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Flyers could have three shots at ‘dynamic, explosive skater' on the wing originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The 2025 NHL draft is a huge one for the Flyers’ rebuild.

Not only does Danny Briere have a lot of high-round picks at his disposal, but he also could be creative in how he uses them.

“There are all kinds of possibilities here,” the Flyers’ general manager said in April. “I think it’s really exciting going into it. It’s powerful to have so many picks like that. I think a lot of teams will be wanting to have discussions with us to make some things happen — teams that don’t have picks or teams that want to tweak things.”

So it’s a busy time for the Flyers leading up to the draft, which will be held June 27-28. The first round is Friday at 7 p.m. ET, while Rounds 2-7 are Saturday starting at noon ET.

“There are really good players in this draft,” TSN director of scouting Craig Button said May 27 in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “Maybe people say it’s not a good draft; I’m not buying it. I think this draft has got lots of good players.”

The Flyers are slotted to make 11 picks, including three first-rounders and four second-rounders. Their first-round selections will come at No. 6 (own pick), No. 22 (Sean Walker trade) and either No. 31 or 32 (Oilers trade).

Before the draft arrives, we’re breaking down first-round targets for the Flyers.

Next up:

Cameron Schmidt

Position: Winger
Height: 5-foot-8
Weight: 160
Shoots: Right
Team: Vancouver

Scouting report

The moment his legs start to churn, Schmidt becomes a blur. He’s lightning fast and can flat-out finish, putting up 40 goals and 78 points in 61 regular-season games for the 2024-25 Giants.

Schmidt had 10 multi-goal games and 32 of his points came on the power play (14 goals, 18 assists). He added four goals and five assists in five playoff games.

“I think he’s a dynamo,” Button, a former NHL GM and scout, said. “He’s a great athlete, great skater, he has got a wicked good shot and he can score. I really believe that Cameron, if he wanted to this year, could have scored 55 goals. Cameron was focused in on really developing his game in other areas, being a player that was not just a goal scorer and not just an offensive player. I really admire him for doing that at this young of an age.”

At the 2025 IIHF U-18 World Junior Championship that ended last month, Schmidt had a solid performance with four points (two goals, two assists) in seven games for gold-winning Team Canada. He’s the 17th-ranked player in the draft on Button’s list.

“He’s a dynamic, dynamic, explosive skater, but he really worked on developing those other parts of his game,” Button said. “His path is going to be a little bit longer just because of his lack of height. But he’s wiry strong for a young player and when I talk about elusive and evasive, you have to be, you have to have separation when you’re that size, you have to be able to create space for yourself to get your shot off and arrive at the right times where there’s space. And I think he does all that.”

Undeniably, Schmidt will see his stock take a hit because he’s pretty undersized. How will his game translate to the pro level? With time, he’ll have to add strength to prove he can protect the puck and play in the trenches.

Schmidt is the 22nd-ranked player by EliteProspects.com, while NHL Central Scouting has him pegged at No. 43 among North American skaters.

“He’s going to fall into the vast majority of players that need more time, not less,” Button said. “I just see so much dynamic skill in him. … He might not be as feisty as Brendan Gallagher has shown in his NHL career, but he’s that type of player. He’s going to attack you with his speed, he’s confident in his scoring ability and when he sees an opening, he sees an opportunity, he can take full advantage of it.”

Fit with Flyers

The Flyers definitely could use more speed and goal scoring in their system, so Schmidt would check those boxes. His game-breaking ability is enticing and the Flyers might have a chance to draft him with the second or third of their first-round picks.

But the Flyers do lack some size on the wing in their prospect pool. Would that deter them from going the smaller route early in this draft?

It’s awfully tough to project if undersized junior forwards will make it at the NHL level. However, Schmidt’s strengths are high end and would be worth adding at the right pick.

More targets

• Hagens is ‘Matt Duchene type of player’ who could be on Flyers’ radar at No. 6

• Flyers would probably love if Barkov-like prospect is available at No. 6

• ‘Fascinating,’ 6-foot-5 center has tons of intrigue for Flyers at No. 6

• Younger brother of Flyers prospect is ‘complete’ center and option at No. 6

• ‘David Krejci-like’ center with plenty of upside would give Flyers good decision

• Could a 6-foot-6, ‘just blossoming’ defenseman be a fit for Flyers at No. 6?

• Will Flyers grab prospect with ‘really, really unique’ combination at No. 6?

• Reschny’s performance vs. 2024 top prospect should have Flyers’ eye in first round

We’ve got quite a Stanley Cup Final on our hands.

