If we’ve learned anything lately from smallish Flyers GM Danny Brière, it’s that size matters.
The Flyers were swept out of the second round of the playoffs by the fast, physical, slightly bigger Carolina Hurricanes, and often struggled against bigger, heavier teams. Their defensemen were particularly unimposing, and Brière has been on teams where the bigger, the better. His teams as a young player in Buffalo brought the beef and laid the wood. The 2010 Flyers made their Stanley Cup runs with 6-foot-6, 220-pound Chris Pronger and 6-5, 224-pound Braydon Coburn lying in wait for unsuspecting forwards.
The Flyers’ most promising prospect is 5-10, 172-pound wing Matvei Michkov. Brière, who was 5-9 and 174 pounds as a player, knows little guys need big guys to protect them.
For all the beautiful hockey witnessed in South Philly, physicality is part of the Flyers’ DNA. The franchise’s two best players, Bobby Clarke and Eric Lindros, were known as much for their guts as their skill.
Brière recognizes this.
His two, er, biggest pieces last offseason were 6-5 veteran goalie Dan Vladař and 6-3 first-rounder Porter Martone, both of whom pushed the Flyers into the playoffs and past the Penguins in the first round.
Darnell Nurse, Donovan McNabb’s nephew and a defenseman who asked for a trade out of Edmonton, landed with San Jose but the Flyers were in the mix. He’s 6-4, 215, and he would have been the second-biggest skater on the roster if he came to Philadelphia.
Porter Martone’s late-season addition to the Flyers helped push them to the playoffs and to a series win over the Penguins.
Vladař also signed an extension, for five years and $27.5 million. Only four other full-time starters are as big as he is; his nickname, “Darth Vladař,” certainly fits.
Retaining Foerster and Vladař underscored the club’s commitment to heft. The most significant move before those deals included trading talented defenseman Emil Andrae, who, at 5-9, was the shortest of a legion of Lilliputian blueliners. Cam York, the overtime hero who eliminated the Penguins in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series, is listed at 6-foot, perhaps measured while wearing his helmet. Jamie Drysdale, the No. 2 scoring defenseman last season, is 5-11 … ish.
“It did make our defense a little small at times,” Brière said when Andrae was dealt. “We have Jamie and Yorky there, so the three of them — it wasn’t ideal.”
It’s notable that Brière recently has traded sizable wingers Garnet Hathaway, who is part wolverine, and Nic Deslauriers, who is not. And Brière will always choose exceptional skill in a smaller package over modest skill in XXL.
But XXL occupies more space on the ice and carries a lot more punishment in the corners than small/medium. These Flyers are growing by leaps and bounds in performance, expectation, and laundry bills.
Team Canada defenseman Travis Sanheim, the Flyers’ best player at 6-4 and 222 pounds, is the biggest skater on the roster, and he’s under contract for five more years. The back end of that deal could see the back end of the hockey team grow like Jack’s beanstalk.
The Flyers used their first-round pick on Maksim Sokolovskii, a 6-7, 240-pound bulldozer with the attitude of that bulldog you see on the grills of Mack dump trucks. Properly fed, he could occupy most of the defensive zone by himself. He doesn’t even turn 18 until July 12.
Apparently, neither his speed nor his skill warrants a first-round grade, but, as Brière noted, speed and skill can be developed.
“He was also a big defenseman, something we don’t have a lot of. We don’t expect him to be the next big point producer. We see him as a big physical force, a defenseman that’s going to be tough to face,” Brière said. “The way our development has worked the last few years, we feel confident that it’s going to come. We know there’s a lot of work to be done, but there are things that you can’t teach.”
Things like size. Things like grit.
The Flyers selected 6-foot-7 defenseman Maksim Sokolovskii in the first round of the NHL draft last week.
“He’s still going to be 6-foot-7 two years from now,” Brière said, “and that internal physicalness is something you can’t really teach.”
That was true when 6-6 Kjell Samuelsson and 6-5 Chris Therien helped the Flyers to the 1997 Stanley Cup Final.
It was true when — in a different era, when a 200-pound defenseman was imposing — the Broad Street Bullies went to three straight Cup finals from 1974-76, and won twice.
Will Brière’s strategy revive the Broad Street Bully ethic and swagger?
No. Nothing will ever do that. The NHL has grown softer than playoff ice, and won’t allow it.
Jett Luchanko will not be on the ice for any of the Flyers’ development camp this week.
