, Tolpar Ufa, 6-foot-1, 165 pounds
8. Kurban Limatov, LHD, Dynamo Moskva, 6-foot-4, 200 pounds
9. William Moore, Boston College, C, 6-foot-2, 180 pounds
10. Jakob Ihs-Wozniak, C, Lulea HF, 6-foot-2, 200 pounds
11. Daniil Prokhorov, RW, Dynamo St. Petersburg, 6-foot-6, 220 pounds
12. Kristian Epperson, LW, Denver, 6-foot, 190 pounds
13. Haoxi Wang, LHD, Oshawa, 6-foot-6, 210 pounds
14. Carter Amico, RHD, Boston, 6-foot-6, 240 pounds
15. Semyon Frolov, G, Spartak Moskva, 6-foot-3, 200 pounds
16. David Bedkowski, RHD, Owen Sound, 6-foot-5, 220 pounds
17. Alex Huang, RHD, Chicoutimi, 6-foot, 170 pounds
18. Charlie Trethewey, RHD, Boston, 6-foot-2, 200 pounds
19. Cameron Schmidt, RW, Vancouver, 5-foot-7, 160 pounds
20. Mace'o Phillips, LHD, Minnesota, 6-foot-6, 240 pounds