The Philadelphia Flyers saw many of their young players assume expanded roles during an encouraging campaign.
They not only reached the playoffs for the first time since 2020 but also knocked out their arch rivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins.
As they continue building toward a legitimate contender, the Flyers will hope that younger players yet to make an impression can force their way into the lineup, and that their young NHLers continue to grow in effectiveness.
Philadelphia is next in our NHL prospect pool overview series:
In this annual feature, Tony Ferrari examines each team’s top prospects, the strengths and weaknesses of their pipeline, a rundown of the latest draft class and positional depth chart, and who might be next in line for an NHL opportunity.
Except where noted, any player who no longer holds NHL rookie eligibility is considered a graduate and is not counted as a prospect for this exercise.
Initial Overview Of Top Prospects
The Flyers’ existing young NHL talent is particularly intriguing. Matvei Michkov remains one of the most fascinating players in hockey. After spending much of the previous season in the dog house, the dynamic Russian sniper still holds the potential to become a high-impact offensive force, and a bit more patience will pay significant dividends.
Denver Barkey appeared in roughly half the season at the NHL level and looked genuinely impressive whenever he stepped on the ice, displaying a tenacious mentality and relentless motor. His offensive potential is amplified by his work ethic, and he should see a rising role in the lineup this season.
It remains to be seen whether Jett Luchanko can finally secure an NHL role after narrowly missing out in each of the past two training camps. He brings speed and strong transition play, and consistently handles the little things well. The Flyers value a two-way center, and Luchanko has yet to force their hand.
Porter Martone has quickly become the darling of the group, emerging as a standout power winger. He is a leading Calder Trophy candidate for next season after a fantastic finish to the season and a promising playoff debut. Having gradually incorporated his heavy shot at Michigan State, he carried that into the NHL with his arrival. A natural power-playmaker, Martone will be a handful for opponents even as a rookie this campaign.
Selected 12th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft, Jack Nesbitt posted a solid but not transformative season, failing to advance offensively as many had hoped. The 6-foot-4 forward offers a combination of size, physicality, and goal-scoring ability. His skating requires refinement, but that should also help unlock greater speed. A reach at 12th overall, Nesbitt warrants significant patience as the Flyers capitalize on his size and power game.
Shane Vansaghi has had a tough season at Michigan State, surrounded by so much talent that he was relegated to a bottom-six role with underwhelming offensive numbers. That said, he hasn’t been bad at all—the physical forward embraced his role, working hard on the forecheck, winning board battles, and contributing to winning in other ways. He will be an NHLer; the question is simply whether he’ll ever get a chance to display his offensive upside.
Jack Murtagh put together a solid freshman season at Boston University, though he always seems to elevate his play when wearing a Team USA jersey. He consistently rises to the occasion, and he could be a sneaky addition to this year’s World Junior team, contributing some goal-scoring ability in a lower-lining role. Murtagh is, above all, a dedicated competitor.
Alex Ciernik has had a couple of turbulent years. The Slovak forward performed well in the Swedish second tier in 2024-25 before getting a brief AHL taste at the season’s end. During 2025-26, he split time between the Liiga and the Allsvenskan but never truly settled or looked comfortable. Now, at 19, the speedy winger is expected to get a stable AHL environment, which should provide a major boost.
Max Westergard is one of the most intriguing prospects in the Flyers’ system. The six-foot winger is blazing fast and plays an industrious two-way game. He dominated at the Swedish junior level with 30 points in 20 games this past season, though he has struggled to find his rhythm against men. Not turning 19 until September, he possesses a full suite of tools and a relentless work ethic, offering significant upside.
Oliver Bonk is pushing for a spot after a solid rookie season in the AHL. A primarily defensive defenseman, he uses his skating to mirror attackers and engages either with his stick or his body. He is comfortable carrying the puck and defers to teammates when pressure arises, and he has the tools to become a reliable NHLer, earning a camp tryout.
Carter Friend’s year at Boston University didn’t go well, continuing BU’s struggles, compounded by a major knee injury the previous season. He never quite found his footing, so he left school to return to the USHL with Muskegon. The hard-hitting defender appeared more confident as the season progressed, and the USHL reset could be exactly what he needs heading into this year. He’ll return to BU in the fall, hoping for a smoother transition.
U-23 Players Likely To Play In The NHL This Season
Porter Martone (RW), Jett Luchanko (C/W), Denver Barkey (LW), Matvei Michkov (RW)
2026 NHL Draft Class
Round 1, 27th overall – Maksim Sokolovskii, D, London (OHL)
Round 2, 53rd overall – Brek Liske, D, Everett (WHL)
Round 2, 62nd overall – Martin Psohlavec, G, Karlovy Vary Jr. (Cze.)
