{"id":60670,"date":"2025-08-05T17:36:11","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T17:36:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/60670\/"},"modified":"2025-08-05T17:36:11","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T17:36:11","slug":"2025-26-nhl-prospect-pool-breakdown-philadelphia-flyers-top-10","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/60670\/","title":{"rendered":"2025-26 NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown: Philadelphia Flyers\u2019 Top 10"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome back.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s time for Daily Faceoff\u2019s third annual NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown, looking at the best all 32 teams have to offer. We\u2019re highlighting the top 10 prospects for every franchise, their biggest strengths and weaknesses and so much more.<\/p>\n

The criteria for being labeled a \u201cprospect\u201d are simple: players generally have to have played in 50 or fewer NHL games or spent more time outside of the NHL than in it last year. Players over 23 years old are not included,\u00a0with goaltenders needing to be 25 or under.<\/p>\n

Today, we\u2019re breaking down the Philadelphia Flyers.<\/a><\/p>\n

I loved what the Flyers did at the draft. Porter Martone? One of my favorites. Jack Nesbitt? I get the fit. Jack Murtagh, Shane Vansaghi and Carter Amico in the second? Nice. <\/p>\n

The Flyers bulked up their pipeline in a big way earlier this year, improving upon a group that saw Matvei Michkov, Emil Andrae and Alexei Kolosov <\/a>play significant NHL games. It was a terrible season for the club, but the youth had a chance to earn their ice time, and that\u2019s never a bad thing for a team that had no hope heading into the season.<\/p>\n

Philadelphia is set for another ugly season in 2025-26, but a handful of young prospects should see some NHL time. Don\u2019t be surprised if Jett Luchanko, Oliver Bonk, Alex Bump and Nikita Grebenkin all start the year battling for NHL roster spots, with potentially all of them heading back down to either junior or Lehigh Valley before too long.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s going to be a few more ugly years for the franchise, but at least the youngsters will be worth watching.<\/p>\n

Biggest Strength<\/p>\n

The Broad Street Bullies are BIG. Like, tough, get out of the way or you\u2019ll die-type guys. If Martone could match his intensity with his build, he\u2019d be an electric power forward. Nesbitt was one of the strongest forwards from the 2025 NHL Draft. Amico stands tall at 6-foot-6, and Vansaghi can hit as hard as anyone. Flyers fans love players who lay everything on the line, and if this pipeline shapes out the way it could, the team might be one of the toughest to play against sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n

Biggest Weakness<\/p>\n

While the Flyers have some decent defensive depth, I\u2019m not sure they have a difference-maker on the blueline. Bonk is a solid prospect, but I don\u2019t think he\u2019ll be a top-pairing guy. Amico is fine, but missed most of the season due to injury. Spencer Gill is more of a depth guy, too. Philadelphia\u2019s blueline leaves a lot to be desired, and I don\u2019t think the farm system is going to do much to change that in the near future.<\/p>\n

Fast Facts:
NHL GM: Daniel Briere
Dir. of Player Development:\u00a0Riley Armstrong
AHL\u00a0Affiliate: Lehigh Valley Phantoms
ECHL Affiliate:\u00a0Reading Royals<\/p>\n

TOP 10 PROSPECTS<\/p>\n

\"PhiladelphiaJett Luchanko (Eric Hartline-Imagn Images)<\/p>\n

1. Porter Martone, RW, 18 (Michigan State University, NCAA)<\/p>\n

Acquired: Drafted sixth overall, first round in 2025<\/p>\n

Martone is going to look like a steal at No. 6. He had arguably the best vision from the 2025 NHL Draft class and has some of the best offensive IQ, too. While his skating might lack and some scouts wish he\u2019d be more physical, everyone agrees that\u00a0he\u2019s one of the smartest players in this draft class<\/a>. He just understands the game and how to exploit opportunities. Martone will probably need to line up with a play-driving center to continue producing at the next level, but his ability to absolutely dominate with the puck \u2013 and impact the offensive zone without it \u2013 makes him so lethal.\u00a0<\/p>\n