“He had a little lower body thing going on,” director of player development Riley Armstrong said Monday. “Should be back skating next week, and he’ll be ready for training camp, though.”
The injury is a “lingering” one, Luchanko said, that has impacted him for a “couple of years,” but he declined to go into specifics about the injury or his recovery.
“It’s been dealt with, and I should be good for training on the ice next week,” the young center said. Luchanko missed last year’s development camp and rookie camp with a nagging groin ailment.
He doesn’t expect the injury to impact his offseason training, outside of holding him out of on-ice activities at development camp. This offseason is critical for the Flyers’ 2024 first-round pick, who has aged out of the Ontario Hockey League and will be fighting for a full-time NHL roster spot for the first time on a team with a lot of depth up front.
Luchanko, who turns 20 in August, made the NHL roster out of camp each of the last two seasons, but played just four games each year before getting sent back to the OHL. Including playoffs, he has not logged a point in any of his nine NHL appearances. He tallied seven goals and 43 points in 38 games in juniors last season split between the Guelph Storm and the Brantford Bulldogs.
“We expect a big summer out of him,” general manager Danny Brière told the Inquirer ahead of the draft. Luchanko is an elite skater, but is still looking to develop his all-around offensive game.
Luchanko should be “good to go” to get back in the gym next week, he said. The center said he wants to spend the summer working on “attacking with the puck, using my speed as much as I can.”
Jack Berglund, a second-round pick of the Flyers in 2024, will also miss on-ice activities at development camp.
Berglund’s exclusion is viewed more as precautionary after he played a lot of hockey this year, according to Armstrong. In addition to playing 40-plus professional games in Sweden, the center participated in the World Juniors, World Championships, and had a brief spell in the American Hockey League with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Grebenkin skates
Nikita Grebenkin was a welcome sight on the ice during development camp Tuesday. Grebenkin played 55 games for the Flyers and scored four goals and added 10 assists, serving as a bottom-six spark plug after being acquired the previous season in the Scott Laughton trade. He missed the final months of the season following an upper-body injury in March.
Flyers right wing Nikita Grebenkin skated Tuesday, potentially a positive sign regarding his rehab from an upper-body injury.
Briére said at the end of the Flyers’ season that Grebenkin’s injury could keep him out for the start of next season.
There was no official update on Grebenkin’s health, but seeing him on the ice could be a positive sign for his training camp availability. Grebenkin was also wearing No. 17 on his helmet, possibly his new number after Luchanko, who previously used the number, switched to 77.
Back to school
East Lansing is turning into Little Philadelphia with the number of Flyers prospects moving through that program. Porter Martone played one season at Michigan State last year, becoming one of the school’s highest-ever drafted players and ranking in the top 10 nationally with 50 points.
“Having Porter there was unbelievable,” Flyers prospect and fellow Spartan Shane Vansaghi said. “Right from Day 1, the first day I met him, just the nicest kid, really good teammate, and one of those guys that you just want to have on your team, you want to play for, and really good in the locker room. He fit in really well at Michigan State, and got along with everybody, and I think everyone really liked him.”
Now, fellow Flyers prospect Matthew Gard is also committed to Michigan State, starting in 2027, and said that Martone and Vansaghi’s endorsements of the school’s player development helped him make his decision. Gard said they spoke especially highly of the strength coaches, who Martone is headed back to East Lansing to work with again this summer.
Flyers prospect Jack Nesbitt will be headed to the University of Michigan next season.
There’s no rivalry brewing yet with 2025 first-round pick Jack Nesbitt, who will start at Michigan in the fall, but he’s not ruling it out.
“We’ve been chatting a little bit, no rivalries yet,” Nesbitt joked. “I’m sure when we see who’s going to go farther, I’m sure there’ll be some chirping. We’re good right now, but I’m sure there’ll be something in the future.”
Breakaways
Flyers prospects Carter Amico and Jack Murtagh were selected for the Team USA World Junior Summer Showcase, putting them on the early list of prospects in contention to make the American team for December’s World Juniors in Alberta.
Porter Martone didn’t intentionally wear a Flyers playoff hoodie to the first day of development camp.
“It’s the only Flyers hoodie I have,” Martone joked.
Still, it was a physical expression of just how much has changed for Martone, Denver Barkey, and Alex Bump since the last time they were at development camp 12 months ago.
Last year, none of the three had made their NHL debut. Martone was freshly drafted and off to college, and Barkey and Bump were headed into their first full pro seasons. Now, all three are bona fide NHL regulars who played key roles in the Flyers’ improbable run to the second round of the playoffs.
