The Philadelphia Flyers are mounting a bid to bring the 2027 NHL Draft to the city as the franchise rides renewed momentum after its strongest season since 2020.
Back from the brink — and aiming for a marquee event
For the first time since 2020, the Flyers returned to the playoffs this past season and secured a postseason series win over the Pittsburgh Penguins in a heated Battle of Pennsylvania. That on-ice success has coincided with a flurry of roster and contract moves that the organization hopes will translate into greater national attention — and a chance to host one of the league's largest events.
The team has already locked in goaltender Dan Vladar on a long-term extension and is reported to be pursuing signings of Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale. The Flyers also made a dramatic offer-sheet move for Anaheim center Leo Carlsson, though the club ultimately lost out on that acquisition.
What hosting the draft would mean locally
- A draft in Philadelphia would bring fans, media and NHL personnel downtown, boosting hotels, restaurants and event venues.
- It would elevate the city's profile in professional hockey; the Flyers have hosted the draft only once before, in 2014.
- The bid signals the organization wants to leverage recent competitive gains into lasting commercial and cultural visibility.
"Hope to get an answer from the league this week,"
according to reporting that said a contingent of Flyers executives attended this year's NHL Draft in Buffalo to lobby the league.
Looking back to 2014 and forward to 2027
The last time Philadelphia hosted the draft, in 2014, Aaron Ekblad went first overall to the Florida Panthers. That class included notable names who later became stars across the NHL.
| 2014 Notable Picks | Team |
|---|---|
| Aaron Ekblad (No. 1) | Florida Panthers |
| Leon Draisaitl (No. 3) | Edmonton Oilers |
| William Nylander (No. 8) | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| Dylan Larkin (No. 15) | Detroit Red Wings |
| Travis Sanheim (Flyers, No. 17) | Philadelphia Flyers |
Locally, fans and civic leaders would watch closely if the NHL grants the Flyers' request. A successful bid could deliver a multi-day showcase for Centre City hospitality, while also celebrating the franchise's reemergence as a playoff team.
Prospects and uncertainty for the 2027 class
Early projections for the 2027 draft class include Michigan defenseman Landon DuPont as a potential top pick. DuPont, who played for the Everett Silvertips in the WHL, is credited with 18 goals and 55 assists in 63 games in the source report — numbers that make him a headline name for the next draft cycle.
For the Flyers, hosting the draft would be both a prestige win and a logistical undertaking. The team’s front office appears to be actively courting the opportunity, and the league's decision — expected soon — will determine whether Philadelphia becomes the center of the NHL universe next summer.
Whatever the outcome, the campaign underlines a broader aim: to convert a surprising playoff performance and targeted personnel moves into a sustained rise in competitiveness and prominence for Philadelphia hockey.
