Expectations for were always going to be high for Sam Ersson this season: he’d shown promise as a viable tandem goaltender during the 2023-24 season as the 1B to Carter Hart’s 1A. However, with Hart’s departure, Ersson faltered when thrust into the starter’s role for the remainder of that season. There’d been enough positives to have hope that he would, after a summer off to rest and prepare, bounce back and succeed in 2024-25. As we all know, the opposite happened.
Games Played Starts Wins Losses OT Losses GAA Save Percentage Shutouts Goals Saved Above Expected 47 45 22 17 5 3.14 .883 2 -22.09
Not only was Ersson’s -22.09 goals saved above expected the worst on the Flyers, it was the worst in the NHL by nearly double the next worst goaltender: Phillip Grubauer, who had a -12.66 GSAx per Evolving Hockey. Even Ivan Fedotov, bad as he was, posted a -12.03 GSAx; third worst in the league but, unbelievably, second worst on the Flyers. For even more context: Ersson’s goals saved above expected was the sixth worst by any goaltender in the last five years–just atrocious. Opposing teams were able to score from just about anywhere on the ice when he was in net.
Yikes!
The good news is that Ersson’s abysmal performance in net is not in line with the rest of his NHL play: in the 51 games during the 2023-24 season, he had a -1.9 GSAx. That’s not ideal, but it’s certainly respectable enough for a rookie goaltender. Hopefully, the 2024-25 season is nothing more than an egregious outlier, because there’s nothing positive to take from it outside of being named to Sweden’s Four Nations team.
We’d be remiss, of course, to not mention the injury that kept Ersson out of action for about a month in November and December. Groin injuries have been an issue with Ersson before, and that is what reportedly kept him out last fall as well. At 25 years old, Ersson is still young by goaltender standards, and a path still exists for him to establish himself as top dog in a tandem arrangement. However, if recurring injuries are going to limit his ability to start consistently, it’d be dangerous for the Flyers to rely on him as their best goaltender, and would likely mean relegation to a more 1B-esque role. The 2024-25 season was an opportunity for Ersson to show the Flyers that they can depend on him–especially when considering how awful Fedotov and Aleksei Kolosov were as backups–and Ersson didn’t step up in the way the team needed him to.
Three Questions
Did he live up to expectations?
Not at all. This was a disappointing season from Ersson no matter how you slice it, even when accounting for injury. Save percentages were deflated league wide last season, with .900 being the lowest since the 1995-96 season when it was .898, but Ersson’s .883 is not going to cut it. He needs to be better, and maybe a coaching change (and subsequent system change) will be to his benefit next year.
What can we expect from him next season?
Ersson had a strong showing at IIHF Worlds, winning all four of his starts and finishing with a .934 SV% 1.16 GAA, outshining veteran netminder Jacob Markstrom. Sure, maybe Ersson faced some lesser competition, but that’s still solid work for a young goalie trying to stake a spot on next year’s Swedish Olympic team. If that international performance helps Ersson build some confidence, and allows him to start the summer on a high, then that can only be a boon for him in the 2025-26 season. With one year remaining on his contract, now’s the time to prove he can handle the bulk of an NHL goalie’s workload–and we still have hopes that he can get there. We have high expectations, though admittedly a tad lower than the same time last year, and hope Rick Tocchet’s system augmentations help Ersson be a better goalie.
How do we grade his 2024-25 season?
Though we can afford some grace for Ersson, given the injuries and time missed, it’s hard to call the season anything other than a failure with some of the worst goaltending numbers in the league. A netminder with designs on being a starter (or at the very least, a 1A) has to be better than that. Sorry, Sam–here’s hoping for the turnaround next year.
Grade: F
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While we’re still waiting around for a while longer for the much anticipated drop of the NHL schedule, we now have an early opportunity to begin planning out their hockey related schedule, filling out their planners, and what have you. Everyone’s autumns are beginning to come into focus. That is, the Phantoms’ 2025-26 schedule is here!