The Edmonton Oilers erased a three-goal deficit in Game 4, defeating the Florida Panthers 5-4 in overtime to even the championship series at two games apiece.

Just like in Game 3, it was the Panthers who got on the scoreboard first.

With both Evander Kane and Darnell Nurse in the penalty box, Florida was able to quickly capitalize on the 5-on-3 opportunity.

Right off the ensuing faceoff, Matthew Tkachuk wired a shot past the blocker of a screened Stuart Skinner and into the net to give Florida a 1-0 lead with 8:20 left in the opening period.

Less than four minutes later, Mattias Ekholm was called for high-sticking Brad Marchand, giving the Panthers another power play.

A pretty passing play through the Oilers zone had the puck on Sam Reinhart’s stick in the slot, and while his shot was stopped by Skinner, Tkachuk was right there to pounce on the rebound to give Florida a 2-0 lead.

They weren’t done there.

During the final minute of the period, Carter Verhaeghe stole the puck from Troy Stecher behind Edmonton's net and fed a streaking Anton Lundell, who made no mistake, beating Skinner and sending Florida into the intermission with a 3-0 lead.

That would be all for Stuart Skinner. He was replaced by Calvin Pickard for the second straight game after surrendering three goals on 17 shots.

Also similarly to Game 3, an early second period power play would prove to be fruitful for the Oilers.

Sam Bennett was sent off for a slash, and a quick passing play found Ryan Nugent-Hopkins at the left faceoff circle and he got the Oilers on the board 3:33 into the middle frame.

A sharp angle shot by Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse went over Bob’s shoulder and into the top of the net, cutting the Panthers lead to 3-2 with just over seven minutes to go.

Shortly after that, right off a faceoff in Florida’s end, the rebound of a wraparound by Nurse found its way to the slot, where Visily Podkolzin sent a backhand bast Bobrovsky to tie the game at three.

Edmonton nearly took their first lead of the night when on a third period power play, but Bobrovsky came up with an incredible skate blade save on Corey Perry on the doorstep.

That first lead would come for the Oilers with 6:24 to go.

Jake Walman came down from the point and stepped into a one-timer that flew over Bobrovsky’s glove, putting Edmonton up 4-3 and further silencing the sellout crowd.

In the final minute, with Bobrovsky on the bench, Florida’s final push would pay off.

Sam Reinhart found the puck at the bottom of the left circle and fired it from a tight angle into a yawning cage with just 19.3 left in regulation.

The jubilation felt by the Panthers and their fans would be short lived, though.

Leon Draisaitl found the back of the net at 11:18 of the first overtime session, giving the Oilers an incredible comeback victory and tying the series a two games apiece.

On to Game 5.

QUICK THOUGHTS

Tkachuk’s goals were his first of the Final and sixth and seventh of the playoffs.

He’s racked up three goals and 11 points over his past nine games.

Sasha Barkov had the primary assist on Tkachuk’s PPG. It was Barkov’s first point of the Final and 18th of the postseason. He added another assist later in the game.

Lundell has points in three straight Final games, with a goal and three assist during the run.

Verhaeghe is riding a five-game points streak, with three goals and eight points over that stretch.

Reinhart has logged back-to-back multi-point outings. He had a goal and two assists in Game 4.

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Jun 12, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (29) (not pictured) scores in overtime against the Florida Panthers in game four of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

The Florida Panthers led 3-0 in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup final against the Edmonton Oilers.

But, they lost.

Matthew Tkachuk and the stars of the defending champion Panthers smothered the Oilers in the first period.

Edmonton’s veterans responded fiercely, scoring four straight goals to take a 4-3 lead. The Panthers rebounded, scoring in the final seconds of the third period to force overtime. But, Oilers star Leon Draisaitl scored 11:18 into OT to give Edmonton a 5-4, series-tying victory Thursday night.

The Oilers became the first road team to rally from a three-goal deficit and win a Stanley Cup final game since the Montreal Canadiens did it against the Seattle Metropolitans in 1919. It’s only the sixth time in NHL history that a team has come back from down three to win a final game.

What initially looked like an easy victory that would put Florida one win away from clinching a second straight Stanley Cup final turned into a huge collapse that has the series tied 2-2 heading back to Edmonton.

“We carried play in the first, they carried it in the second,” Tkachuk said. “Special teams were good for us in the first, special teams were good for them in the second. I think it was tighter than a 3-0 period at the start for us. And they clearly took control of play in the second. After two [periods] it’s even, and it probably should have been. So, it doesn’t matter how you how you start, you’ve got to treat it as zeros at the start of a period.”

