The Philadelphia Flyers entered the 2025 NHL Draft with a clear objective: to solidify their long-term vision by adding impactful talent to their prospect pool. With the selection of Porter Martone and Jack Nesbitt in the first round, the Flyers not only addressed crucial positional needs but also underscored a commitment to building a team characterized by size, skill, and grit.

With the sixth overall pick, the Flyers selected Porter Martone from the Brampton Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Martone, an 18-year-old winger, brings a unique blend of offensive prowess and physical play. As captain of the Steelheads, he amassed an impressive 98 points (37 goals, 61 assists) in 57 games, ranking among the OHL's top scorers. Martone's leadership qualities and ability to impact the game in multiple ways made him an attractive prospect for the Flyers. "I am just really excited to bring my skill set and my personality to the Flyers organization," Martone said. "I want to go in there and just add to their culture and continue to try to win a Stanley Cup." Flyers General Manager Daniel Briere noted, "It's not a secret, I've said it from the get-go we wanted centers, But Porter, in that range, was the one guy that we felt we just couldn't let go by."

The Flyers then executed a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins, acquiring the 12th overall pick in exchange for the 22nd and 31st selections. With the 12th pick, Philadelphia chose Jack Nesbitt, a 6-foot-5 center from the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL. Nesbitt, also 18, is a promising two-way center who combines size, playmaking ability, and goal-scoring touch. In 65 games with the Spitfires, he recorded 64 points (25 goals, 39 assists). Briere highlighted Nesbitt's size, grit, playmaking abilities, and goal scoring. "We saw him play the second half of the season, he took a big step on a really good Windsor team," Briere said. "We saw him play a few times in live as well. He was very impressive." Nesbitt himself expressed excitement about joining the Flyers, saying, "I am just super excited to get going and get down to Philadelphia."

The selections of Martone and Nesbitt reflect the Flyers' desire to build a team that is not only skilled but also physically imposing. Both players possess the size and strength to compete in the tough areas of the ice, while also contributing offensively. This emphasis on size and skill aligns with the modern NHL, where teams need to be able to play with both finesse and physicality. Several analysts praised the Flyers' draft, with Corey Pronman of The Athletic giving them a grade of A. Pronman noted that Martone has the potential to be a first-line winger with size, while Nesbitt could develop into a second-line center. Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff lauded the Flyers for getting tougher to play against, highlighting the physicality of Nesbitt and other draft picks.

While some analysts questioned the decision to trade up for Nesbitt, suggesting he might have been available later in the draft, most agreed that the Flyers had a strong first round. The acquisition of Trevor Zegras prior to the draft further underscores the Flyers' intent to accelerate their rebuild and become competitive sooner rather than later. The Flyers continued the 2025 NHL Draft by selecting seven more players in Rounds 2-7. The Flyers drafted nine prospects, with only Westergard in the fifth round and Quinn in the sixth measuring in at below six feet tall.

With a combination of high-end skill and imposing size, the Flyers are aiming to create a team that can compete with the league's best for years to come. This draft could be pivotal in reshaping the team's competitive landscape for the future.