It’s a short(-ish) week for the Eagles, who are set for the NFL’s first Saturday slate of the year, and with another NFC East title on the line.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Eagles-Commanders game…
How to watch
The game will kick off on Fox from Northwest Stadium at 5 p.m. on Saturday. Joe Davis and Greg Olsen will call the game from the booth, with Pam Oliver on the sideline.
If you’d rather listen to Merrill Reese and Mike Quick call the game, the radio broadcast can be found on 94.1 WIP, and if you want to watch the game with your fellow Birds fans, here are a few spots to check out.
Final Week 16 injury report
The Eagles ruled out Lane Johnson (foot) and Jalen Carter (shoulders) for Saturday’s game against the Commanders. Neither player practiced all week.
Tight end Cam Latu (stinger) and offensive tackle Cameron Williams (shoulder; injured reserve) are listed as questionable to play.
The battered Commanders, meanwhile, issued a lengthy injury report on Thursday.
The Eagles are 6.5-point favorites at DraftKings and FanDuel, with the total set at 44.5 points at both sportsbooks. For more betting props, check out our betting guide here.
It could help the Eagles in the seeding picture if the Packers overtake the Bears in the NFC North.
Eagles playoff picture
The Birds can clinch a playoff berth with a win or Cowboys loss this week. The Eagles have the NFC East nearly locked up — in order to lose the division to the Cowboys, the team would need to lose all three remaining games, and the Cowboys would need to win all three.
In the conference standings, the Birds are in third, one game back of the Chicago Bears and 2½ games back of the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks (12-3) overtook the Rams (11-4) with a win over L.A. on Thursday night. The Eagles and Packers both have nine wins, but the Packers have one tie on their record. If the Packers manage to overtake the Bears, the Eagles do own the tiebreaker against them.
Story lines to watch
Can the Eagles continue to cruise against a bad team?
The Commanders haven’t followed up their NFC Championship game appearance the way they hoped. Jayden Daniels is shut down for the year because of injury, and the Commanders sit at a dismal 4-10. It’s the second game in a row where the Birds will face one of their former backups, with Marcus Mariota set to start for Washington.
The Eagles took care of business against the Raiders, shutting out Las Vegas in the second-shortest game in recorded NFL history. Going for the record this week?
1: The Eagles’ magic number to clinch a playoff berth
Our Eagles vs. Commanders predictions
Here’s how our beat writers are predicting Saturday’s game:
Jeff McLane: “[Marcus] Mariota has three lost fumbles and the running backs collectively have four. I think the Eagles will take the ball away a few times. And as long as they win the turnover battle, I see a victory. It might not be the cakewalk some have predicted, but despite all the outside dissatisfaction about the team this season, the Eagles exit Northwest Stadium with a second straight division crown. Eagles 30, Commanders 20
Olivia Reiner: “The big question facing the Eagles offense going forward: Can it sustain the success it established in the win over the Raiders? The Eagles ought to have a good chance of doing so against the Commanders in two of their final three games. Even with Dan Quinn taking over the defensive coordinator duties, Washington still has struggled against the pass and the run.” Eagles 28, Commanders 20.
Jeff Neiburg: But the Eagles should be ready to pounce Saturday. They’re facing another team starting a backup quarterback. They’re facing an even worse defense than the one they beat up on Sunday. And they can clinch the NFC East with a victory. It’s hard to envision that not happening Saturday night. Eagles 27, Commanders 13.
National media predictions
Here’s how the national media is predicting Saturday’s game.
What we’re saying about the Eagles
Here’s a look at the latest from our columnists, starting with Mike Sielski, who broke down why the Eagles are about to win the NFC East again.
Sielski: Whatever crises the Eagles might be undergoing are framed through a different lens from any other team in the division. They judge themselves and are judged by the answer to one question: Are we good enough to win the Super Bowl? Their divisional foes’ standard has not been quite as high: Are we good enough to keep from embarrassing ourselves again?
Marcus Hayes: “Which brings us to the 9-5 Eagles, who, contrary to much of the commentary and punditry, are nearing the end of a very good season. Saquon Barkley isn’t going to break rushing records this season, and the passing game hasn’t equaled its pedigree, and the defense won’t finish ranked No. 1, but none of that matters. What matters is who they beat, who they lost to, and where they stand.”
What the Commanders are saying about the Eagles
This year’s Commanders team has been struggling mightily compared to last year, which made the NFC Championship game. But coach Dan Quinn is still taking things away from their three matchups last year.
“Playing against us last year in the three games, they were exceptional at taking the ball away,” Quinn said. “I thought that was the biggest deal for us. … And offensively, I thought from a line standpoint, the size, the movement, the pulling, Jeff Stoutland is one of the best there is in the offensive line spot. … I think it’s a good balance of what they have from the run game and the shots down the field with Jalen [Hurts]. Those are kind of the yin and yang of a good offense.”
Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury: “It’s certainly a tough matchup. They’ve been playing at a super high level, defensively. I think they gave up less than 90 yards last week against Las Vegas. So, it’s going to be a great challenge. They can roll in five, six guys deep that all play at a pretty high level. They can rush the passer, can stop the run. So, you got to be creative in how you attack them and we’ll have our hands full, there’s no doubt.”
Quarterback Marcus Mariota: “[They have] a great defense, Vic [Fangio] got them playing really well. You can talk about every single player on that front and on the back end. They’re great players. Being there for a year and being around those guys, it’ll be fun to play against some of those old friends. I’m looking forward to it. It’s always a great atmosphere to play Philly. It’ll be a fun game on Saturday.”