They don’t even need to be here. Martone’s barely had three weeks of rest, following up his playoff run by playing alongside Sidney Crosby and Macklin Celebrini for Team Canada at the World Championships. But it was important for each to come back to Voorhees, both to work on their skills and to help the next group of prospects along.
“I’m still a young guy here,” Martone said Monday. “I think I could use my learned experiences — and my experience in the playoffs and at the ending stretch there with the Flyers — to help everyone here. I still might be younger than some guys, but I think that’s valuable, to come back here, be a leader, show them what it’s like being a Philadelphia Flyer.”
Winger Porter Martone said Monday it was important to be at development camp to show other youngsters “what it’s like being a Philadelphia Flyer.”
Martone didn’t participate in the skill sessions on the first day, choosing instead to focus on power skating and off-ice workouts. Monday was his first day back on the ice since the World Championships. After camp, he plans to return to East Lansing for a week to train with the strength coaches at Michigan State, and then head home to Ontario before training camp in the fall.
Having guys like Martone, Barkey, and Bump — who know the drills, the facility, and the staff — on hand can be an invaluable resource for the newer members of the organization.
And there’s still plenty for that trio to learn. Martone said he felt like he had to improve at “everything” this summer to become the power forward he wants to be. Barkey agreed, but had a few more specific things he was getting a jump start on at camp.
“The biggest thing for me this summer is putting on a couple extra pounds and working on my first three steps,” Barkey said. “Getting in and out of corners, having the weight and the strength to win battles, and then also having the first three steps to get away from the bigger guys, and have a little bit of space to make plays. I think that’ll be my bread and butter, and it takes time, but definitely working toward that.”
Three of the Flyers’ draft picks, Czech goalies Martin Psohlavec and Marek Sklenička and Finnish defenseman Max Laatikainen, were not able to travel in time for the start of development camp, but they are expected to participate later in camp … Jett Luchanko was not among the players on the ice for the first day of camp. According to Flyers director of player development Riley Armstrong, Luchanko is dealing with a lower-body injury. He is expected to be back skating next week and to be ready for training camp… Assistant general manager Brent Flahr told The Inquirer that Cole Knuble has a good motor. Kind of sounds like Denver Barkey a little bit, no? “I think just growing up, kind of realized that’s the way I’m going to be able to make it, a guy that’s going to go in every battle,” Knuble said. “And I think growing up the emphasis was, not goals or assists, it was always, did you win your 50-50s and did you stick your nose in there. That’s kind of the way I was coached growing up. So yeah, that was just how I’ve always played.” So was it his dad, former Flyers forward Mike Knuble, who taught him that? “Oh, yeah, he used to say if you have 12 eggs in your pockets, they should all be broken.”
WASHINGTON ― The Flyers’ final countdown began on Tuesday night.
Playing in their 74th game of the season, and facing a Washington Capitals team clinging to their own playoff dreams, the Flyers had a chance to gain some ground but instead fell, 6-4.
The loss ended the Flyers’ winning streak at three games; they have not won four in a row since Feb. 6-12, 2023.
However, there is some good news. The Flyers didn’t really lose any ground in the playoff race as the Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings, New York Islanders, and Columbus Blue Jackets all lost, too.
They remain tied in points with the Red Wings and Senators, with all three teams trailing the Blue Jackets by two points for the second wild card slot in the Eastern Conference. All three teams have a game in hand on Columbus. Washington moved three points back of the Blue Jackets, too.
The Flyers also remain three points back of the Islanders for the third seed in the Metropolitan Division, while the Pittsburgh Penguins expanded their lead for the second seed in the division with a win.
Ending up on the losing side also spoiled the debut of Porter Martone, who was drafted sixth overall in the 2025 NHL draft and did not look out of place. He skated on a line with Christian Dvorak and Travis Konecny, the latter of whom was his linemate during exhibition games for Canada at the Ice Hockey World Championships last May.
The 19-year-old played more than 16 minutes, got tagged for delay of the game, and had six shot attempts and five shots on goal, including a one-timer off a pass from Konecny as they were rushing into the zone. He made a great play in the third period with the Flyers down by two, when he backchecked on a play that turned into a two-on-one, and knocked away the pass across the ice.
