The Flyers still have a lot of difficult work ahead of them to rebuild their franchise, but they have two extremely important building blocks in Matvei Michkov and Porter Martone to lead their next wave. They will need to continue to add talent at the premium positions in center and defense, but they are steadily heading in the right direction.

2024 ranking: 13

2025 NHL Draft grade: A

Player Ranking

1. Matvei Michkov, RW

Dec. 9, 2004 | 5-foot-10 | 176 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 7 in 2023
Tier: NHL All-Star

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Elite
Hockey sense: High-end
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Michkov was one of the best rookies in the NHL this past season. His play had ups and downs, but his ups were tremendous. Michkov is a winger with special skill and hockey sense. He makes unique plays with the puck at an extremely high rate. He shows tremendous creativity with the puck, while also having a sixth sense on how to create scoring chances for others or find his way into a scoring position. Michkov is a game-breaker with the puck, but his play without it has been the issue. He’s a so-so skater, with more good edges than foot speed, and he doesn’t have a ton of physical play in him for an average-sized winger. I did like how much he created at the net this season in the NHL for a guy his size, but ideally, he adds a bit more grind to his play. Even if he doesn’t, his scoring should be so good that he could be a legit star winger for a long time.

2. Porter Martone, RW

Oct. 26, 2006 | 6-foot-3 | 205 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 6 in 2025
Tier: Bubble NHL All-Star and top of the lineup player

Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: High-end
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Martone was a top player in the OHL this season. However, he did struggle at the World Juniors for Canada. Martone’s skill level and creativity with the puck are elite, especially for a man his size. His reach and skill will allow him to beat a ton of NHL defenders one-on-one. He makes a lot of difficult plays and does so in traffic. Martone competes well, showing no hesitancy to engage physically or create at the net. Martone’s major issue is the pace in his game. When he turns the corner and gets up ice, his foot speed is decent, but his first few steps are heavy with a semi-wonky-looking stride, and he doesn’t always play with a ton of tempo. The size/skill combo is so good he could overcome that problem, though. He projects as a top-line scoring winger in the NHL who could put up a ton of points and play a heavy game.

3. Jack Nesbitt, C

Jan. 12, 2007 | 6-foot-4 | 183 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 12 in 2025
Tier: Bubble top and middle of the lineup player

Skating: Poor
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average

Analysis: Nesbitt trended up significantly this season, becoming an important player on a deep Windsor team. Nesbitt is a very skilled center with great size. He can beat players one-on-one at a high rate off the rush and shows a lot of offensive creativity inside the offensive zone. He’s smart and makes a lot of intelligent plays, showing the vision to score in the NHL. He’s a big man who plays heavy and is a reliable 200-foot player that Windsor kept playing more as the season went on and leaned on during important games. His skating stride is heavy, though, and he will struggle to get by NHL defensemen with his foot speed. The hope is that the rest of his game is so good it won’t be a major issue. He has top-six forward potential and could be a second-line center.

4. Oliver Bonk, D

Jan. 9, 2005 | 6-foot-2 | 198 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 22 in 2023
Tier: Bubble top and middle of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: NHL average

Analysis: Bonk was one of the top defensemen in the OHL again this season and a leader on the Memorial Cup champions. His game doesn’t have a ton of highlights in it, but there’s a lot of substance. He’s a very smart and smooth puck mover who makes a lot of good decisions. Bonk has the NHL speed and skill to rush pucks up and make tough plays, but you won’t see him try to be a hero. He makes stops due to his length, feet and brain, although I’d like to see him be a bit harder to play against physically. He checks a lot of boxes you want in a two-way NHL defenseman, and he should eat up minutes at the next level.

5. Yegor Zavragin, G

Aug. 23, 2005 | 6-foot-2 | 183 pounds | Catches left

Drafted: No. 87 in 2023
Tier: Bubble top and middle of the lineup player

Skating: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average

Analysis: Zavragin took significant steps this season, becoming the starting goalie for SKA as a teenager. He came out of the gates flying and hit a wall mid-season, which is somewhat understandable. He’s a super athletic goalie who can make a lot of difficult saves. He has the lateral quickness to make NHL saves. He’s also an aggressive player who cuts off angles well. He can be a little over-aggressive and chaotic in net, but his reads tend to be good, and he squares up a lot of pucks. He has a loud toolkit and looks like a player with the potential to be a starting goalie in the NHL.

6. Jett Luchanko, C

Aug. 21, 2006 | 5-foot-11 | 190 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 13 in 2024
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: Above NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: Below NHL average

Analysis: Luchanko made the Flyers out of camp, looking very impressive. After returning to junior, his OHL season was good, but didn’t rise to the same level. Luchanko’s speed and energy drive his game. He has an explosive stride and when he winds up, he’ll be able to get plenty of controlled entries in the NHL. He competes very hard at both ends of the ice and attacks the tough areas. Luchanko often creates chances for his teammates on the move, in tight and off the edge. His finishing touch has historically been an issue, and overall, he’s never been a major point-producer. The way he plays will make coaches love him, but as an average-sized player who doesn’t score a ton, it’s hard to see him as more than a third-line center currently.

7. Jack Berglund, C

April 10, 2006 | 6-foot-4 | 209 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 51 in 2024
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average

Analysis: Berglund had a fine year, looking good again at the junior level and being a limited minutes player in the SHL. Berglund is a big forward who can play center or wing. He has strong puck skills and vision. I don’t think he’s going to blow you away offensively, but he makes quick decisions, is creative with the puck and can create both off the perimeter and in tight. He doesn’t shy away from using his big body in physical play, which is what you want to see given he has a bit of a sluggish skating stride. His compete level with and without the puck could lend to him being a middle-six forward, and potentially even a third-line center if he hits.