What else we’re reading (and watching)
🎁 Saquon Barkley’s foundation hosts toy drive for local children
🏈 Jalen Hurts gave a fan a touchdown ball. What happened next led to a lawsuit.
In a move that saved nearly $7 million to help address other needs (re-signing J.T. Realmuto?) — and may have been spurred by an increasingly strained relationship between the team and pitcher — the Phillies traded Strahm to the Royals on Friday for right-handed reliever Jonathan Bowlan.
“Matt’s done a nice, solid job for us,” president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said. “He’s been a good part of our ballclub. We’re in a spot though, with three left-handers, we didn’t necessarily think we needed all three.”
Indeed, with José Alvarado’s return from an 80-game drug suspension and the emergence this year of late-blooming Tanner Banks, the Phillies have two late-inning lefties to pair with star closer Jhoan Duran, newly signed Brad Keller, and Orion Kerkering from the right side.
(They also traded for sidearming lefty Kyle Backhus from the Diamondbacks on Friday for minor league outfielder Avery Owusu-Asiedu. Backhus has minor league options and represents bullpen depth.)
The Phillies acquired righty reliever Jonathan Bowlan from the Royals on Friday.
So, although Strahm had a 2.71 ERA in 188 appearances since 2023, including a 2.74 mark in 66 games this year, the Phillies were comfortable with reapportioning $7.5 million salary for 2026, especially after signing Keller this week to a two-year, $22 million deal. Bowlan, 29, will make slightly more than the $780,000 major league minimum.
The Phillies began getting calls on all three lefty relievers early in the offseason, according to a major league source. They were most willing to listen on Strahm.
Because while Strahm was durable and versatile (10 starts in 2023), he faltered in each of the last two postseasons. He allowed four runs in two innings over three games against the Mets in the 2024 divisional round, then allowed Teoscar Hernández’s go-ahead three-run homer in Game 1 this year against the Dodgers.
Strahm was a veteran leader in the bullpen. But there were hints that the outspoken 34-year-old might have begun to overstep. For example, after Kerkering’s season-ending errant throw in Game 4 at Dodger Stadium, Strahm told reporters that he wished he pushed the Phillies to put their pitchers through more rigorous fielding practice.
Dombrowski pushed back on that idea in his end-of-season news conference.
“We did plenty,” Dombrowski said. “Actually, as it turns out, we did do [pitcher fielding practice] in the postseason. He didn’t do them. But we did them.”
After the trade, Dombrowski denied any issues with Strahm.
“I can’t speak for others in our situation, but if Matt would have come back with us, we’d have felt very comfortable,” he said. “I’ve always had a good relationship with him. I loved talking to his wife and his daughter. That’s from my perspective.”
Bowlan has a spot in the season-opening bullpen, alongside Duran, Keller, Alvarado, Kerkering, and Banks. He posted a 3.86 ERA in 34 appearances for the Royals and held right-handed hitters to a .182 average.
“When we look at him, not a real well-known guy, but somebody that we think can contribute to us on a strong basis from the right-hand side,” Dombrowski said. “And of course, he doesn’t have to pitch the eighth or ninth for us. We can kind of gradually work him into different situations.”
Asked for an update on free agent J.T. Realmuto, Dave Dombrowski said the situation hasn’t “changed very much.”
The Phillies could look at Rule 5 selection Zach McCambley and a group of optionable relievers — Backhus, Seth Johnson, Max Lazar, and newcomer Yoniel Curet — to cycle through the last two spots in the bullpen. With two vacancies on the 40-man roster, they continue to seek depth for the bullpen and starting rotation.
But the No. 1 priority remains bringing back Realmuto. MLB.com reported that the Phillies have an offer on the table. But it’s possible Realmuto is trying to get a guaranteed third year.
“We would love to re-sign him,” Dombrowski said. “But [the situation] really hasn’t changed very much.”
In jettisoning Strahm, the Phillies might have freed up a few extra dollars. They still have approximately $299 million in 2026 payroll commitments, as calculated for the luxury tax. They’re expected to stay within range of the 2025 payroll, which came in at roughly $312 million, over the fourth (and highest) tax threshold.
Extra bases
Dombrowski said the Phillies “continue to work through some details” in hiring Don Mattingly to be the bench coach. Mattingly is the leading candidate for the job, which opened after the postseason when Mike Calitri moved into a newly created role of major league field coordinator. … The Phillies intend to replace assistant general manager Ani Kilambi, hired away this week as GM of the Washington Nationals. Kilambi led the data and analytics arm of Dombrowski’s front office.
The Flyers return to the ice on Saturday against the New York Rangers (12:30 p.m.), but there will be a different voice on the call for the team’s radio broadcast on flagship station 97.5 The Fanatic.
That’s because the Flyers and 97.5 have suspended play-by-play man Tim Saunders for two games after he made an inappropriate comment during the broadcast of Thursday’s Flyers-Sabres game. The comment, a lewd joke which was sexual in nature, was aimed at color analyst and former Flyer, Todd Fedoruk. It came during a TV timeout in the third period, when Saunders believed he was no longer live on the air but was picked up by a hot mic.
The Flyers announced the suspension with an official statement via X on Friday morning:
“We are aware of the inappropriate comment made during last night’s radio broadcast in the TV timeout of the Flyers-Sabres game.
“These remarks do not reflect the standards of conduct or values we expect from anyone associated with our organization.