A physical game that saw a combined 59 hits and had a high-tempo pace and intensity seemed to catch the Flyers off-guard to start, but they settled in, and said afterward they felt they handled it better as the game wore on. It was a good test for a young team that is hoping to play well into April.
And it also showed that the Flyers’ special teams need to step up. The power play went 0-for-3, including a chance with under four minutes left in regulation and the Flyers needing a goal to tie. Washington scored twice when it had the man advantage, thanks to offensive-zone penalties taken by Konecny and Trevor Zegras.
Skating in his 900th game, Washington’s Tom Wilson opened the scoring with just over five minutes left in the first period during five-on-five action. On a two-on-two against Rasmus Ristolainen and Travis Sanheim, he took a drop pass from Pierre-Luc Dubois and sent the shot against the grain and past Dan Vladař’s blocker. It was the 47th time in 74 games that the Flyers trailed first.
Flyers right wing Carl Grundstrom (center) celebrates his goal during the second period against the Capitals.
Less than four minutes later, they found themselves in a 2-0 hole when Alex Ovechkin registered his 927th regular-season goal.
The Capitals gained the offensive zone, and Connor McMichael dished the puck to defenseman Matt Roy, who was trailing. He had room and skated down to the net before sending a pass into the crease, where Jamie Drysdale tried to clear, but Ovechkin swooped in and knocked it home.
An unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, there is a strong possibility that the game was “The Great 8’s” last game against the Flyers.
But as they’ve done countless times before, the Flyers battled back, and before the clock hit five minutes into the second period, it was all tied up.
Just 39 seconds in, Sanheim scored during four-on-four action, firing a one-timer off a pass from Konecny. The referees initially said there was goaltender interference by Christian Dvorak and called off the goal. Coach Rick Tocchet and his staff challenged the call because Dvorak actually never touched Capitals goalie Logan Thompson as he crashed the net. The replay showed that Capitals defenseman Martin Fehérváry’s stick touched Thompson, and after a review, the goal counted.
Sanheim has nine goals on the season, one shy of his career high set in 2023-24.
Under four minutes later, it was Carl Grundström getting on the board for the first time since Feb. 3 — which just happened to be against the Capitals too.
The Flyers dumped the puck in, and Owen Tippett put a little bit of pressure on Roy, causing him to send a somewhat blind pass up off the boards. Zegras got there first and sent a quick, zinging backhand to the front of the net where Grundström was. The Swede took it and scored around the right pad of Thompson.
The good vibes didn’t last long, however, as the Capitals retook the lead just over two minutes later on a goal by Jakob Chychrun. Off an offensive-zone faceoff during a power play, Ryan Leonard sent the puck over to the big defenseman, and he fired off the one-timer past Vladař. Leonard scored to make it 4-2 with his own power-play goal later in the period when it looked like Vladař was screened by Nick Seeler.
But once again, the Flyers tried to charge back in the third period.
Less than 40 seconds in, Sanheim made a good play in the defensive zone that started the rush up the ice. Martone got the puck on a two-on-one with Konecny and tried to pass it over.
The play was broken up, but Sanheim was there to get the loose puck and to send it over to Konecny, who just missed short side. He got the puck and fed it in front to Dvorak for his 16th goal of the season, putting him one shy of his career high.
Ovechkin then made it 5-3 when he was left alone in front and reached to tap in a pass from McMichael. It was Ovechkin’s 54th goal and 86th point in 82 regular-season games against Philly.
But the Flyers again got within one goal.
Ristolainen got the puck inside the zone and made a nice move to give himself time and space to put a shot on. On the way to the net, Denver Barkey deflected the puck, which was also deflected off the Caps, and got it past Thompson to cut Washington’s lead to 5-4.
Barkey has two goals and an assist in his past four games after being held off the score sheet for six games. Ristolainen has five assists in his past seven games.
Breakaways
Zegras extended his point streak to six games (one goal, five assists). … Konecny extended his point streak to three games (one goal, four assists) and gave him 65 points in 70 games. … Dvorak had a goal and an assist to give him 46 points on the season. … Noah Cates got an assist on Ristolainen’s goal, tying his career high (25) set in 2022-23. … Wilson added an empty-net goal with 64 seconds left in the game. … Forwards Alex Bump and Garrett Wilson, and defenseman Noah Juulsen were healthy scratches. … Defenseman Emil Andrae played in his 100th NHL game.
Up next
The Flyers return home for another meeting with the Red Wings on Thursday (7 p.m., NBCSP) to kick start a back-to-back that takes them to Long Island on Friday to play the Islanders (7 p.m., NBCSP+, NHLN).