After they wrap up their slate of preseason action in the first week of October (those game dates are yet to be announced), the Phantoms will open their season with a two-game homestand, with their opener against the Belleville Senators coming on Saturday the 11th (where we might see our old pal Olle Lycksell, if he doesn’t make Ottawa’s opening night roster), and then following that up with a Sunday matinee against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, for their first meeting since the Phantoms bounced them from the postseason in the play-in round last spring. And speaking of potential revenge game situations, the Phantoms will face the Hershey Bears for the first time since their own playoff elimination later in October, with a home-and-home series on the 25th and 26th.
For those looking to see some new teams in the mix this season — as we did last season with Grand Rapids, Rockford, and Milwaukee coming to town throughout the course of the year, and the Phantoms visiting their barns out West, in turn — we’re out of luck. The out of conference trips seem to rotate from year to year, and the Phantoms are out of that rotation for this season — it’ll just be Eastern Conference teams that they face off against throughout this regular season. For the folks that can’t be bothered to do all of that counting themselves, here’s the breakdown: the Phantoms will face Wilkes-Barre/Scranton a whopping 12 times, Hershey 10 times, and then eight times for Bridgeport and Charlotte, six times for Hartford and Springfield, four times for Cleveland, Providence, and Syracuse, and finally, two times for each of Belleville, Laval, Toronto, Rochester, and Utica (got all that?). If it’s familiarity that breeds contempt, there’s ample room for that this season.
Also notable is the trend away from the three-in-three weekends. Once a real staple of the league, they’re becoming fewer and somewhat farther in between, and for the second year in a row, the Phantoms will only see five of them across the whole of the season.
We’re still a ways away from the season kicking off, but the anticipation is already building — the Phantoms certainly left some unfinished business in their early playoff exit (relative to expectations), and with the further influx of young talent, it’s bound to be a season worth tuning in for.
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You may be familiar with my other cheesesteak list, which is essentially just cheesesteaks in Philadelphia city-proper (with the exception of one). As most know, not all the best cheesesteaks are located in Philly. Across the Delaware River, New Jersey has PLENTY going on with shops rivaling many cheesesteak institutions I’m sure you know by name. I won’t go on to explain what makes a good cheesesteak again, so please go to my Philly List for a rundown.
Either just missing the list or nowhere near the top include: Reno’s Steaks, Dar’s Steaks, Croce’s on Delsea, Meatheadz, Carmen’s Deli, Primo’s (Sicklerville), Skylar’s Hoagies, Whit or Whitout, Louie G’s (Sewel), Chick’s Deli, Peppino’s Pizza, Steak Out, Cafe Merlino and Johnny Longhots (Sicklerville).
Disclaimer: I haven’t been to every cheesesteak place and these lists will be forever a work-in-progress. So, before you go “Fraudulent list! XYZ Sandwich shop isn’t even on it!” or “How could you not have tried XYZ yet!?”, please note that the stomach and wallet can only take so much meat (giggity). Some places on my list to try include: Ernest and Sons, Russo’s, Sugar Hill Sub Shop, Bagliani’s, Royale Crown, Rocco’s Steaks, Garnet Grill, Dad’s Deli, Cockadoodle Dan’s, Champs Cheesesteaks, and Cuzzie’s — just to name a few. If you have any additional suggestions? Pop them in the comments! Now onto the list…
10. Smash Bros (Runnemede)
It should be said, EVERYTHING here is good. Their namesake smash burgers are a delight and are a must-get every time. Same goes for their outstanding hand-breaded chicken fingers. What doesn’t get talked about enough is their outstanding cheesesteak. They are using a fresh seeded Sarcone’s roll along good amount of Cooper cheese and onions. This isn’t a monster sandwich, I think they are using 10″ rolls perhaps? However, everything is seasoned great and ingredients are incorporated properly (a huge sticking point for me!). There isn’t indoor seating here, so plan on eating this on in your car or taking it home. They also have a spot in Glassboro, though I can’t speak to that location.