2. Jett Luchanko, C, 19 (Guelph Storm, OHL)<\/p>\n

Acquired: Drafted 13th overall, first round in 2024<\/p>\n

Luchanko started the 2024-25 season in the NHL, which was a bit of a surprise. But his excellent training camp was hard to ignore, making the Flyers look so smart for taking him earlier than expected last year. I thought he had a strong showing at the World Juniors, showing some leadership and a developed two-way game. Luchanko has very little to prove with Guelph, so you have to think the Flyers will keep him around again to start the season. Right now, I think the ceiling for Luchanko will be that of a second-line center, but I think his true value will be in the way he does everything so reliably. <\/p>\n

3. Oliver Bonk, RHD, 20 (Lehigh Valley Phantoms, AHL)<\/p>\n

Acquired: Drafted 22nd overall, first round in 2023<\/p>\n

\"\"Oliver Bonk (Steven Ellis\/The Nation Network)<\/p>\n

It felt like we never saw Bonk at his absolute best. It was almost like his puck game just wasn\u2019t 100 percent where it needed to be. That being said, there was still so much to love. He reads plays well, covers a lot of space and beats defenders with his hockey sense. At the very least, I think he can be a No. 4 or 5 defenseman for the Flyers \u2013 someone who can play a lot of minutes if needed, but also a matchup nightmare if he plays 18-20. If he can clean up his puck play and add a bit more pace, Bonk could end up becoming a big piece of the future.<\/p>\n

4. Yegor Zavragin, G, 19 (SKA St. Petersburg, KHL)<\/p>\n

Acquired: Drafted 87th overall, third round in 2023<\/p>\n

Zavragin was one of the better junior-aged goalies in Europe this year, posting solid numbers in the KHL with HK Sochi and SKA St. Petersburg. He was then loaned back to the MHL for the playoffs and put on a clinic with some outstanding performances. Zavragin is a 6-foot-2 goaltender who moves well around the net, and his glove hand is very quick, too. Flyers fans are excited about Zavragin, and rightfully so \u2013 especially given the up-and-down nature of Philly\u2019s crease in recent years. He\u2019s under contract with St. Petersburg until 2027, so there\u2019s plenty of time for him to keep pushing for more starts and control his post-to-post movements.<\/p>\n

5. Jack Nesbitt, C, 18 (Windsor Spitfires, OHL)<\/p>\n

Acquired: Drafted 12th overall, first round in 2025<\/p>\n

Nesbitt was often one of Windsor\u2019s better shot generators this past year, and while he didn\u2019t put up Liam Greentree numbers, he still finished at close to a point per game. He\u2019s a big, 6-foot-4 center \u2013 teams typically like that. I wish he had more top speed, but I think Nesbitt has a solid ceiling. He demonstrated his ability to excel around the net during the U-18s, creating havoc and pushing opponents around while jumping in on rebounds. Some scouts don\u2019t know if he\u2019ll be more than a third-line center, but his mix of size and offensive awareness makes me convinced he\u2019ll be a good NHLer as a baseline.<\/p>\n

6. Denver Barkey, C, 20 (Lehigh Valley Phantoms, AHL) <\/p>\n

Acquired: Drafted 95th overall, third round in 2023<\/p>\n

\"DenverDenver Barkey (Natalie Shaver\/OHL Images)<\/p>\n

Barkey had another productive season, registering 82 points in his fourth year in the OHL. He played just 50 games due to injury, but he was still so dominant as a playmaker. That continued in the playoffs, where he had 20 points in just 10 games, and another seven at the Memorial Cup. It was an exceptionally productive season for the undersized forward, but the real test will begin once he kicks things off in the AHL. He has done a solid job of improving his physicality, and he\u2019s as good a support player as you\u2019ll find. While Barkey isn\u2019t big at 5-foot-10, I think he\u2019s versatile enough to play anywhere in the lineup.<\/p>\n

