The 2025 NHL Draft grows ever closer, and as time runs thin, it begins to seem as if the Philadelphia Flyers will actually be making at least the lion’s share of the six picks that they currently possess within the first 50 selections.
Therefore, it is starting to become more important to try and zero in on good value plays that may be available after the Flyers make their first pick at number six. In a way, it’s more important to get the later picks right; whoever you take in the top 10 was already viewed as a consensus great player, in the later rounds the front office’s job is to unearth the talent that others may have missed.
And here are some guys that I think some front offices may miss.
Cameron Reid, LD
Reid is shifty and mobile, capable of dancing on the opposing blueline with little worry or risk, as his quick and explosive strides are able to get him out of trouble quickly. It’s the same story when he escapes pressure behind the net, or enters the zone with pace as the primary puck carrier. Reid has a fantastic skating tool, and he’s not only quick in a straight line; his ability to use pivots and agility to his advantage sets him apart from most of the other draft eligible defenders.
He has a very high level rush game, and very few defensemen in this draft can replicate the sort of burst and offensive aptitude that Reid possesses. He brings to mind wistful memories of an early Shayne Gostisbehere with his stop/start moves at the point, and he is able to roll off of pressure with the best of them, sometimes using the forechecker’s momentum against them.
He isn’t a Dawg in the traditional sense; he isn’t going to run anyone through the boards, but he is an absolute handful on the offensive side, while still being a very competent and astute defender that has an extra gear to his offensive game. Reid’s confidence with the puck is a skill that a lot of NHL defenders don’t even truly master until their third or fourth seasons, and while there’s no guarantee that it translates ideally to the pro level, it’s very encouraging, and has fueled his rise from the fringes of Round one, to perhaps just outside the top 10 if a team deciedes to take a shot on him. He’s been flying up draft boards since I wrote this article originally, but still, someone might get a real steal.
Charlie Trethewey, RD
The USNTDP tends to be a place where forwards get most of the plaudits, and this year is no different, with names like Moore, Horcoff, McKinney and Murtagh all projected to be late first rounders. But on the defensive side there is an interesting name that should be available later into the second round in Charlie Trethewey. Committed to Boston University for next season, Trethewey brings a pretty packed toolbox for a young defenseman, with a heavy shot to go alongside a stout defensive game, stocked with physicality and good instincts.
Trethewey knows how to be a defenseman, he clears the front of the net, closes gaps well, and clears pucks from dangerous areas. With him, it’s a matter of whether or not he can develop some of the more flashy parts of his game to take a next step towards become something really special, because the basics are there, for the most part.
He possesses the much desired right handed shot, and while he doesn’t have the highest ceiling, there are traits that suggest he can become a real solid middle play defender at the next level. He’s going to Boston University next year, so we’ll see how he stacks up, but with his combination of a strong stride and the ability to handle himself physically, Trethewey should be able to acquit himself well and become a key piece at BU. There may be more here, and he should still be on the board late into the second round and maybe even the third, so the risk is really worth taking.
Benjamin Kindel, C
Benjamin Kindel is one of my favorite players in this draft thus far. The Calgary Hitman winger loves to change the pace of play all over the ice, whether it’s falling in line seamlessly behind his teammates on the rush, or using his combination of speed and hands to beat defenders to the outside. He can use his body well too, shielding off defenders and While he does have the vision and great passing ability to be a player that gets his teammates involved, the Kindel plays that stood out to me were the moments where he decided to take a second, pick a spot, and beat a goaltender. It can be a one-timer, snap shot, or a move in tight, Kindel will find a way to get the puck to tickle the twine. He is resourceful offensively, and able to balance his playmaking and goalscoring instincts well.
Ninety-nine points in 65 games isn’t anything to scoff at, and the raw numbers are pretty indicative of just how well-rounded Kindel’s offensive game is, 35 goals and 64 assists is a pretty even spread, and when watching him play it tracks. Kindel seems like he could fit seamlessly as a linemate alongside some truly elite, generational talents, he does everything well, and he is willing to get to the dirty areas despite only measuring in at around 5-foot-10.
But ultimately, Kindel just has this flair, an inherent ability to make something out of nothing that gets fans on their feet. His movements exude confidence, and that doesn’t impede him from still having a high motor. At the U-18 championships this summer, Kindel stood out well on a stacked Canadian squad, and looked like a first round talent. Whoever takes him late in the first round is getting a steal.
Luca Romano, C
The second Kitchener Ranger to land on this list, Romano is a slick playmaker up the middle who thrives in transition. He really seemed to take over as the engine of the Kitchener offense at times and was comfortable with manoeuvring through the neutral zone and generating zone time. Other scouts have given his hockey sense a more average grade, but I like the ability to get to spots. He finds open ice well, and while he isn’t the most dynamic finisher, his hands around the net are still more than adequate.
Fire up #OHLAssists – it's the first goal in the #OHL Overtime Heroes program! 🔥
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) March 29, 2025
Luca Romano fires home a $2,000 donation to a charity of his choice and the @OHLRangers take Game 1! pic.twitter.com/OJcLcKEqwD
Additionally, he stays active off the puck and is constantly looking to win puck battles all over the ice, pushing the pace and playing the game with controlled aggression. He combines that with some really slick stickhandling and puck skills and you get a true playmaking force that has the ability to distribute all over the ice in a calm and collected manner. I really like his willingness to get into the mix as well.
At a lighter 5-foot-11, Romano could easily just have ignored the more effort-based aspects of the game and focused on inflating his numbers at all cost. Instead, he really seems to have matured into a true full-ice player with some dogged work ethic, allowing for his projection to expand just beyond having to hit as a middle-six, tertiary scoring option. Romano could find a role deep in some very good lineups, especially if he could develop a player who can seamlessly transition from line-to-line, and even play some center if needed.
The small-ish player with some skill and a high motor is always in vogue, and I like Romano as a shot in the dark later in round 2.
Bill Zonnon, C
In addition to having one of the best names of the draft, Bill Zonnon also plays the sort of gritty, middle-six game that makes coaches swoon. A relentless forechecker, Zonnon has a motor that doesn’t quit, and the requisite frame (6-foot-1, 190 lbs) to make defensemen worried when he comes barreling in. He plays a game that stands out due to high effort plays, but it isn’t just strictly down to effort. Zonnon is cerebral and responsible, often supporting his teammates and providing an outlet for relief all over the ice. Not many wingers are as defensively astute as Zonnon is, and he has a really good head for knowing where the weak points on the ice are, both defensively and offensively.
He uses that IQ to enhance his playmaking, and it has turned him into a really confident player who knows the importance of keeping the puck moving and playing with pace. Rarely is he caught on the puck for too long, and his ability to pass and move smartly combined with his high motor makes him a nightmare in the cycle game. He has an NHL-ready frame as an 18-year-old at 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, and if you could find a way to refine his skating stride with pro coaching, there a lot more there to unlock. He also played center down the stretch in the QMJHL with Rouyn-Noranda which, while he probably won’t be able to do at the NHL-level, is a testament to his full 200 foot game.
Zonnon should be going at the end of the first round, and I have to say, if any team is looking to emulate the Florida Panthers’ game plan, I’d look at this guy first. He just doesn’t stop.
