The talk of the Flyers\u2019 2025 draft class tends to focus on first-round pick Porter Martone. But after rookie camp, it\u2019s clear why the Flyers traded up to snag Jack Nesbitt at No. 12 \u2014 and why the 18-year-old will be sticking around for the main camp.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think a guy that could surprise, although you\u2019re like, he can go back to junior hockey, would probably be Nesbitt,\u201d Riley Armstrong, the Flyers\u2019 director of player development, said Monday. \u201cKind of see what happens to him, but I really think once he gets out there and starts playing … he\u2019s going to give himself the best opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last season, center Jett Luchanko<\/a>, selected 13th overall in the draft, broke camp with the NHL club at age 18. Could Nesbitt, also a center, follow in his footsteps?<\/p>\n \u201cI think in the end, probably another year of junior hockey would be best for him,\u201d Armstrong said about Nesbitt, who plays in juniors for Windsor of the Ontario Hockey League. <\/p>\n \u201cBut I really think he\u2019s going to really push the envelope, just on his size, his skating, his hands, his hockey IQ is off the chart. And then I don\u2019t know if you noticed in that Friday, Saturday game, he was always at the net, mixing it up, pushing guys around. So he kind of has that whole package.\u201d<\/p>\n At 6-foot-4, 192 pounds \u2014 up 12 pounds from the end of his season \u2014 Nesbitt centered the No. 1 line with two of the Flyers\u2019 top wing prospects, Alex Bump and Samu Tuomaala, during the Rookie Series against the New York Rangers this past weekend. Although he told reporters Monday that he was nervous on the first shift, it wasn\u2019t evident. <\/p>\n Nesbitt showed he can be a puck mover, maintain possession, make smart passes, has a big shot, drives to the net and the dirty areas, and, as Armstrong noted, didn\u2019t shy away from any physicality, whether laying a hit or getting involved in scrums.<\/p>\n He also took a big stride forward with his skating, one of the criticisms when he was selected, and one of the two things he wanted to work on this summer. The other was to gain weight. Check marks on both, which is not a surprise considering he was voted the OHL\u2019s most improved player in the Western Conference by the league\u2019s coaches in 2024-25.<\/p>\n \u201cThat Friday night game, he was dancing out there,\u201d Armstrong said of the game in Allentown. \u201cHe really opened my eyes on how poised he was with the puck, and even his skating. I thought his skating kind of took another step from development camp to here. So I think he\u2019s only going to go up with that over the next couple of years.\u201d<\/p>\n Nesbitt worked with Windsor\u2019s skating coach, Kathy McLlwain, since development camp in early July and said it helped a lot. He was also back in Voorhees in early August, skating with a few of the NHLers, and can feel the improvement in his skating \u2014 especially after Armstrong gave him a tip a few weeks ago.<\/p>\n \u201cHe taught me a little trick to miss one of the eyelets to tie up my laces,\u201d Nesbitt said. \u201cIt definitely helped a lot. Helped me bend forward more with my knees and made a huge difference, which pretty much shocked me.\u201d He noted that he skips the second eyelet from the top and gives him more movement.<\/p>\n \u201cIt helped, but it\u2019s weird.\u201d<\/p>\n NHLers on ice<\/p>\n Luchanko was on the ice with the NHL players at the captains\u2019 practice on Monday. The center, who did not skate at development camp<\/a> because of a groin injury, was held out of on-ice activities for rookie camp<\/a> as a precaution. A team source told The Inquirer last week that the Flyers were holding him back for the team\u2019s main camp, which starts this week.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s good to see him not put on the ice there. … He showed some pretty good bursts of speed and some hands and stuff like that,\u201d Armstrong said. \u201cSo, he definitely belongs. I would love to see him push for a spot out of camp. It\u2019s kind of day by day, to kind of see what he does over the next couple of weeks with the preseason games and things like that, to see where he kind of lands.\u201d<\/p>\n Also on the ice was Tyson Foerster. He is still wearing a non-contact jersey as he recovers from an elbow injury and infection. However, he was getting some contact one-on-one from defenseman Cam York along the boards after things wrapped up.<\/p>\n At the end of the scrimmage, captain Sean Couturier was spotted on the ice working on faceoffs with newcomer Trevor Zegras. Acquired from the Anaheim Ducks in late June, Zegras is expected to be back at center for the Flyers this season after spending the last two on the wing.<\/p>\n \u00bb READ MORE: For Trevor Zegras, the trade to the Flyers is not just a refresh, it is also a homecoming of sorts<\/a><\/p>\n Couturier said earlier this month that his door is always open to help his teammates, especially his fellow pivots.<\/p>\n \u201cExciting to get to work with him, see his skills, and hopefully he reaches that full potential,\u201d the veteran said of the 24-year-old Zegras. \u201cHe\u2019s definitely going to be a big part of our future and a big impact on our team. Exciting to see him get going with us.\u201d<\/p>\n Breakaways<\/p>\n The team announced that registration is open for the 2025 Flyers Learn to Play Rookie Program<\/a>. For a second straight year, forward Owen Tippett and his wife, Taylor, will serve as ambassadors for the program across the season. \u201cStepping into the role of ambassadors and getting the chance to jump on the ice with these kids was an incredible experience,\u201d Tippett said in the team\u2019s press release. \u201cWatching them learn and grow was inspiring, and the impact they had on us was just as meaningful as the one we hope we had on them.\u201d The program is open to children ages 5-9, and information is available at nhl.com\/flyers\/news. … Also on Monday, the Flyers released their promotional schedule<\/a>, which involves giveaways, theme nights, and community nights. Notable events include Military Appreciation Night on Nov. 12, Hockey Fights Cancer on Nov. 20, and the Pride Game on Jan. 12. There are also several dollar nights, including dollar dog nights on Dec. 9 and March 24.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The talk of the Flyers\u2019 2025 draft class tends to focus on first-round pick Porter Martone. 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