Round 4, 120th overall – Marek Sklenicka, G, Seattle (WHL)
Round 5, 136th overall – Kent Sauer, C, Andover (USHS)
Round 7, 213th overall – Max Laatikainen, D, Kiekko-Espoo Jr. (Fin.)
Draft day arrived, and many analysts were unsurprised that a team took a flier on 6-foot-7 Russian defenseman Maxim Sokolovskii, with some even speculating Philadelphia would do it. Fittingly, the Flyers made it happen. The imposing blueliner is a physical force who uses his mobility and size to dominate in every collision. While his on-puck skills are still developing, the Flyers clearly valued his violent, disruptive style.
The second-round selection, Brek Liske, is a promising defenseman who spent the year overshadowed by Anaheim prospect Tarin Smith and 2027 draft favorite Landon DuPont. He only got a real look at his puck-moving game when Smith was injured in the playoffs. Liske is a bet on his upside, having shown two-way ability when given the chance, and he could see a significant leap with more opportunity next season.
Philadelphia went with two goalies in a row, starting with Martin Psohlavec. The 6-foot-5 goalie plays above his size, getting low to seal the ice and spreading his frame to fill the net. He’s athletic and moves laterally well to stay square to shooters. Dominant in Czech junior hockey last year, he’s now moving to the WHL.
Psohlavec and Marek Sklenicka both represented Czechia at the World Under-18s this spring. Sklenicka possesses good size and moves well but lacks the elite athleticism of other goalies; he is a sound technician between the pipes.
It was a surprising choice in the fifth round when Philadelphia selected Kent ‘KJ’ Sauer, a Minnesota high schooler known for a hyper-physical style. He’s a raw offensive talent with nice passing instincts. Sauer will head to the WHL before his NCAA commitment at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, a long-term bet on becoming a bottom-six grinder.
In the seventh round, the Flyers selected Max Laatikainen, a Finnish defenseman with strong skating and a calm, smart two-way game. His tools are average and he lacks physicality, but he consistently has a positive impact. A late steal for Philadelphia, he gets more time to develop than many peers, having been one day short of draft eligibility for next year’s class instead.
Strengths
The Flyers boast a well-rounded prospect pool with solid young NHL talent, and the wings are the clear strength of their pipeline.
If Ciernik can return to form, he could be an impact player. Murtagh and Westergard provide strong options on the left wing.
Martone is poised to be one of the league’s best rookies this season. Vansaghi and Cole Knuble are reliable bottom-six forwards.
Players listed as centers, including Nesbitt and Matthew Gard, will likely end up on the wing.
Beyond Martone, there are no true superstars, but the wing depth is notably solid.
Weaknesses
Even with Sokolovskii’s addition, the left side of the blueline remains a concern.
Sokolovskii has limited upside due to his puckhandling limitations, and beyond him, Ty Murchison is returning from a season-ending injury.
That said, the left side is easier to address than right, where the Flyers have several interesting defensive prospects.
Hidden Gem: Jack Berglund, LW
It’s easy to overlook the fact that the captain and co-leading scorer of Sweden’s gold medal-winning World Junior team is a genuine hidden gem, and that is Jack Berglund.
He is a hard-working, center-driven player who puts in maximum effort and brings a physical edge. A detail-oriented winger, he excels on the wall and on the forecheck, and can seamlessly play the middle or the wing. Berglund’s versatility makes him an excellent third-line piece that could help a team win a championship.
Next Man Up: Porter Martone, RW
Porter Martone is set to be a Calder Trophy story, as the former Michigan State Spartan looked fantastic upon his leap to the NHL.
He embraces the physicality of professional hockey and possesses the skill set to make the top six.
With the Flyers advancing to the second round last spring, Martone could slot directly into a top-line role. That immediate opportunity in the top six provides a full runway for huge rookie numbers.
Prospect Depth Chart Notables
LW: Alex Ciernik, Jack Murtagh, Max Westergard, Jack Berglund
C: Jett Luchanko, Jack Nesbitt, Matthew Gard, Nathan Quinn, Ryan MacPherson, Heikki Ruohonen, Matthew Gard
RW: Porter Martone, Shane Vansaghi, Cole Knuble, Ilya Pautov, Kent Sauer
LD: Maksim Sokolovskii, Ty Murchison
RD: Oliver Bonk, Brek Liske, Carter Amico, Spencer Gill, Max Laatikainen, Luke Vlooswyk, Austin Moline
G: Yegor Zavragin, Carson Bjarnason, Aleksei Kolosov, Martin Psohlavec, Marek Sklenicka