“Effective immediately, the Flyers, along with our radio partners, 97.5 The Fanatic, have issued a two-game suspension while we address this matter with all parties involved.
“We take this matter very seriously, and sincerely apologize to our listeners, fans, and all those affected by these comments.”
“During last night’s game in Buffalo, I made an error in judgment with my comments that were made when I thought we were in a commercial break. I recognize how offensive my remarks were, and the harm it has caused.
“I take full responsibility and sincerely apologize to the Flyers, 97.5 The Fanatic and all those affected by my remarks.
“To all Flyers fans and listeners of our broadcast, I promise that I will hold myself to a higher standard moving forward to ensure our broadcast is a safe and respectful place everyone can enjoy.”
If the suspension remains at two games, Saunders, who has called the Flyers’ games on the radio since 1997, would be eligible to return to the airwaves on Tuesday for the game against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Temple entered halftime against Davidson on Thursday with a 13-point lead and was looking to earn its third straight win.
Instead the Owls (7-5) went quiet, and it didn’t take long for their lead to dwindle.
Down by four with 35 seconds remaining, Davidson (8-3) had the chance to send the game into overtime or even win it when guard Parker Friedrichsen launched a three-pointer.
However, it ricocheted off the rim and went into the hands of forward Ian Platteeuw for the offensive rebound. Plattueew tried to give it to guard Roberts Blums, but it went over his head and into the back court. Blums corralled it and tried to call a time out with 19 seconds left. The only issue was that the Wildcats had none left.
A technical foul was called, and Temple drilled its free throws to seal a 68-63 road win.
Next up, Temple will host Princeton (3-10) for the second time this season in its nonconference finale on Monday (7 p.m., ESPN+).
Showing their depth
Temple has been without guard AJ Smith, who’s dealing with a shoulder injury and missed his third straight game. But he wasn’t the only player sidelined with an injury. The Owls were without guards Masiah Gilyard and Gavin Griffiths due to lower body injuries.
Their absences gave freshmen Ayuba Bryant Jr. and Cam Wallace bigger roles. Bryant earned his first career start, while Wallace saw 23 minutes of action and finished with 9 points, with 8 coming in the first half.
The Owls’ depth allowed guards Derrian Ford (23 points), Aiden Tobiason (19), and Jordan Mason (14) to lead the way in scoring.
Turning to old habits
Temple’s first-half success came from forcing Davidson to take low percentage shots. However, both sides of the ball started to collapse after halftime, and the Wildcats took advantage.
Blums and Platteeuw were the main beneficiaries. The two combined for 23 points.
Instead of making an extra pass, Temple relied on hero ball and played in isolation. The Owls finished with just five assists, after compiling 48 in the past two games.
They also shot 39.1% from the floor, and the Owls had a seven minute scoring drought in the second half, as the Wildcats went on a 13-0 run.
Part of their struggles stemmed from not having Griffith on the floor. The guard, who is third on the team in scoring with 10.9 points, leads Temple in three-pointers. On Thursday, the Owls made six of 19 attempts from deep.
Tobiason provides a lift
As Davidson crawled back, Temple’s offense fizzled and relied on its free-throw shooting, where the Owls made 26 of 33 attempts.
Ford was the main beneficiary, as his late free throws helped Temple keep Davidson at arm’s length. However, it was Tobiason who gave the offense some life.
Aiden Tobiason delivers in the clutch with a cold-blooded step-back. ❄️🔥
He made a layup to give Temple its first field goal in nearly nine minutes to push the lead to four. A few possessions later, he drilled a three-pointer to make it a six-point game. Then he swished a step back as the lead grew to 10.
The Wildcats continued to counter, but Tobiason had a rebuttal. He got a layup in the waning seconds that all but sealed the deal. Nine of his 19 points came in the final 10 minutes.
BUFFALO — The Flyers were handed a 5-3 loss by the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, a team that just fired its general manager and may make a coaching move soon.
They came out hard but still trailed, and while they tied the game and even took the lead at one point, they eventually sputtered and lost.
Here are two things to know from Western New York:
Special teams struggled again
The Flyers had three power-play opportunities but were unable to put one past former Flyers goalie Alex Lyon. According to Natural Stat Trick, they had 12 chances, including four shots on goal; the four shots came on the first two power plays.
The last man advantage was in the third period, with the Flyers down a goal, after Mattias Samuelsson, the son of former Flyers defenseman Kjell Samuelsson, put the puck over the glass with 2 minutes, 19 seconds left in the game. They had shots by Trevor Zegras, Jamie Drysdale, and Owen Tippett blocked when goalie Sam Ersson was pulled to make it a six-on-four.
The Flyers’ power play had 12 chances across three opportunities, with five shots blocked.
“We’re getting points. It’s a loss. I mean, relax. I’m not saying you, nothing against you [the media],” coach Rick Tocchet said. “But, I mean, yeah, it’s a loss, I’m mad like you, but we’re getting points. These guys are trying, so we’ve got to take it easy on that part.
“But saying that we got to be more disciplined, right? I’d like to see the power play, we got to get some guys to score some goals on the power play. Too perimeter. We need some people in front. That’s the one thing. I thought the key tonight, we didn’t have people in front of the net. You’ve got to be in front of the net to score goals.”
The penalty kill allowed a goal to Josh Norris, who was left wide-open in front, in the third period. Norris’ goal, the eventual game-winner, came 18 seconds after Bobby Brink took a high-sticking call in the offensive zone when he hit Michael Kesselring in the face as he tried to make contact with the puck in the air.
