The picks just keep on rolling in here — a more enviable pace, for those who made it all the way through last night’s first round — and the Flyers closed out their first half of picks made with the 57th selection, where they grabbed sizable (at 6’5 and 194 pounds) center Matthew Gard.
🔶 WELCOME TO PHILLY! 🔶
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) June 28, 2025
With our fourth selection in the second round of the 2025 #NHLDraft, we are proud to select Matthew Gard with the 57th overall pick. pic.twitter.com/M1czUNRn0q
Having just wrapped up his second season with Red Deer of the WHL, Gard took a nice little step forward in his draft year — continuing to build his game, growing into his frame, and taking a little step forward on the offensive side as well, putting up 19 goals and 36 points over 66 games played, after totaling seven goals and 18 points in his rookie season. It’s not a massive output, of course, but it’s still a nice bit of movement in the right direction put in on a Red Deer team which struggled a bit this past season.
We’ll turn things over to the fine folks over at Elite Prospects for their wisdom here, their big picture look at Gard from this year’s draft guide.
“There are no sure things in scouting, but Matthew Gard is about as close as one gets outside the upper echelon of the draft class. With defensive impact, motor, and size, he’s a straightforward projection to fill a role in the NHL, and there’s upside waiting to be unlocked.
A highly detailed defensive centre, Gard already looks like an NHLer on many shifts. Proactive and calculated, he gets above the puck, guides attacks to the outside, clamps down on sticks, and supports down low. In the rare instance he’s not already positioned perfectly, his open-ice speed and reach propel him back into the play. And he’s just as effective on the forecheck, combining these same skills with physicality.
With the details comes an impressive motor, writes Head Crossover Scout Daniel Gee about a March viewing:
“It would be tough to find a player who works harder than Gard on a shift-to-shift basis. He bullies his way into the corners, throws his body on the forecheck, and is always high-tempo.”
The upside comes from Gard’s dynamic and playmaking potential. Always in motion without the puck, he gives his teammates an easy-to-hit option, accelerates through the pass, and creates a speed differential to beat the defence. Those skills also open passing lanes, which he’s always keen to exploit with slip or backhand pass inside.
Down low, Gard combines his forechecking skills with playmaking, turning steals into point-blank chances with turnaround passes. Occasionally, he draws in pressure, spins off it, and drives inside for a better look, too. In a very low-scoring environment – his 36 points led the team – Gard didn’t have much support on many of his plays. Still, he could become a more precise and consistent offensive contributor by further refining his mechanics and play selection.
In all likelihood, Gard’s defensive game and safeguarding approach will be enough to earn him an NHL role, likely on the fourth line. If he taps into the offence more, he could become a strong third-line centre, too.”
There’s clearly some room for Gard to continue to build his game as he returns for this next season in the WHL, but it’s clear what the Flyers might like in the profile he brings.
“Matthew Gard knows how to use that great length and strength that he possesses.” Adds Elite Prospects’ Cam Robinson, reporting from Canada’s U18s game against Finland. “He loves pushing pressure through his reach advantages. It allowed him to take downward pressure from the defender, spin and break the puck out with a bank pass or chip to the middle. Had a great two-touch pass in the slot to Schmidt for the open net but he hit the post. Blasted a couple of big hits in the offensive end. But his minutes were shaved considerably as the game wore on. Looks like a super safe checking role projection.”
The Flyers have made a couple of upside bets so far here, but it’s evident that they also want to add some size and physicality down the middle to balance out some of the smaller, more skilled players in their mix. Gard is a higher floor type of player, and one who brings a hard-checking, physical style which very well could mesh well with what the Flyers are building towards.