It has been that kind of series so far – an evenly matched, back and forth heavyweight fight between two extremely experienced, resilient teams. The final has been so tight that three of four games have gone to overtime, marking just the eighth Stanley Cup final – and fourth in the expansion era (since 1967-68) – to have three or more games require overtime.

Despite the loss, Florida coach Paul Maurice said he could appreciate the competitiveness.

“I think we focus on sometimes the mistakes that get made by good players at times,” Maurice said, “and you miss some of the heart and soul and the intensity of it. It’s so fast. Every board battle, everything can turn into something. ... Everything is dangerous all the time. So there’s a mental intensity, a mental toughness I think both teams show that the game’s not going to be over until it is.”

Sam Reinhart nearly saved the collapse Thursday when he scored a tying goal in the waning seconds of regulation. His score with 19.5 seconds left was the second-latest tying goal in Stanley Cup Final history. The record was set earlier in the series by Edmonton’s Corey Perry in Game 2.

Florida, who got a pair of early power-play goals from Tkachuk and an even-strength score from Anton Lundell, had never squandered a 3-0 lead in the postseason. Entering Thursday night, teams were 37-0 when leading a Stanley Cup final game by three or more goals in the first period.

After building the three-goal lead, Tkachuk said he felt the Panthers weren’t connected. Reinhart added he felt they were playing too passively.

“I think we were watching the play develop,” Reinhart said, “as opposed to playing on our toes, and that’s obviously how they got back in the game.”

Edmonton, boosted by second period goals from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Darnell Nurse and Vasily Podkolzin, became the seventh team in NHL history to overcome a three-goal deficit in the Stanley Cup final to win.

The Oilers also seemed to get a huge boost of momentum after coach Kris Knoblauch decided to pull starting goaltender Stuart Skinner after the Calvin Pickard allowed three goals in the first period.

The good news for the Panthers is they’ve responded well this postseason following letdowns.

Florida seem to relish the moments when the pressure is the highest. That’s what the experience of playing in their third straight Stanley Cup final has taught the Panthers. And its a quality that will be needed if they’re going to regroup from Game 4’s disappointing finish.

“The more times you go through it, the better,” Reinhart said. “It’s never going to be perfect. This time of year, we’ve been here before. We’ve been through it. So ... it’s about recovering for Game 5.”

Among the 19,000-plus on hand at Amerant Bank Arena were a pair of high-profile spectators: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. The pop icon and Super Bowl-winning tight end arrived amid heavy speculation and pregame fanfare, with VIP entrances sealed off and a helicopter seen landing nearby.

Swift and Kelce were shown on the broadcast during the first period, holding hands as they made their way to their seats. It marked yet another high-profile sporting event for the couple, whose appearances at NFL games and US Open tennis matches have drawn mass attention since going public in 2023.

Also in the building were hockey legends Wayne Gretzky, Jaromir Jagr and Henrik Lundqvist, along with former NFL star Jason Taylor and Miami Heat veterans Bam Adebayo and Udonis Haslem.

But by the end of the night, the loudest cheers came from a pocket of Edmonton fans – and a growing chorus that this final is far from over.

SUNRISE – Game 4 of the Stanley Cup final was like weather in the Midwest: if you didn't like how it was going, you just had to wait a few minutes.

The Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers took turns controlling the play, and in the end, it was Leon Draisaitl being the overtime hero yet again and Edmonton tying the series with an incredible 5-4 comeback overtime victory.

Connor McDavid came out flying on the opening shift, but Florida managed to get out without taking any damage. From then on, it was all Panthers in the first.

Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner was under siege early and made some big stops, including a massive sprawling save on Sam Bennett. Edmonton did take away the middle of the ice pretty effectively, and with the way Skinner was playing, his 'Mr. Game 4' reputation seemed to be intact.

Midway through the frame, however, Evander Kane took a high-sticking penalty and one minute later, Darnell Nurse was given the gate for tripping Aleksander Barkov. That gave Florida a 5-on-3 power play and Matthew Tkachuk made no mistake, cashing in on a low wrister after a faceoff win by Barkov.

On the other side of the rink, Sergei Bobrovsky wasn't busy, though he did make a tough stop on an Evan Bouchard blast from the point. Soon after, Mattias Ekholm took a high-sticking penalty on Brad Marchand and once again, Florida went to the power play.