Norris was left alone in front as all four Flyers penalty killers went to one side of the ice.
The penalty was one of five by the Flyers, although the goaltender interference call on Matvei Michkov in the second period was questionable. The winger appeared to be bumped into Lyon and then took several cross-checks to his back while on the ice and defenseless behind the net.
The Sabres had 11 chances during five-on-four action and nine scoring chances. The Flyers had four scoring chances during their power-play opportunities, none in the third.
Philly has been called for 117 minor penalties this season in 33 games, tied with the Winnipeg Jets for the seventh-most in the NHL. Last season, the Flyers had 238 across 82 games, tied with the Chicago Blackhawks for the 13th-fewest.
“We’re taking a lot of penalties and we’re playing good players, so the more opportunities they get, the more chances for them to score,” defenseman Travis Sanheim said. “But in saying that, obviously we have to do a better job, and we’re at our best when we’re pressuring and disrupting and it’s something obviously we know we’ve got to be better, and I’m sure we will be moving forward.”
The Flyers’ penalty kill was better early on but faltered in the third period, allowing the game-winning goal to be scored.
They had good moments but also bad
Defenseman Cam York, whose second goal of the season gave the Flyers a 2-1 lead in the second period, probably said it best postgame.
“I think it’s just group maturity. I think we’re still maturing in some areas,” he said. “You don’t want to play simple sometimes, and it comes back to bite you, I think, when you don’t want to get the pucks behind their D-man and forecheck; we’re not going to have the puck much, and we’re going to be defending.
“So there’s a lot of things that go into the game, obviously, but we’re definitely struggling to put a full 60 [minutes] together.”
The Flyers’ Cam York celebrates his second-period goal against the Sabres on Thursday.
According to Elite Prospects, the Flyers are the sixth-youngest team in the NHL with an average age of 27.08, aging slightly with the recent return of 31-year-old defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen.
And while they are young and still learning and growing, they’ve also played just 33 games under a new coaching staff led by Tocchet.
“There’s positives,” Tocchet said. ”To learn how to win, you’ve got to be disciplined. You can’t throw pucks away. We have a couple guys who were diving in when we shouldn’t.
“That’s hockey, and we’re not a team that could outscore our mistakes. But we’re in every game, so I give them credit. But there’s some things there. We need some other guys to contribute too. It just can’t be the same guys.”
At five-on-five, the Flyers had 53.66% of the shot attempts, but while they controlled play for the most part, they had dips and which allowed the Sabres back into the game.
Despite it being the fourth game in six days, the Flyers came out firing and dominated the analytics. But they ended up trailing before Noah Cates tied things up less than a minute later.
“You just got to stay focused and be ready,” Cates said. “Any opportunity you’re given, no matter who or what the situation is. So just something we’ve honestly been needing to work on our whole season.
“It [stinks] because we’ve honestly been good kind of in the back half of games, kind of coming back and kind of bites us in the butt. So we obviously can’t rely on it, and going to learn from it and move on and have a big one on Saturday.”
After beating up on the 2-12 Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday to end their three-game skid, the Eagles turn their attention toward the Washington Commanders for a Saturday matchup at Northwest Stadium. Heading into the Week 16 contest, the Eagles (9-5) are early 6.5-point favorites.
Here’s how experts in the local and national media are predicting Saturday’s game …
Inquirer predictions
We start with our own beat writers. Here’s an excerpt from Jeff Neiburg’s prediction …
To see how our other beat writers are predicting this one, check out our full Eagles-Commanders preview here.
National media predictions
Now, here’s a look at how the national media feel about Saturday’s matchup …
ESPN: Eight of nine panelists picked the Birds straight up.
CBS Sports: In a clear sweep, all five experts are picking the Eagles to win.
The 76ers return to the court to face the New York Knicks Friday night, but you won’t find the game on NBC Sports Philadelphia or anywhere else on TV.
Instead, Sixers fans will need to log in to Amazon Prime Video, which is streaming tonight’s game exclusively as part of a 11-year deal with the NBA that runs through the 2035-36 season and totals nearly $20 billion.
Unlike Amazon’s Thursday Night Football, which broadcasts NFL games locally in the teams’ home TV markets, the only way to watch tonight’s Sixers game is to log in to Prime Video.
The good news is, if you already have Amazon Prime for free shipping, you also get Prime Video for free. Otherwise you can subscribe to Prime Video on its own for $8.99 a month.
Sixers fans will also need to log in to Amazon next week. Philly will be back on the subscription streaming service Friday, Dec. 26, to face the Chicago Bulls.
Then there’s Peacock, which is also streaming exclusive NBA games this season as part of NBC’s deal with the league. Sixers fans will need to log on to stream the team’s matchup with the Denver Nuggets on Jan. 5, but that’s a problem that can wait until next year.
Amazon has familiar NBA voices on its broadcast
Ian Eagle will call tonight’s Sixers-Knicks game on Amazon’s Prime Video.
Calling tonight’s Sixers-Knicks game on Amazon will be former TNT announcers Ian Eagle and Stan Van Gundy, with Cassidy Hubbarth reporting from the court at Madison Square Garden.
Eagle is among the top play-by-play announcers in all of sports. In addition to his role at Amazon, Eagle also calls NFL games for CBS alongside J.J. Watt and has been the voice of the Brooklyn Nets on the YES Network for more than 30 years.
As with the NFL, Amazon has quickly put together a fun pre- and postgame show on a wild, two-story set hosted by Taylor Rocks. Tonight’s studio analysts will be former NBAers Blake Griffin, Steve Nash, and Udonis Haslem, who still holds the record as the longest tenured undrafted player in league history (20 seasons).