8. Shane Vanshagi, RW

Oct. 11, 2006 | 6-foot-2 | 216 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 48 in 2025
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average

Analysis: Vansaghi played limited minutes on a top NCAA team in Michigan State this season. Despite his role, he still showed a lot of traits that will appeal to a team like the Flyers. He’s got a very high skill level, especially for a 6-2 forward. He beats defenders one-on-one routinely and has a ton of imagination with the puck. He’s a big, heavy winger who drives to the net and doesn’t shy away from physical play, either. Vansaghi’s biggest issue is his foot speed. I’ve seen slower big guys, but he won’t be able to separate at the NHL level. He projects as a middle-six winger.

9. Jack Murtagh, LW

Aug. 22, 2007 | 6-foot-1 | 198 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 40 in 2025
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Murtagh took significant steps forward in his development this season, becoming one of the better players on the U.S. NTDP. He’s a gifted forward with legit speed and skill for the NHL level. On his best shifts when he’s beating defenders wide and attacking with his skill, he can be impactful and his shot is a legit weapon from range. His game can be frustrating at times, though. Murtagh doesn’t see the ice very well, and his compete level can be average. He has decent size and enough talent, though, that he could find a way to be a bottom-six winger.

10. Matthew Gard, C

April 7, 2007 | 6-foot-5 | 192 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 57 in 2025
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average

Analysis: Gard has an intriguing NHL toolkit. He’s a 6-foot-5 forward with very good stick skills and is able to pull pucks through feet and sticks at a clear NHL level. He creates offense in the high-percentage areas. He doesn’t shy from contact, uses his big body and helps his team off the puck. His skating is decent. I’ve seen worse skating from big men and have seen Gard pull away enough to think he can handle the NHL pace. My main concern with Gard is his hockey sense. He can get his points, but I don’t see a forward who makes others better and will create a ton of chances in the pros. The amount of offensive upside in his game will be a debate point, and the lack of sense could push him to the wing. He projects as a bottom-six forward.

11. Alex Bump, LW

Nov. 20, 2003 | 6-feet | 194 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 133 in 2022
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Bump had a great season in college as a leading player for a Western Michigan team that won the national title. He has progressed a lot from his junior days. In junior, he at times looked like a dime-a-dozen junior forward, but in school, he became a driver. He’s very creative as a playmaker and handler, and has a good shot from range too. The biggest issue in Bump’s skill set is his skating. He lacks the quick twitch of an NHL forward, especially given his average-sized frame. His talent should get him games, but I have questions about whether he can translate his college success to the pros.

12. Carson Bjarnason, G

June 30, 2005 | 6-foot-4 | 207 pounds | Catches left

Drafted: No. 51 in 2023
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average

Analysis: Bjarnason was a top goalie in the WHL this past season. He has decent size at 6-foot-3 to go with very good quickness and ability to make the tough saves. Bjarnason is consistently square with pucks and makes difficult stops seem easy due to how well he reads and reacts to the play. He has a lot of efficiency in his game. I don’t think any aspects of his game truly stand out, and he has a history of being inconsistent, but he looked like a legit backup NHL goalie this past season.

13. Nikita Grebenkin, LW

May 2, 2003 | 6-foot-2 | 209 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 135 in 2022
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average

Analysis: Grebenkin had a solid first year in North America. He played some games for the Toronto Maple Leafs and was dealt midseason to Philadelphia as part of the Scott Laughton trade. He’s a good-sized winger with above-average puck skills and vision. He makes a lot of difficult plays with the puck from the perimeter and in traffic. Grebenkin works hard and endears himself to coaches with his compete level and ability to play in traffic. His skating is a notable issue, though, and may keep him as more of a depth piece/fourth-liner.

Has a chance to play*

Spencer Gill and Carter Amico are both huge, mobile defensemen. Amico has a bit more physicality in his game, whereas Gill, despite his size, isn’t a great defender and plays more of an offensive type. Karsen Dorwart was the top college free agent last season. He’s not dynamic in any way, but he’s a well-rounded forward. Denver Barkey was a great junior player for London. He’s a great skater with high-end compete. He has skill and creativity, but for a small forward, I wouldn’t call his puck play ideal.

Carter Amico, D

March 15, 2007 | 6-foot-5 | 234 pounds | Shoots right | Drafted: No. 38 in 2025

Denver Barkey, LW

April 27, 2005 | 5-foot-10 | 157 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 95 in 2023

Spencer Gill, D

Aug. 17, 2006 | 6-foot-4 | 194 pounds | Shoots right | Drafted: No. 59 in 2024

Samu Tuomaala, RW

Jan. 8, 2003 | 5-foot-11 | 190 pounds | Shoots right | Drafted: No. 46 in 2021

Max Westergard, LW

Sept. 3, 2007 | 5-foot-11| 168 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 132 in 2025

* Listed in alphabetical order

Player eligibility: All skaters who are 22 years old or younger as of Sept. 15, 2025, regardless of how many NHL games they’ve played, are eligible. Player heights and weights are taken from the NHL.

Tool grades: Tool grades are based on a scale with six separate levels, with an eye toward how this attribute would grade in the NHL (poor, below-average, average, above-average, high-end and elite). “Average” on this scale means the tool projects as NHL average, which is meant as a positive, not a criticism. Skating, puck skills, hockey sense and compete for every projected NHL player are graded. Shot grades are only included if a shot is notably good or poor.

Tier definitions: Tiers are meant to show roughly where in an average NHL lineup a player projects to slot in.

(Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic. Photo: Emilee Chinn / Getty Images)