With just over 48 hours remaining until the 2026 NHL trade deadline, Inquirer Flyers reporter Jackie Spiegel hopped on r/Flyers to field some fan questions in a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) Wednesday afternoon. Here are a few highlights …
(Questions have been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.)
Q. There’s been a lot of talk about selling at the deadline, with guys like Owen Tippett and Rasmus Ristolainen as top candidates. Is there anyone else who might be on the block and could be a ‘surprise’ player dealt at the deadline?
A. It’s a good chance that Ristolainen is gone with how he’s been playing, his friendly contract, the farm system, and that he’s a right-shot defenseman. Tippett is less of a sure bet as he brings elements — size, speed, goal-scoring ability — that any team, including the Flyers, would want. However, Tippett does have a modified no-trade clause that begins on July 1, so if they’re going to do it, time is ticking.
The Flyers do have a logjam on the wings, and one surprise, at least for this week, could be Bobby Brink, who has long been rumored to be on the way out because of who is waiting in the wings. There’s always a chance Danny Brière could do right by some veterans like Noah Juulsen and Nic Deslauriers, each on expiring contracts, and trade them to a contender looking for depth.
Owen Tippett is a potential trade candidate for the Flyers
Q. At what point do we finally trade away some of our right wings to fix the log jam we have? And why is it taking so long?
A. The expectation was always that this process would begin over the summer, but it could come sooner. Names like Brink and Tippett have popped up in recent trade-deadline chatter. The only crux of trading Brink now is his size, as playoff teams are always looking to get bigger this time of year, but he is a pending restricted free agent. … But there is no denying that the Flyers need to make room for right winger Porter Martone.
As to why it has taken this long — you can’t trade someone if you don’t have someone ready to take the spot. Some of the wait was the hope of reeling in a big fish during this summer’s free agency — that is gone — but more recently, the wait has been on Martone, with all signs pointing to him inking his entry-level contract once Michigan State’s season is over.
Q. Where do you see us getting an actual top-line center option from and what would it realistically take?
A. This is a great question. I think part of the issue for the Flyers is that they were banking on this upcoming offseason to get that No. 1 center and all those guys inked extensions. Could Trevor Zegras be that guy? Maybe. Could they swing for a Robert Thomas? Maybe, but from what I’ve been told, that deal would require sending at least one of the Flyers’ young centers in the system the other way. I’m starting to wonder if a true No. 1 center is needed, because if you have enough talented high-end wingers — like Tyson Foerster, Martone, Travis Konecny, Matvei Michkov, Tippett — maybe a less elite center works too?
Sean Couturier has been the Flyers captain for a little over two years.
Q. What do the Flyers plan to do about Sean Couturier? Having the captain of the team be the guy farthest from living up to his contract and visibly frustrated seems like a less-than-ideal leadership situation. Not to mention he’s signed for four more seasons after this one and his contract is buyout proof.
A. From what I can tell, there are zero plans for Couturier. From the outside, yes, his production is down, but a lot of that, in my opinion, has to do with his focus on defense as he lets his younger, more skilled wingers take charge offensively. And heading into the return from the Olympic break, his analytics were actually some of the best on the team. There’s also the leadership in the room that fans do not see. As assistant coach Todd Reirden mentioned, while he was taking over media responsibilities with Rick Tocchet at the Olympics, Couturier’s “voice carries a lot of weight. He’s not [a captain] that’s rah rah, but when he does talk, no one’s not listening. I can tell you that much. So he’s the leader of our team for a reason.”
Q. If you had to look for a funny quote for a story after a win who would be your best bet on the team this year?
A. This is a great question. Funny is good, but what we call money bites (at least that was the term when I worked in TV) are always better. Dan Vladař is always good for that and usually has a funny quote or two. Zegras is always on with a quick, funny response. And Garnet Hathaway is always insightful, but brings a good quote too.
Every December and January, the World Junior Championship delivers exhilarating hockey, unrivaled drama, and a lot of debate surrounding the sport’s top under-20 prospects, some of whom have been drafted and others who are about to be.
While the 10-day tournament in isolation is far from a perfect way to evaluate prospects, it does provide a snapshot to gauge players’ development and a chance to see how they perform in a best-on-best environment.
“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,” Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr recently told The Inquirer of the tournament.
