As Philadelphia Flyers training camp ramps up and the battles for roster spots begin, there are a few new names to consider in contention for some early season NHL minutes. Could we a surprise?
Nikita Grebenkin, for one, has quickly made an impression both on and off the ice during his first Flyers camp. But the absence of Porter Martone, the Flyers marquee sixth overall selection in this past year’s draft who will play this season at Michigan State, has left this camp process without the organization’s new shiny prospect.
There was talk that Martone was possibly going to compete for a full-time NHL roster spot heading into the season, but as long as he has a commitment to an NCAA program, that’s not going to happen just yet. While Martone won’t get the chance to do anything drastic right away, how about the Flyers other first round pick?
The 12th overall pick in that draft, Jack Nesbitt, comes to Flyers camp with a man’s frame, at 6-foot-5, 185 pounds, and the defensive instincts and compete level to look impressive in drills and games against weakened opposition, right away. And while there really isn’t a chance that Nesbitt sticks in the NHL for a full 82 games, there is a chance that the big centerman shows enough promise that the organization allows him the opportunity to play some early season games, and see how well he can acclimate himself to NHL pace.
Nesbitt got right to business making his case to stick around early on in the Flyers’ first preseason game against the Islanders, when he picked off a stray neutral zone pass and dished out wide to Rodrigo Abols, who beat the goalie low glove and opened the Flyers account for 2025-26.
RODRIGO ABOLS!!! BEAUTIFUL PLAY BY JACK NESBITT, INTERCEPTING SCHAEFER'S PASS AND SLIDING IT OFF TO ABOLS, WHO SNIPES IT HOME. 1-0!#LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/dlAAihzskv
— Flyers Clips (@Flyers_Clips) September 21, 2025
Even if Nesbitt was able to make such an impression that the Flyers do deem him worthy of a roster spot, it’s not as if he’ll really ever be a candidate to stay past nine games. As we saw last season with Jett Luchanko, even if coaches fall in love with certain players, the chances that they stay past the nine game mark, and burn a year of their entry level deals in the process, are exceedingly low. But while Nesbitt’s puck skills and offensive game aren’t anywhere near fully developed, he doesn’t seem like someone who would get overwhelmed by the league’s physicality and be unable to even play a depth role.
While the Flyers’ brass probably won’t be pushing for him to play a fourth line role for an extended period, a quick taste of the NHL life in order to reward a prospect’s hard work is never out of the question. It remains to be seen what kind of impression Nesbitt leaves, but the door is open for him to make the most of his first preseason opportunities.