Tonight’s Sixers’ game is the first of a doubleheader that will stream on Amazon tonight, followed by a Western Conference matchup between the first-place Oklahoma City Thunder (who have lost just two games this season) and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Sixers’ record and Eastern Conference standings
window.addEventListener(“message”,function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[“datawrapper-height”]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(“iframe”);for(var t in a.data[“datawrapper-height”])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data[“datawrapper-height”][t]+”px”;r.style.height=d}}});
Sixers news
Tyrese Maxey is part of a young group bringing new life to the Sixers.
For two decades, Scott Franzke’s voice has been the soundtrack of the summer for Phillies fans. And his radio calls of some of the best moments in franchise history are legendary — from Jimmy Rollins’ walkoff double in the 2009 NLCS to Bryce Harper’s “Bedlam at the Bank” homer in 2022. The longtime play-by-play announcer joined Phillies Extra to talk about the team’s offseason and much more. Watch here.
With the Flyers nearing the midway point and the World Junior Championship around the corner on Dec. 26, it’s time for our annual midseason prospect check-in with assistant general manager and scouting chief Brent Flahr. In Part 1 of a two-part series, we asked Flahr about the team’s prospects that are playing NCAA or Canadian junior hockey, headlined by Porter Martone at Michigan State.
Flahr believes Porter Martone, who is averaging 1.25 points per game, which is third among freshmen, has improved his pace in the faster college game. Flahr believes Martone is on track to challenge for an NHL opening-night roster spot next season.
Flahr name-checked Jack Berglund, Heikki Ruohonen, and Max Westergård as less-talked-about prospects who have impressed him over the past few months.
While Flahr said Jett Luchanko wasn’t unhappy in Guelph, he thinks the move to Brantford is in the best interest of both Luchanko and the organization, as the center will play alongside better players and should benefit from not having to be “the guy” all the time.
Disclaimer: This interview, which was conducted on Dec. 10, has been edited for clarity and length.
More Details
With the Flyers nearing the midway point and the World Junior Championship around the corner on Dec. 26, it’s time for our annual midseason prospect check-in with assistant general manager and scouting chief Brent Flahr. In Part 1 of a two-part series, we asked Flahr about the team’s prospects that are playing NCAA or Canadian junior hockey, headlined by Porter Martone at Michigan State.
Disclaimer: This interview, which was conducted on Dec. 10, has been edited for clarity and length.
Q: We are heading into the midway point of the season. How would you assess the Flyers’ prospect pool right now?
A: It’s pretty good. Obviously, we had a lot of picks last year. We’ve had some guys emerging from previous drafts that have played well and are trending in the right direction. So overall, pretty excited.
Q: Is there anyone who has stood out to you thus far?
A: I think Porter Martone gets a lot of the attention because of where he was picked and whatnot, and he’s had a terrific start at a good program. I think [among] the lesser talked about guys, Jack Berglund and Heikki Ruohonen. Those two guys in the summer at the World Junior Showcase in Minnesota were both really good. Max Westergård played well. So I think those guys overseas have done their part to be big parts of their teams going to the World Juniors, which would be fun to see. And then obviously with Jack Nesbitt, Shane Vansaghi, a number of the guys we drafted last year, they’re big parts of their really good teams, and it’s been exciting for them.
Q: We’ll start with Martone because he is the one everyone talks about. What have you seen from this year with Michigan State, and how do you think it’s helping him prepare for the NHL?
A: His biggest challenge, and what we’ve talked about, is his pace. He was a really good junior [player], obviously, but he could slow things down all the time and kind of do what he wanted. In the college game, he’s playing against older kids, bigger, stronger, faster, and the way they practice, the way they play games, it’s all out and all full speed. So I think it’s forcing him to move his feet. Obviously, you can’t teach the brain he has, the skill set he has, and the size and whatnot. I think even he’s the first one to tell you, he’s in better shape. He’s playing faster. And I think it’ll really help him adjust to the pro game faster.
Flyers top prospect Porter Martone has 11 goals and 20 points in 16 games for the third-ranked Michigan State Spartans.
Q: Outside of Martone, Nesbitt is probably the most important player from the 2025 draft class. What have you made of his start in the OHL this season?
A: Yeah, I’ve seen him a number of times. He plays his game. The biggest thing with him is we’re going to have to be a little patient. He’s just a tall drink of water right now, and he’s got to get put on weight. He’s got to get stronger, which we’re well aware of that. But he is a competitive kid. He’s got skill, and he’s very sound defensively.
He plays with an edge — he’s been suspended a couple times already — but he plays to the identity of a Flyer, what we think of a Flyer. I think he’s going to be a very well-rounded centerman when he gets here. His details are good, good net-front on the power play, and he’s a good penalty killer. But the thing with him, I think the strength and skating is what you can wear down, so that’s a big focus with him. He’s got a good program there, where they have the trainer, and he’s drinking as many shakes as he can and doing all the things he needs to do.
But it’s going to take some time. His offseason is going to be critical this year and next, but he’s shown that he’s willing to put in the work. But so far so good, really positive, and hopefully next year he’ll get his chance at World Juniors. He’s part of a really good team there in Windsor, and they have a chance, I think, with a few additions to go on a pretty good run there this year as well.
Flyers center Jett Luchanko was recently traded from Guelp to OHL favorites Brantford. Brent Flahr believes that move will serve his development well.