“But the thing that fans don’t understand is that the coaches of those teams and management have different goals than what we have. … There’s been lots of great players who have been cut [or have lesser roles] that go on to have great careers,” Flahr said.
That brings us to the Flyers, who were well represented in Minnesota’s Twin Cities. Amid the team’s ongoing rebuild and the high-end nature and sheer volume of the team’s draft picks in recent years, the Flyers sent six prospects — tied for third-most among NHL teams — to this year’s edition of the tournament.
Here’s a look at how each of the six performed relative to expectations. (These grades are purely based on performance at the World Juniors and are not reflective of prospect rankings or the players’ seasons overall.)
Jack Berglund, C, Sweden
Jack Berglund’s skating has come on over the past year but the rest of his game is well-rounded.
Captain Jack led Sweden to its first World Junior gold in 14 years and only its second in the past 45, and was dominant along the way. Berglund plays well-rounded and winning hockey and is almost impossible to get the puck off of.
While Anton Frondell scored more goals, and 2026 draft eligibles Ivar Stenberg and Viggo Björck earned most of the headlines, Berglund was the unquestioned heartbeat of Team Sweden and led by example like a captain should from the opening puck drop.
The 2024 second-round pick tallied three goals and a joint team-high 10 points in the tournament and delivered several clutch moments in the knockout rounds, including scoring a do-or-die penalty shot to keep Sweden in the tournament in the semis and delivering assists on Sweden’s first two goals in the gold medal game.
Berglund’s skating and lack of speed will always come under scrutiny, but he plays at his own pace, and his strength and reach at 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds allowed him to get where he needed to go at this level.
Berglund’s a horse when it comes to puck protection and wall work, and after some early skepticism, he has now aced his last three major test: Flyers development camp, the World Junior Summer Showcase, and the World Juniors.
Grade: A
Heikki Ruohonen, C, Finland
Finland center Heikki Ruohonen always seems to save his best for international competition.
Ruohonen, a player the Flyers’ brass has gone out of its way to namecheck the past few years when asked for under-the-radar prospects, backed up that praise in Minnesota with a strong tournament.
For my money Finland’s top player at the event, the 2024 fourth-rounder led Suomi with nine points (three goals, six assists) across seven games and was a plus-six.
Not the flashiest guy, Ruohonen has great hockey sense and always seems to make the right play. He’s also very calm with the puck under pressure and empties the tank shift to shift from a competitiveness perspective.
The Harvard freshman impressed me here with his ability to transport the puck, and I think he has a little more skill and cleverness with the puck than he gets credit for. Though still a few years away, he’s definitely one to monitor.
Grade: B+
Porter Martone, RW, Canada
Canada’s Porter Martone was good but not great at the recent World Junior Championship.
Martone was good: He led the tournament with six goals and had nine points in seven games. But he wasn’t nearly as impressive or impactful as those numbers might suggest while captaining a Canada team that fell short of the expectation of winning gold.
Three of Martone’s goals and five of his points came in 7-1 and 9-1 blowouts of overmatched Slovakia and Denmark, and another one of his goals was an empty-netter against Czechia.
Speaking of that empty-netter, his controversial butt tap of a Czech player afterward earned him a silly unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and ultimately came back to bite him and Canada when Czechia got the last laugh and knocked them out in the semifinals.
Martone did score a clutch tying goal late in that semifinal, which was a huge moment and should not be discounted, but big-time plays in the biggest games were few and far between across the tournament for a player whom many expected to dominate.
This grade might seem a tad harsh, but I thought Martone, who has the potential to be a truly special player given his combination of size, skill, and snarl, disappeared at times and wasn’t the consistent driver Canada needed atop its lineup.
Grade: B
Max Westergård, LW, Finland
Max Westergård has some intriguing offensive skills and already has a fan in former Flyers star and current team adviser John LeClair.
It’s early, but the Flyers might have found something in Westergård, a 2025 fifth-round pick. One of the youngest players in his draft class, Westergård was noticeable on almost every shift and consistently made things happen offensively with his speed, vision, and skill.
Max Westergard might legitimately be my favorite prospect in the organization. He's mesmerizing to watch skate with the puck. Almost got a breakaway goal here off his pure speed.#LetsGoFlyerspic.twitter.com/uW36hYjRyj
Westergård looked threatening in transition throughout and also worked hard below the goal line to retrieve and keep the puck. He had a goal and four points in six-plus games — he probably deserved a few more — before being knocked out of the bronze medal game early after taking a big hit from Canada’s Kashawn Aitcheson.
