The Flyers’ prospect list has a different look now that the 2026 NHL Draft is in the books, and the organization’s depth is starting to show in a few different ways. Philadelphia added several names to the pipeline, and with plenty of draft capital still in hand, the club has room to keep chasing talent when the moment is right.
At the same time, a couple of young players who were still technically prospects have already started to leave a mark at the NHL level. Denver Barkey and Alex Bump both made their presence felt during a key stretch of games in 2025-26, and for this ranking, both are being treated as graduated.
That leaves a pool that’s viewed as solid overall - somewhere in the top half of the league - even if it doesn’t feature a ton of headline-grabbing names beyond Porter Martone. With that in mind, here’s the updated look at the Flyers’ prospects from 10 through 6 heading into 2026-27.
- Brek Liske, RD, Everett (WHL) (’26 Round 2, 53 Overall)
Brek Liske stood out in the 2026 NHL Draft as one of the most well-rounded players on the board. The 6’2″ right-shot defenseman does a little bit of everything, and there’s still plenty of room for his game to grow.
He wasn’t a first-round pick, but the upside is obvious enough to keep the excitement level high. Liske is a pesky defender who stays on opponents, handles rushes well, and wins a lot of battles on retrievals. There’s some offense in there too.
If there’s a Flyers prospect most likely to climb fast, Liske looks like the bet.
- Shane Vansaghi, RW/LW, Michigan State (NCAA) (’25 Round 2, 48 Overall)
Shane Vansaghi is one of those prospects who makes you look twice. At 19, he’s heading into his junior year at Michigan State, where he’s grown into more of a leader both on and off the ice.
His role is expected to expand again in 2026-27, and the appeal is pretty clear: pace, physicality, and a hard-nosed grinder’s game. There’s more offense to uncover, but even without it fully in place, he already looks like an NHL player in waiting.
If the scoring comes along, Vansaghi could settle in as a very useful third-line type who brings a lot of grit.
- Maksim Sokolovskii, LD, London (OHL) (’26 Round 1, 27 Overall)
The Flyers may have stretched a bit when they took Maksim Sokolovskii in the first round, but it was the kind of move that makes sense if you believe someone else was going to grab him soon anyway.
At 6’8″, he’s a massive presence on the back end, and he plays like it. Sokolovskii is a mean, physical defenseman who can flatten people, but he also moves better than you’d expect for someone his size. During development camp, he even flashed a few offensive touches.
He’s headed to London this season and then the University of Maine the following year, so the path is still a long one. Still, there’s enough here to think he could move quickly.
- Jack Nesbitt, C, University of Michigan (NCAA) (’25 Round 1, 12 Overall)
Jack Nesbitt is college-bound, and that’s probably the right move for him. The 6’5″ center has the makings of a strong defensive middleman, but his offense is what keeps him from projecting as a top-six forward right now.
He did post another 25-goal season at Windsor, finishing with 58 points in 55 games after a strong late-season push. For a first-round pick, it wasn’t exactly the leap some might have hoped for, but that also doesn’t seem to be the role the Flyers had in mind when they selected him.
Michigan should help him in a couple of ways, especially with skating, while also giving him a chance to add more creativity with the puck. The size is there. The next step is figuring out how much more he can do with it.
- Jack Berglund, C, Lehigh Valley (AHL)/ Färjestad BK (SHL) (’24 Round 2, 51 Overall)
Jack Berglund is another big center, listed at 6’4″, and he fits the same defensive mold. He brings leadership too, having captained Sweden’s World Juniors championship team.
Berglund, who is 19/20 years old, played 40 games in the SHL last season before joining Lehigh Valley late in the year. He’s back on loan with Färjestad BK for now, though there’s a chance he could make a push for the NHL roster in training camp.
The ideal next step, at least from one perspective, would be another season in Lehigh Valley. But with Jett Luchanko set to spend his first full pro season there, it also makes sense if the Flyers want Berglund to have a larger role somewhere else.
Either way, it’s a big year ahead for Berglund.
In Other News...
Five Flyers Prospects Just Earned A Big International Opportunity
Five Flyers prospects are getting a notable summer-stage audition at the 2026 World Junior Summer Showcase, a gathering that often serves as an early sorting ground for future junior national teams. Brek Liske and Jack Nesbitt are set to represent Canada, Max Laatikainen will be there for Finland, and Jack Murtagh and Carter Amico will skate for the USA sides, giving Philadelphia a healthy presence across several programs.
For the Flyers, the appeal is bigger than simple participation. This is the kind of event where young players can make a case for bigger roles down the line, whether that means building on prior international success, showing they can handle tougher competition, or proving they are moving in the right direction after uneven stretches. With all five prospects in the same showcase, the organization will have a clear early read on who is starting to separate himself before future World Junior rosters are set. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Suddenly Face More Pressure To Make Their Own Splash
The Flyers have done most of their offseason heavy lifting, and the front office still has plenty of room to maneuver if the right opportunity comes along. After making a real run at Leo Carlsson with an offer sheet, Philadelphia is left with the same broad question that has hung over much of Danny Brieres rebuild: when does patience stop being a virtue and start looking like hesitation?
The citys sports conversation only sharpened that pressure. While the Flyers wait with significant cap space and a roster that can still be shaped over time, the 76ers have gone in the opposite direction, making major additions that instantly changed the tone around town. Philadelphia can afford to keep its powder dry, and there is a case for that approach, but the longer the market stays quiet, the more the Flyers will be measured against the kind of splash their neighbors just made. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Keep Getting Linked To The Kind Of Defenseman Fans Crave
The Flyers keep surfacing in conversations about the kind of defenseman their fan base tends to love: big, physical, and hard to play against. One name that has come up is Canadiens blueliner Arber Xhekaj, who remains unsigned and could end up in trade discussions as Montreal sorts through its options. For a Philadelphia club that has spent plenty of time trying to reshape its back end, it is the sort of rumor that naturally gets attention.
Nothing is close, and the broader market only adds to the noise around it. Ottawa is looking for more scoring, Patrick Kane is back in Chicago on a two-year deal, and New Jersey just handed its hockey operations a new voice in Sunny Mehta, with ripple effects expected for the Utica Comets. For the Flyers, the real question is whether the latest link is just another name in circulation or the start of something more meaningful for a defense group that still feels like it could use another edge. [Read more 🡒]