Q: What have you seen from Jett Luchanko, and how important was the trade to Brantford for his development?
A: I don’t think he was unhappy in Guelph; he had friends there, guys he played with and played a ton. But I think his lack of offseason — he had injuries he was dealing with — so he wasn’t able to train and do his thing. So I think out of the gates, he was slow here in camp. He was fine, but really didn’t knock the door down. His details are good enough, skates good enough, where our coaches were like, we would like to give this guy a chance. But for us, long-term, we felt the necessity [for him] to go back to junior.
I think going to Brantford now, he’s not the guy. He’s one of many guys there, and I don’t know if there’s a better team in Canada. They have a really good coaching staff there, and he has a chance to just play and be a big part of the team there. Jett doesn’t get too high or low ever. He’s always going to take care of the defensive side of things, but I think playing with some good offensive players there and in a lot of situations is only going to help him be confident.
The one thing with him is, he’s unselfish to a fault. He can really make plays, but at the same time, he passes up opportunities to shoot it, which is what Riley Armstrong and Johnny LeClair, and Patrick Sharp want to get him going and shooting the puck more, being a little more selfish and taking more chances. But he’s in a good spot, good spot mentally, and I think he’s finally feeling back to normal again.
Flyers Asst. GM Brent Flahr is excited about the progress of many of the team’s top prospects.
Everything
With the Flyers nearing the midway point and the World Junior Championship around the corner on Dec. 26, it’s time for our annual midseason prospect check-in with assistant general manager and scouting chief Brent Flahr. In Part 1 of a two-part series, we asked Flahr about the team’s prospects that are playing NCAA or Canadian junior hockey, headlined by Porter Martone at Michigan State.
Disclaimer: This interview, which was conducted on Dec. 10, has been edited for clarity and length.
Q: We are heading into the midway point of the season. How would you assess the Flyers’ prospect pool right now?
A: It’s pretty good. Obviously, we had a lot of picks last year. We’ve had some guys emerging from previous drafts that have played well and are trending in the right direction. So overall, pretty excited.
Q: Is there anyone who has stood out to you thus far?
A: I think Porter Martone gets a lot of the attention because of where he was picked and whatnot, and he’s had a terrific start at a good program. I think [among] the lesser talked about [guys], Jack Berglund and Heikki Ruohonen. Those two guys in the summer at the World Junior Showcase in Minnesota were both really good. Max Westergård played well. So I think those guys overseas have done their part to be big parts of their teams going to the World Juniors, which would be fun to see. And then obviously with Jack Nesbitt, Shane Vansaghi, a number of the guys we drafted last year, they’re big parts of their really good teams, and it’s been exciting for them.
Flyers top prospect Porter Martone has 11 goals and 20 points in 16 games for the third-ranked Michigan State Spartans.
Q: We’ll start with Martone because he is the one everyone talks about. What have you seen from this year with Michigan State, and how do you think it’s helping him prepare for the NHL?
A: His biggest challenge, and what we’ve talked about, is his pace. He was a really good junior, obviously, but he could slow things down all the time and kind of do what he wanted. In the college game, he’s playing against older kids, bigger, stronger, faster, and the way they practice, the way they play games, it’s all out and all full speed. So I think it’s forcing him to move his feet. Obviously, you can’t teach the brain he has, the skill set he has, and the size and whatnot. I think even he’s the first one to tell you, he’s in better shape. He’s playing faster. And I think it’ll really help him adjust to the pro game faster.
Q: Aside from his pace of play, is there anything else that you want to see him work on? And what do you see as his strengths already?
A: Just the pace of play is the biggest thing for me. His food speed, working on that. His conditioning, and being able to play hard and not coasting like you can get away with in juniors. In college and especially in the NHL, he’s not going to be able to get away with that. But he’s a quick study. He’s a really smart player and skilled. His ability to go to the right spots, and he knows where to be on the ice. He has the ability to process the game at the level that a lot of guys can’t. So whether it’s scoring goals or making plays. Defensive side of things, he’s being forced to work harder at stuff like that, which just helps him when he gets here.
Q: Do you foresee him pushing for an NHL spot next year?
A: I think so. But at the same time, we don’t get too far ahead. I don’t even like talking about it. I just want him focusing on his season there and not getting ahead of things. He’s got a good group, and he has a chance to do something special; they’re one of the top teams, and hopefully win it all. And I don’t want him focusing on the end of the season or next year. I just told him, go there with the right attitude and work, and earn your spot, and he has. And, obviously, he’s had success. So I think he gets it, but I want to make sure he makes the most of it and has a chance to have a real special year with World Juniors, and potentially, if you win a national championship and things like that, that really helps build a player going into their pro career.
Q: Martone will play for Canada at World Juniors. How important is that for him, or any player really, to get that experience?
A: Well, it can be great. It’s not a be-all, end-all. Especially in Canada, it gets so blown up on the stage, people get crazed if guys don’t make it or make it. But the thing that fans don’t understand is that the coaches of those teams and management have different goals than what we have. We have players that we envision in the NHL in a couple of years — and there’s been lots of great players who have been cut that go on to have great careers — but they’re building a team to win a 10-day tournament in January this year. So they look at it a little differently. But if you are a part of it and you win, just the experience, I think, is great. Especially when it’s in Canada or in a full building, and to play it’s exciting and usually, a lot of times, it translates.
Flyers Asst. GM Brent Flahr is excited about the progress of many of the team’s top prospects.
