Corey Pronman’s latest look back at the 2025 NHL Draft suggests the Flyers came out better than some might have thought on draft night.
The Athletic’s senior NHL prospect analyst used his 2025 NHL Re-Draft to reassess the class, and several Philadelphia picks held up well. The biggest endorsement landed on Porter Martone, whom the Flyers took sixth overall.
In Pronman’s new rankings, Martone sits third overall and is slotted as a “Top of the lineup” player. That puts him in the middle of the three prospects in that tier.
For a pick made in the top six, that kind of placement stands out. Philadelphia passed on Caleb Desnoyers and Brady Martin, who went with the two selections ahead of Martone, while James Hagens and Jake O’Brien were still available after him. Pronman’s re-ranking suggests the Flyers may have landed in a very good spot anyway.
The other first-rounder in Philadelphia’s class also got a strong nod. The Flyers traded up on draft night to grab Jack Nesbitt 12th overall out of Windsor in the OHL.
Nesbitt was just shy of a point-per-game player in his draft year, finishing with 64 points in 65 games. He followed that with 58 points in 55 games in his D+1 season, and his 25 goals matched the total from the year before.
That production didn’t exactly scream breakout, especially for a player many expected to take a bigger step. Still, Pronman wasn’t moved much by the quieter offensive jump. He placed Nesbitt ninth in the class and labeled him a “Bubble top and middle of the lineup player.”
Philadelphia’s second-rounders also made noise in the re-draft.
Matthew Gard, another two-way center, climbed from 57th overall in 2025 to 36th in Pronman’s updated list after a strong WHL season that showed more of his offensive game. Shane Vansaghi, taken 48th overall, moved up three spots to 45th. Vansaghi, described as one of the “veteran” leaders on the Michigan State Spartans team, has not produced much offensively, but he still earned the bump.
One of the biggest risers in the Flyers’ class was winger Max Westergard. Philadelphia grabbed him with the 132nd pick in 2025, and the Finnish winger put up 30 points in 20 games in the Swedish U20 Nationell, then added 23 points in 15 playoff games. He also stood out at World Juniors, and that showing helped push him all the way up to 73rd in Pronman’s re-draft.
In Other News...
Ex-Flyer Sparks Debate With Blunt Take On NHL Life
Egor Zamulas path has taken another turn, and for Flyers fans it adds one more layer to a career that never quite settled into a long NHL run. The former Philadelphia defenseman recently spoke about his time in North America after signing on in Russia, reflecting on the adjustment from everyday life to the rink and the way his game changed along the way.
What stood out most in the interview was his blunt comparison of hockey culture on both sides of the Atlantic. Zamula said he prefers the fan atmosphere back home, while still acknowledging the moments in North America that stuck with him, including one outdoor game against New Jersey that he called memorable. For a player who once seemed to be working toward a bigger role in Philadelphia, it is another reminder of how quickly the sport can send a career in a different direction. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Camp Could Force Tough Roster Calls Up Front And On Defense
Training camp in Voorhees is shaping up to be less about a big splash and more about sorting out the details of a roster that still has room to grow. Danny Briere spent the offseason with an eye on the long term, and with only limited major moves made, the Flyers are heading into camp with a few open questions that could shape both the forward group and the blue line.
For a team trying to balance development with competitiveness, those decisions will matter almost immediately once players hit the ice in New Jersey. The camp battles should give Philadelphia a clearer picture of who is ready to grab a job and who may need more time, with several young players expected to make their case in a setting where every shift can change the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Are Taking A Different Approach With Jett Luchanko
Jett Luchankos first summer as a Flyers prospect has come with more rehab than on-ice work, a reminder that Philadelphia is thinking well beyond the next training camp. The 2024 first-round pick has been dealing with a lingering core and lower-body issue for a while, and the organization has made clear it would rather take the slow lane than push for any quick return.
For the Flyers, that means patience is part of the plan, not a detour from it. Luchanko is expected to get back on the ice soon, but the bigger picture points further ahead, with the club viewing his development through a long-term lens and preparing for him to begin the 2026-27 season with Lehigh Valley. It is a different kind of path for a top pick, but one Philadelphia seems committed to following. [Read more 🡒]