Relative to expectations, Westergård improved his stock the most in my eyes and should be a leading contributor for Finland at next year’s tournament.
Grade: B
Jett Luchanko, RW, Canada
Canada’s Jett Luchanko (17) underwhelmed for the second consecutive World Juniors.
Flyers general manager Danny Brière was vocal about his disappointment in Luchanko’s use at last year’s tournament, but this year more of the blame has to fall on the 19-year-old’s shoulders. Playing out of position on the wing, Luchanko had an unspectacular tournament while filling a depth role.
In seven games, Luchanko had just one assist — battling in front to dig out a puck in the lead up to Tij Iginla’s opener in the semis — and was a minus-four, including being tagged with a minus-three in that semifinal loss to the Czechs.
Luchanko’s details and speed are real positives, but his play with the puck left a lot to be desired here, as he was largely a non-factor offensively despite being on one of star-studded Canada’s power-play units.
It’s far too early to give up on Luchanko as a prospect, but more was expected in Minnesota. His second half with new OHL team, Brantford, will be intriguing to follow.
Grade: C-
Shane Vansaghi, RW, United States
Flyers prospect Shane Vansaghi wasn’t the physical presence many expected him to be for the United States.
It would be hard to say anything other than Vansaghi had a disappointing tournament. Deployed in a bottom-six role, the Michigan State sophomore averaged a team-low 5 minutes and 11 seconds of ice time and was a healthy scratch in two of Team USA’s five games.
Vansaghi’s hallmarks of grit, physicality, and net-front activity were curiously absent in this tournament, as he was a minus-four despite his limited ice time. He was particularly exposed in a 6-3 loss to Sweden.
Porter Martone just wrapped up his first semester at Michigan State as a general studies major. So what was the best course he took? “Personal finance,” the 19-year-old freshman said.
Well, that’s not a bad one to master, considering that the winger will be raking in the big bucks soon if he maintains his stellar play on the ice.
Selected sixth overall by the Flyers in the 2025 NHL draft, Martone is now lighting up men’s college hockey. His 11 goals are tied for the second-most by a freshman.
In 16 games for the third-ranked Spartans (12-4-0), Martone has 20 points and is tied with Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Zam Plante, the son of former Flyers forward Derek Plante, for 17th in the country in points per game (1.25) .
“I think my season has gone really well. I think it was definitely an adjustment going to college hockey … [and] I feel like I’ve matured a lot as a person,” he told The Inquirer last week via Zoom while attending Hockey Canada’s World Junior camp in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
“You’re living on your own now, you learn how to cook your own meals, you’ve got to manage your classes, practices, like lots of different things, so I think that’s been great.
“And then I think, overall, just me really getting in the weight room, I think I’ve noticed a big difference on the ice, just be able to sustain energy throughout the whole game and be effective three periods instead of maybe only two last year, and I think just becoming more of a power forward that I need to be.”
Back to school
It was quite a shift for Martone to choose college hockey. He notably opened the start of Flyers development camp five days after he was drafted, stating: “I want to give it my all and try to earn my spot in the opening-night roster.” But 21 days later, he announced he was heading to East Lansing, Mich.
“It was really hard,” he said of the decision, “just because you obviously want to go to NHL training camp and try to maybe make the NHL. And it’s tough because the CHL and Brampton [of the Ontario Hockey League] did so much for me — and I can’t thank them [enough] for my development — but in kind of sitting down with the Flyers and my agents and my parents, I thought this was the kind of the next step in my hockey journey.
The Flyers believe Porter Martone’s combination of size and skill can make him an elite winger at the next level.
“I feel like this is going to help me be the best player when I am in my prime, five to 10 years down the road.”
Flyers fans should like the idea of him thinking ahead. And, yes, while he is focused on helping the Spartans win their first national championship since 2007, he is open to swapping green for orange in April.
But for now, his feet are firmly planted at Michigan State, toward which fellow 2025 draftee Shane Vansaghi, now a sophomore, did nudge him. Martone also made a couple of visits to the campus and met with coach Adam Nightingale. He liked the culture and thought Will Morlock, the director of athletic performance for hockey, was a “game-changer.”
“[Nightingale] was telling me that nothing is going to be given to you, and I think that’s big in my family, you’ve got to work for things, so I really trusted his process,” Martone said.
“… And a big thing [Morlock] says, we have all these expensive machines, but it’s kind of the work you put in. So I think just Michigan State is very blue collar and hardworking, and that’s something that me and my family kind of strive to be ever since I was a little kid.”