Q: Vansaghi is teammates with Martone on the Spartans and will play for the U.S. at World Juniors. He’s not someone who is talked about as much, but maybe he should be?
A: You go to a game at Michigan State, you understand what he brings and how he impacts games. He’s a tank. He’s physically engaged. He wins every battle, but his details are really good. And more importantly, off the ice, the way he conducts his business is extremely mature for a young player. It’s contagious to the people around him with how hard he works and the intensity he works. So, you know, he’s a guy that it’s different roles, probably, when they get here, but he could be a very valuable piece to a good team we hope.
Q: Outside of Martone, Nesbitt is probably the most important player from that draft class. What have you made of his start in the OHL this season?
A: Yeah, I’ve seen him a number of times. He plays his game. The biggest thing with him is we’re going to have to be a little patient. He’s just a tall drink of water right now, and he’s got to get put on weight. He’s got to get stronger, which we’re well aware of that. But he is a competitive kid. He’s got skill, and he’s very sound defensively.
He plays with an edge — he’s been suspended a couple times already — but he plays to the identity of a Flyer, what we think of a Flyer. I think he’s going to be a very well-rounded centerman when he gets here. His details are good, good net-front on the power play, and he’s a good penalty killer. But the thing with him, I think the strength and skating is what you can wear down, so that’s a big focus with him. He’s got a good program there, where they have the trainer, and he’s drinking as many shakes as he can and doing all the things he needs to do.
At 6-foot-5, Jack Nesbitt’s skill popped at this year’s offseason camps.
But it’s going to take some time. His offseason is going to be critical this year and next, but he’s shown that he’s willing to put in the work. But so far so good, really positive, and hopefully next year he’ll get his chance at World Juniors. He’s part of a really good team there in Windsor, and they have a chance, I think, with a few additions to go on a pretty good run there this year as well.
Q: What have you seen from Jett Luchanko, and how important was the trade to Brantford for his development?
A: I don’t think he was unhappy in Guelph; he had friends there, guys he played with and played a ton. But I think his lack of offseason — he had injuries he was dealing with — so he wasn’t able to train and do his thing. So I think out of the gates, he was slow here in camp. He was fine, but really didn’t knock the door down. His details are good enough, skates good enough, where our coaches were like, we would like to give this guy a chance. But for us, long-term, we felt the necessity [for him] to go back to junior.
I think going to Brantford now, he’s not the guy. He’s one of many guys there, and I don’t know if there’s a better team in Canada. They have a really good coaching staff there, and he has a chance to just play and be a big part of the team there. Jett doesn’t get too high or low ever. He’s always going to take care of the defensive side of things, but I think playing with some good offensive players there and in a lot of situations is only going to help him be confident.
Flyers center Jett Luchanko was recently traded from Guelp to OHL favorites Brantford. Brent Flahr believes that move will serve his development well.
The one thing with him is, he’s unselfish to a fault. He can really make plays, but at the same time, he passes up opportunities to shoot it, which is what Riley Armstrong and Johnny LeClair, and Patrick Sharp want to get him going and shooting the puck more, being a little more selfish and taking more chances. But he’s in a good spot, good spot mentally, and I think he’s finally feeling back to normal again.
Q: You also have a trio at Boston University in Jack Murtagh, Owen McLaughlin, and Carter Amico. What have you seen from them?
A: They’re finding their way. McLaughlin is actually having a pretty good year.
Amico is coming off the knee injury, so he’s just finding his way. Saw him there the other night, and he’s a huge kid. He’s going to hopefully get more and more as we go along here.
And Murtagh, he’s a freshman; they don’t get put into top offensive roles right away, so he’s going to have to earn it. I think the things that he needs to work on, he’s going to have to figure out there, which is good. With the U.S. program, he was the goal scorer. Now he’s learning the details of the game, not only defensively, but where to be on the ice, and whether it’s forechecking, playing within the system, and it’s not just about him, but his attitude is great, and he works hard.
There was no time Aaron Ball enjoyed more than being in victory formation on the football field, and 16 years ago Thursday was particularly special.
The former Villanova running back, now living just outside of Virginia Beach, Va., still has fond memories of the program’s only FCS championship victory, a 23-21 win over Montana on Dec. 18, 2009.
“When [it was] the fourth quarter and the time was running out, and we’re in victory formation‚” Ball told The Inquirer, “it was just an incredible feeling. Just thinking about the moments we had, like after the game in the locker room and going crazy, the trophy and everything. That whole experience was incredible.”
The Wildcats, now led by Mark Ferrante, who was assistant head coach under Andy Talley on that 2009 team, are one game away from being back in the national championship game.
After a comeback victory in the FCS quarterfinals against Tarleton State, Villanova will host Illinois State in the semifinal (7:30 p.m., ESPN2) on Saturday, the team’s first home game this late in the playoffs since the 2009 team narrowly defeated William & Mary, 14-13.
Like that 2009 team, this year’s squad suffered an early CAA loss and went on a lengthy winning streak. Former quarterback Chris Whitney, a St. Joseph’s Prep graduate who was the team’s leading rusher in 2009, believes there is an uncanny resemblance between his team and this year’s group.
“I feel like there’s a lot of similarities. The defense is really good, and they’ve shown that in the last three games in the playoffs, playing against three top teams in the country,” Whitney said. “And then you flip to the offensive side, they have a great three-headed running game. … Even down to the running backs, very similar to our running backs, Angelo Babbaro and Aaron Ball.
“Then, from a quarterback perspective, [current starter Pat McQuaide] is taking care of the ball.”
