Flyers to hold 2025 NHL draft party at the Hard Rock in Atlantic City

Regardless of who the Flyers pick in the first round of the NHL draft on June 27, the vibes will be flowing. Beginning at 6 p.m., Philly will descend on Atlantic City, as the team will host a draft party at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

“The 2025 NHL draft marks an important milestone for our team, and we couldn’t be more grateful to share it in real time with our loyal fan base,” Todd Glickman, Comcast Spectacor’s chief revenue and business officer, said in a press release. “We encourage fans to come to the Shore or join us from Shore getaways to celebrate a special evening with the Flyers and our great partner, the Hard Rock.”

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Flyers governor Dan Hilferty, former players Mark Recchi and Todd Fedoruk, who are a Flyers team ambassador and radio analyst, respectively, and new coach Rick Tocchet are expected to be at the draft party.

The Flyers also will be hunkered down in Atlantic City. This year’s draft is decentralized, and while the top prospects will be in Los Angeles, teams are staying home. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman will announce the first overall pick, which is expected to be defenseman Matthew Schaefer to the New York Islanders, and special guests, including celebrities and former players, are expected to announce the remaining 31 picks in the first round.

The broadcast of the draft begins at 7 p.m. (ESPN, ESPN+), and the Flyers have Picks Nos. 6, 22, and 31 or 32 in the first round. The last pick depends on whether the Edmonton Oilers win the Stanley Cup. Philly has eight more selections across Rounds 2-7, including four in the second. Day 2 begins at noon on June 28 (ESPN+, NHL Network).

The Flyers have selected sixth three times before, taking Bob Currier in 1969, Behn Wilson in 1978, and Peter Forsberg in 1991. Currier never played in the NHL. Wilson, a defenseman from Toronto, represented the Flyers in the 1981 NHL All-Star Game and was fourth in Calder Trophy voting as the league’s best rookie in 1978-79. Flyers rookie Matvei Michkov recently finished fourth in voting for this year’s Calder Trophy.

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Forsberg famously was part of the deal to acquire Eric Lindros from Quebec. The Swede went on to win the Calder Trophy in 1995, the Hart Trophy in 2003, and two Stanley Cups with the Colorado Avalanche. Named one of the NHL’s 100 greatest players in 2018, he signed as a free agent with the Flyers in August 2005 and played in 100 games with the team that drafted him in the twilight of his career.

Fans unable to attend can watch the first round on ESPN or ESPN+. The draft party in Atlantic City costs $6 because the Flyers are selecting with the No. 6 pick.

The Flyers Alumni is hosting multiple events during the offseason, beginning with a pickleball tournament on June 21 at Bounce Pickleball in Malvern. Alumni expected to be in attendance include Paul Holmgren, Mike Knuble, Ron Sutter, Al Secord, Brad Marsh, Terry Carkner, Scott Daniels, Neil Little, Lindsay Carson, Jesse Boulerice, and John Paddock. … On June 22, there will be a 5K and “Conquer Conshy” bicycle challenge in Conshohocken. Several of Saturday’s pickleball participants will be there, with Bill Clement, Bob Kelly, Joe Watson, Mark Howe, and Chris Therien expected to join them. … The next day, June 23, the alumni will be hosting a golf tournament at DuPont Country Club in Wilmington. Fedoruk, Dave Brown, Carkner, Gilbert Dionne, Frank Bialowis, Brian Dobbin, and Andy Delmore are among the alumni expected to participate.