Blue collar, hardworking. Martone already sounds like a Philadelphian.
Aside from his work on the ice, Martone has spent much of his first few months at Michigan State putting in the work in the gym. Facing players older than him — “those guys are so strong, and they’ve got man strength,” he said — he has dropped body fat and, while he’s “not working out to become a bodybuilder,” he has gained around eight pounds of muscle.
Martone, who is listed as 6-foot-3, 210 pounds by Michigan State, is building his body to sustain a grueling 82-game NHL schedule, and, hopefully, beyond. He feels like he’s becoming a 200-foot player while being reliable all over the ice, but if the Spartans need a goal or a big play offensively, he can do that, too. And he is working on his speed and power.
“His biggest challenge, and what we’ve talked about, is his pace,” Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr said. “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.
Team Canada defeats Denmark 13-2.
Porter Martone totaled 4 points (2G, 2A), and Jett Luchanko had 2 points (1G, 1A).
“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.”
Flahr called Martone a quick study who “has the ability to process the game at the level that a lot of guys can’t.” This season, Martone has been working on his footwork and speed on and off the ice by doing jumping and sprinting drills. He speaks often with the Flyers director of player development Riley Armstrong.
“I think probably every weekend there’s almost been a Flyers development guy there at one of our games,” he said, name-checking Armstrong, John LeClair, and Chris Stewart as attendees. “… I do video with Riles a lot, almost every week after my weekends, and kind of just fine-tune some things, see some things that they want me to improve. They’ve been really good with me and kind of always very straightforward with what they want to see from me.
“They’re a very good development staff, trying to add different things to my game, but also let me play it and be the player I am.”
Porter Martone, right, is expected to be one of Canada’s biggest stars at the upcoming World Juniors.
Power forward
Martone is, and is developing into, a power forward on the right wing. Armstrong and Martone chat about building his overall offensive game and being more powerful with his skating. But they also delve into the specifics.
“It’s a lot of wall play; as a winger in the NHL, that’s huge,” Martone said. “Offensive zone, when you’re creating space for yourself behind the net, picking pucks off the wall, and then overall, just neutral zone, just playing with pace through the middle of the ice. Be a hard player for defenders to stop off the rush as well.”
That will also come in handy as he dons the maple leaf for the third time in a year beginning on Dec. 26. Hockey Canada’s roster usually skews older, but Martone will be playing at the World Juniors for the second time in his short career. Last year, Canada, which also had Flyers prospects Jett Lucahnko, Oliver Bonk, and Carson Bjarnason on the roster, lost in the quarterfinals in Ottawa.
“I feel like just on my case, but kind of all of Canada has a bit of unfinished business, and we kind of want to come back and really show what we can do,” said Martone, who will be playing alongside Luchanko and will serve as the team’s captain.
Flyers first-round picks Jack Nesbitt (left) and Porter Martone battle during a drill on the first day of the team’s development camp on Wednesday.
He will face Finland’s Max Westergård and Heikki Ruohonen, who will wear an “A,” in Group B action and in the playoffs could see Sweden captain, Jack Berglund, and his friend Vansaghi, who will be suiting up for Team USA.
But Martone also has represented Canada on the senior men’s world championship stage, skating alongside Tyson Foerster, Travis Sanheim, and Travis Konecny last year.
“Oh yeah, I was all in,” Konecny said in November when asked if Flyers brass checked in with him about possibly drafting Martone.
“I said, ‘That’s a guy you can work with. That’s a guy that’s going to compete; that’s a guy that’s willing to learn, become a pro, play the right way.’ You don’t really always get that information before the draft. And then on top of that, I mean, I think he can develop into a really special player.”
While he waits to join them in a locker room, Martone tunes in and watches “almost every game” the Flyers play. He also sees the orange and black jerseys at his games. “I’m excited to wear that jersey myself,” he said.
So, does it make him hungry to get there?
“Obviously, when you watch them, you just kind of can’t wait till you’re there, and you want to help them any way you can. And, definitely, watching the games, you dream of that day when you do get to play your first NHL game and join the Philadelphia Flyers. So when that day comes, you know, I’ll be super excited.
“It is cool to see the support of the fan base. And I know the Flyers fans are very passionate. … I can’t wait to play in front of them.”
Porter Martone says he “can’t wait” to play for the Flyers whether that is this year or next year.
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.