Brandyn Harvey helped Villanova upset Temple at Lincoln Financial Field in 2009.
‘We never felt like anybody could beat us’
Former wide receiver Brandyn Harvey knew something special was afoot when Villanova went to Lincoln Financial Field and beat Temple by three points to open the 2009 season.
Harvey, the team’s leading receiver that year who is now living in Los Angeles, said that “beating Temple was more fun than beating Montana,” because of the back-and-forth the two schools had that summer leading up to that August matchup.
“It put us on the right trajectory to just finish and be successful throughout the rest of the season,” Harvey said.
Former tight end Chris Farmer, a West Catholic graduate, added: “I know we all thought that we could beat Temple, which would have been a [FBS] school at that point. So once we did that, I think our confidence got rolling a little bit more. And we just took it from there.”
Ball, though, had a different perspective on when he knew Villanova could be a championship team.
After Villanova lost to New Hampshire on Oct. 10, the former running back, who finished with 794 rushing yards in 2009, third-most on the team, thought the team was “overlooking our opponents.”
“After that game, it was a big turnaround for us,” Ball said. “[We were] just doing a little bit too much, and needed to settle in. And then the next game, we bounced back [beating James Madison, 27-0]. And I was like, ‘OK, we’re actually a pretty good team.’ When I’m comparing ourselves to other teams and where they’re at and where we’re at. And I was like, ‘Man, you really can kind of do something special with this team.’”
For Farmer, who started his career at defensive line and switched to tight end as a junior, what stood out most to him was the talent and the “great camaraderie” that 2009 team had. Everyone hung out with each other, Farmer said, and outside of having class, the “locker room was always filled.”
And the one common trait that Whitney, Harvey, Ball, and Farmer agreed that the team had back then? Perseverance.
The 2009 college football season was perhaps the most successful in Philadelphia history. Penn won the Ivy League, Villanova won the FCS national championship and Temple reached a bowl game for the first time in 30 years.
“We always felt like we were supposed to win, especially at that point in the season,” Farmer said. “So in those playoff games when we were down, just leaning back into the camaraderie, everyone kept their energy going. [The] sidelines never got disappointed or [had their] heads down. I think that camaraderie probably carried us through, to be honest.”
Added Harvey: “We may have been out of a possession, but we never felt like we were out of the game. We never felt like anybody could beat us at the end of the day, like we were just very confident. I wouldn’t say we were cocky, but we were just very confident, just in ourselves, just based off the work that we put in, because we know how hard we work, especially in the summer, and all that just carried over and translated to the season.”
‘Coach Ferrante was the president’
The offensive line and assistant head coach on that 2009 team is the same coach who leads Villanova now: Ferrante, now in his 38th year with the program.
While Talley led the program during the first 29 years that Ferrante was with the program, it was the latter whom players say was key in getting them to play on the Main Line. Ferrante was the local recruiter for both Whitney and Farmer, as both played in the Catholic League.
Both worked closely with the offensive line — Farmer at tight end, Whitney at quarterback — and each agreed that Ferrante’s impact on the team was apparent.
“He served, as I would say, a father figure to a lot of guys on the team,” Farmer said. “Honestly, he was — if coach [Talley] was the chairman or CEO, then coach Ferrante was the president, making sure everything was up to speed and running the way Coach T wanted it.
“He put a lot of time, a lot of sweat into the program, you know, to be honest, man, so to see him finally have the opportunity to take the reins … and quickly getting the program to be successful, it’s really cool.”
Added Whitney: “I have a special place in my heart for Coach Ferrante, frankly. … To talk about a guy who is deserving, putting in his time [for 29] years as an assistant, with the same program putting in that time to then get his chance as a head coach and get a chance to to reach the top of the mountain. I would love nothing more than that for him.”
Villanova coach Mark Ferrante on the sidelines during its game against Harvard on Nov. 29.
College football has changed plenty in the 16 years since Villanova’s last football title, including the transfer portal and Name, Image, and Likeness to name a few, though the latter doesn’t affect the FCS level as much. But Harvey says his 2009 team only had a handful of transfers, none of whom started on their team, compared to this year’s Villanova team, which starts a transfer quarterback, wide receiver, and has a few other rotational defensive players who transferred in.
While the culture in college football is different now, Harvey points to the transfer portal as a positive development to the competitiveness of the FCS level.
“I feel like the portal has really impacted the FCS level. I was thinking about this last week, watching a couple of games and just seeing where some of the players came from. I think when I was playing, I don’t know if it was our culture, but we didn’t really accept transfers,” Harvey recalls. “Players literally come from everywhere, no matter the level. … I know people tend to knock [the] FCS, but it’s also competitive level as well.”
Added Whitney: “For Pat [McQuaide, a Nicholls State transfer] to come in the spring, and a lot of those guys coming in the spring and meshing as well as they have, it’s a credit to them. It’s also a credit to coach Ferrante. I mean to get these kids to bond so quickly and play together is pretty tough, but it is obviously the new norm in college football.”
The years in between have looked different for each former player, but the love for their alma mater remains the same. Spread from coast to coast, they still keep in touch with former teammates, tune in to watch Villanova’s football games, and share various memories from that title team with their children.
They will all be watching this weekend. Harvey and Ball plan on making the trip to the title game if Villanova beats Illinois State.
And speaking of common threads, here’s one more: the 2009 team won the FCS title game in its final year in Chattanooga, Tenn., and this year’s championship game will played in Nashville, Tenn., after a 16-year stint in Frisco, Texas.