7. Alex Bump, LW, 21 (Lehigh Valley Phantoms, AHL)<\/p>\n

Acquired: Drafted fifth round, 133rd overall in 2022 <\/p>\n

Bump had an excellent sophomore season at Western Michigan, leading the team to a national title. He then finished off the AHL season with three points in two regular-season games before joining the team for the playoffs. He loves to generate scoring chances, and he\u2019s no slouch as a playmaker, either. I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if he made the Flyers out of training camp, but I hope the team spends significant time with him working on his skating. He has the skill to be a decent middle-six threat for the Flyers, but scouts are worried about his pace once he jumps to the NHL.<\/p>\n

8. Jack Murtagh, C\/LW, 17 (Boston University, NCAA)<\/p>\n

Acquired: Drafted 40th overall, second round in 2025<\/p>\n

I liked the Flyers\u2019 selection of Murtagh \u2013 it felt like a good value pick. Murtagh is a skilled puck handler who can absolutely fire a shot and is a bit of a workhorse, too. I think he\u2019s a good skater and has the hockey sense you\u2019re looking for in a second or third-liner. I\u2019ve been impressed in most of my viewings this year, and he\u2019s one of the primary reasons to watch the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. He\u2019s speedy, works hard and when you put it all together, he\u2019s a difficult player to contain. I think he can become a middle-six forward.<\/p>\n

9. Shane Vansaghi, RW (Michigan State Univ., NCAA)<\/p>\n

Acquired: Drafted 48th overall, second round in 2025<\/p>\n

\"\"Shane Vansaghi (Steven Ellis\/The Nation Network)<\/p>\n

Vansaghi has exactly what you\u2019re looking for from a bottom-six forward: he hits hard, brings energy, and never gives up on a play. We saw him bounce all throughout the MSU lineup this year, and he has always found ways to produce. I think Vansaghi already possesses many pro traits, such as a good work ethic, a powerful release and a commitment to two-way dominance. I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if Vansaghi is a full-time NHLer right out of college \u2013 perhaps as early as next season. The upside isn\u2019t high \u2013 I don\u2019t expect him to explode offensively \u2013 but I like him. <\/p>\n

10. Nikita Grebenkin, LW, 22 (Lehigh Valley Phantoms, AHL)<\/p>\n

Acquired: Traded by Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a> in 2025 <\/p>\n

Acquired in the Scott Laughton deal, there were many in the Toronto area who were sad to see Grebenkin go. That\u2019s partly because he has a big personality, but he also gave it his all every shift. Grebenkin loves having the puck on his stick. He can be creative in 1-on-1 situations, doing his best to deke guys out and create a chance. He\u2019s better as a setup guy, especially when paired with a speedy, skilled shooter. Grebenkin does an excellent job of cycling the puck. He\u2019s able to shrug off shoves from bigger players, keep the play alive and then generate a scoring chance. Grebenkin has also figured out how to use his size to push opponents around \u2013 so much so that I can see him becoming a solid support player in the bottom six.<\/p>\n

The rest: Karsen Dorwart, LW (22), Devin Kaplan, LW (21), Alexis Gendron, RW (21), Samu Tuomaala, RW (22), Jon-Randall Avon, C (22), Matthew Gard, C (18), Max Westergard, LW (17), Nathan Quinn, C (17), Jack Berglund, C (19), Ilya Paitov, RW (19), Noah Powell, RW (20), Heikki Ruohonen, C (19), Alex Ciernik, LW (20), Cole Knuble, RW (21), Ryan MacPherson, C (20), Santeri Sulku, LW (21), Owen McLaughlin, C (22), Austin Moline, RHD (19), Carter Amico, RHD (18), Luke Vollswyk, RHD (18), Hunter McDonald, LHD (23), Spencer Gill, RHD (18), Ty Murchison, RHD (22), Ethan Samson, RHD (21), Carson Bjarnason, G (20)<\/p>\n

SPONSORED BY bet365<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Welcome back. It\u2019s time for Daily Faceoff\u2019s third annual NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown, looking at the best all…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":60671,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[66],"tags":[385,99],"class_list":["post-60670","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nhl","tag-nhl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60670","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60670"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60670\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/60671"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60670"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60670"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60670"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}