On a somewhat broken play, Tkachuk got his second of the night, picking up a Sam Reinhart rebound at the side of the net and flipping it over Skinner. Things went from bad to worse for Edmonton at the end of the period when Carter Verhaeghe stole the puck from Troy Stecher behind the net, centering the puck for Anton Lundell, who popped one in for a 3-0 Cats lead. The period ended with Florida dominating in shots 17-7 and, truly, in overall game play.

There was drama to begin the second period, as Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch replaced Skinner with Calvin Pickard. The gambit apparently worked though, as Edmonton threw the game off its axis.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins got the party going on the power play, snapping a wrister past Bobrovsky almost immediately. Dmitry Kulikov later took a holding-the-stick penalty and though the Cats survived that kill, the Oilers were clearly beginning to roll.

A surprise snipe from defenseman Darnell Nurse made it 3-2, with the big blueliner going high blocker side on Bobrovsky. After McDavid nearly tied it on a gonzo rush, Vasily Podkolzin came through with a backhand off a centering pass from Nurse. All of a sudden, a game that seemed over early was tied.

Florida nearly retook the lead late, but Mattias Ekholm blocked a Tkachuk shot that was headed for a yawning cage. After two periods, the shots were nearly even. 

The Cats carried a power play into the third thanks to a late Draisaitl elbow on Gustav Forsling, but Pickard was up to the task, making a massive toe-save on Barkov. He followed that up with a couple of big stops on Evan Rodrigues and Eetu Luostarinen at even strength.

Bobrovsky, not to be outdone, made a huge save on Corey Perry during an Edmonton power play.

The tides turned again when Jake Walman stepped into a slap shot at the faceoff dot and blasted one past Bobrovsky for Edmonton's first lead of the game with a little more than six minutes to play.

With Bobrovsky pulled for the extra attacker, Reinhart found a loose puck and buried the tying goal with 20 seconds remaining.

In overtime, the teams were sharp and the goaltenders had to be too. Bobrovsky survived a scramble early, while Pickard made some 10-bell saves - once with the help of his posts.

In the end, it was Draisaitl playing the winner off Niko Mikkola's leg with 8:42 remaining in the extra frame to secure an improbable win for Edmonton.

The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live: Reacting To Game 4 Between Oilers And PanthersWelcome to The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live, streaming during the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs.

After Game 5 in Edmonton on Saturday, one of these teams will be won away from winning the Stanley Cup.

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Welcome to The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live, streaming during the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs.

After each game of the Stanley Cup final, our experts go live to react to the match that was, break down the key moments and storylines and read your opinions.

On tonight's show, Emma Lingan, Michael Traikos and Michael Augello react to a rollercoaster Game 4 of the final between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers.

Join the conversation in the comment section and send in your questions. They may end up on the post-game show.

Florida Panthers vs Edmonton Oilers Game 4 - Playoff FrenzyWelcome to Playoff Frenzy Live by The Hockey News presented by STIX.com, where we give our live reactions and break down the latest news to all the biggest g...

Stay tuned to The Hockey News and Playoff Frenzy Live throughout the Stanley Cup final.

Check out the show here.

Promo image credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Former Red Wings defenceman Jake Walman scores clutch goal in Game 4 of Stanley Cup Finals.

In Game 4 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Finals, played at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, the Panthers leapt to a stunning three‑goal lead in the first period, stunning the Oilers and their fans. But Edmonton roared back in the second, leveling the score 3–3 and setting the stage for a dramatic finish. 

Late in the third, Jake Walman made potentially the biggest play of his career. The 29‑year‑old defenseman originally drafted 82nd overall by Detroit in 2014 and who skated parts of three seasons with the Red Wings from 2019 to 2022.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

With ice in his veins, Walman ripped a one-timer from the point and beat the Panthers' netminder Sergei Bobrovsky, giving Edmonton a 4–3 lead. It marked his first goal of the Finals, a moment that sealed a crucial win on the road in Florida. 

Walman’s impact this postseason has been undeniable. Since arriving in Edmonton at the trade deadline, he tallied 8 points in 15 regular-season games and added 4 in 15 playoff contests, while posting a stellar plus‑11 rating, ranking among the team’s best, underlining his value on both ends of the ice.

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His foundational years in Detroit helped shape his reliable two‑way game; analysts and coaches credit that pedigree for his composed performance in high-stakes moments. 

Edmonton Coach Kris Knoblauch has been vocal about how critical Walman has been to Seattle’s blue line, explicitly stating that they "wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Jake."

His goal in Game  4 not only broke Florida’s momentum but gave the Oilers life in a must-win game. The Panthers would go on to tie the game with less than 20 seconds left, sending things to overtime.

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