PhHN Daily
PhHN Daily: Flyers Prospects Postseason, Pick Watch, & More Around the NHL
The Philadelphia Flyers are fresh off a bad loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. After a stretch of real strong defensive play, it was the defense that vanished and the offense that showed up in Sunday’s game.
Among other Flyers-related news, the OHL season is officially over, meaning Jett Luchanko is now free to make his return to Pennsylvania–but where will he go?
The NCAA and CHL playoff field has been set, and seven Flyers prospects and their teams are moving on to the postseason.
Read along with the Philly Hockey Now Daily for another pick-watch update and some news around the National Hockey Now network!
Read More: What to do with Jett Luchanko
NCAA, CHL, Postseason Set; Which Flyers Prospects are in?
Let’s start with the NCAA. The college hockey National Championship tournament features 16 teams. There are four regionals, with one game per round, and the winner of each regional advances to the Frozen Four.
Starting with the NCHC Forward of the Year, Alex Bump and the Western Michigan Broncos head to Fargo, North Dakota, to take on the Minnesota State Mavericks in the first round. The winner of that game plays the winner of Minnesota vs. UMass to go to the Frozen Four.
The only other Flyers prospect in the NCAA tournament–Devin Kaplan and the Boston University Bulldogs. They head to Toledo, Ohio, for a date with the Ohio State Buckeyes, the former home of Noah Powell, who has since gone to OHL. The winner of that game takes on the winner between Michigan State and Cornell. The Flyers have been linked to Spartans center Karsen Dorwart as a post-NCAA season signing.
In the OHL, Oliver Bonk and Denver Barkey of the perennial powerhouse London Knights, along with Noah Powell and the Oshawa Generals, are in the playoffs. London takes on the Owen Sound Attack in round one, while the Generals take on Brampton Steelheads.
In the WHL, goaltender Carson Bjarnason and the Brandon Wheat Kings have a date with the Lethbridge Hurricanes in round one. Carter Sotheran and the Portland Winterhawks are in the WHL playoffs as well, as they travel to take on the Prince George Cougars in the first round.
In the QMJHL, Spencer Gill and the No. 2 seeded Rimouski Oceanic take on the Charlottetown Islanders in the first round of the playoffs.
If the Flyers were looking for either of these prospects to join the organization at some point this season, it would have to wait until their postseason run is complete.
Read More: PhHN Daily, Prospect Edition: Flyers Eyeing B1G Center, NCHC Awards, & More
Pick Watch
The Flyers lost to the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday, keeping them at 65 points and in 5th overall before the lottery.
The Flyers maintained their position, but how did the teams around the Flyers fare on Sunday?
For starters, the Buffalo Sabres won shockingly over the Winnipeg Jets, bumping them to 62 points. They still are fourth, and the Flyers still have three points to catch up to if they want to jump Buffalo for fourth, but it’s a start.
The Nashville Predators lost to the St. Louis Blues on Sunday, holding their ground at 60 points and the No. 3 overall spot.
On the other side of the Flyers, the Pittsburgh Penguins took the Florida Panthers to the shootout but did not come away with the win. Pittsburgh still earned a point, moving them to 69 points, and now above the Anaheim Ducks. The Flyers now have a four-point cushion between them and the Penguins.
Speaking of the Ducks, they lost to the Hurricanes on Sunday, so they still stay at 68 points.
Monday’s slate does not have any real pick-watch games. However, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Nashville, Seattle, and, of course, the Flyers are all in action on Tuesday.
Read More: Flyers Pick Watch: Where Will the Flyers be Drafting?
Around the NHL
Boston Hockey Now: Who doesn’t love a good goalie fight? Well, I guess you could say the refs from the Bruins vs. Kings game last night. Jeremy Swayman and Darcey Kuemper tried to go for the big bout, but the referees stepped in and ended it. Andrew Fantucchio of Boston Hockey Now breaks down what could have been.
Chicago Hockey Now: Have you ever been curious about the opposing game story from a Flyers game? If you have, then check out Greg Boysen’s gamer from yesterday’s Flyers at Blackhawks game!
New Jersey Hockey Now: It may be a day late, but hey, better late than never! Devils’s head coach Sheldon Keefe called out New Jersey’s newly extended defenseman, criticizing him for his poor play recently.
Vegas Hockey Now: The Vegas Golden Knights scored three early goals and protected their lead as they cruised to a 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightnings. However, it did come at a cost for the Knights, as they lost Tomáš Hertl to injury in the game.
Read More: Flyers 2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: James Hagens (PhHN+)
I think you forgot Cole Knuble (also on Wester Michigan)…?
Knuble is on Notre Dame! They were eliminated, but I don’t expect him to join the Flyers—he has a chance to be NDs 1C next year. That will by far better for his development.
My apologies!
All good! It wouldn’t be hammered in my brain so much if I didn’t spend almost three years covering PSU/B1G hockey!
PSU in play-offs…go Lions.
Disagree that the Chicago loss was s bad loss. On the contrary, it was one of the best losses of the season. Not easy to lose to the Hawks, but Fedo came up small and got help up and down the lineup to pull it off. Keep it up guys. If you can lose to Chicago, you can lose to anyone.