9. Corson’s Steaks (Haddonfield)
Located just off King’s Highway, tucked in a side street is a little hidden gem. Corson’s has excellent cheesesteaks, but are also putting out roast pork, meatball and chicken cutlet sandwiches. I had this cheesesteak right after Gouldsburger’s and this one felt much bigger. It has a solid crusty seeded roll and a TON of meat. I liked whatever seasoning they used on it as well. The meat itself is also a bit of a rough chop, if you are into that. There is some seating, so if you are going at a busy time you may have to take your food to a bench nearby.
8. Cheesesteaks (Merchantville)
Opened in the last year or so, they have gained a cult following for both their wings (try the Hot Honey Strawberry!) and their cheesesteak. The cheesesteak is massive and I had barely room for anything else I had ordered. If you are looking for the best bang for your buck, this cheesesteak is LOADED with meat. This is also one of the cheesier cheesesteaks you will order, so if you aren’t THAT into cheese…I’d suggest ordering “light cheese”. This place is also a rough cut, but I don’t discriminate. Highlight for me was the crusty seeded roll. Just a note, this location does not have any seating indoor or outdoor. It is a walk-up window where you place your order and pick-up from another window. Your best bet is to find a BYO food place (brewery?) or a park (like I did) to enjoy it. Otherwise, bring that napkins because you’ll be eating in your car.
7. Gouldsburger’s (Haddonfield)
This place has certainly blown up over the years. Since writing this they also have locations in Medford, Bordentown, University City and Logan Square (and soon to be a Sicklerville spot). While they also have chicken sandwiches, burgers, and hotdogs…when you try their cheesesteak, you’ll know why it is the star of the show. What sets Gouldsburger’s apart from the rest is their everything seasoning roll. Yes, that is a fresh crusty Italian roll (from Boaggio’s Bread) with everything bagel seasoning. It certainly adds a whole new layer to their sandwich to go along with yellow cooper sharp cheese. I’m certainly not aware of anyone using anything but white cooper sharp. The meat is more of a fine chop and is filled with that yellowy cooper goodness (that might confuse you with canned cheese wiz). Finally, yes there is seating inside the Haddonfield location.
6. DeliCozy (Glendora)
It’s only been around for a few years, but has already made a lasting impression for me. This is a very unassuming deli just off the Black Horse Pike on Station Ave. The owner was extremely friendly and convinced us to try both an Italian hoagie AND a cheesesteak. Both were incredible, but the cheesesteak was a thing of beauty, incredibly underrated and not talked about enough. Their rolls are fresh, crusty and imported daily from Deluxe Italian Bakery down the road. They are using fresh cut ribeye and high quality ingredients (and it shows). With it being a true deli, you have a ton of cheese options (including the beloved Cooper Sharp). This is also one of the more affordable places you can go for sandwiches and has plenty of indoor seating, which only raises its status in my book.
5. Brooklyn Original Pizzeria (Haddon Heights)
This excellent pizza shop (with plenty of seating) has been around since 2019, but has gained popularity over the years. The pizza gets a lot of the deserved accolades with high quality ingredients and unique style pies. Sometimes you can’t help yourself driving by to see what they might have and take a slice to-go. The cheesesteak obviously isn’t a slouch either and lives up to the same standards as its pizza. Brooklyn Original is baking their own rolls, using fresh-cut ribeye and a cool blend of both Cooper Sharp and yellow American cheese. It is a beautiful symphony of flavors that always hits the spot.
4. Brynn Bradley (Woodbury Heights)
I haven’t been since they opened their newest location (which actually has seating), though I can’t imagine their immaculate cheesesteak has changed all that much. Brynn Bradley consistently wins “Best of” lists every year since they opened in 2020 for their cheesesteaks. They are using a Lisco’s Roll (perhaps my favorite bakery roll in South Jersey) and fresh prime ribeye. It is seasoned perfectly and all ingredients incorporated as it should. You rarely find a more consistently good cheesesteak than you do at Brynn Bradley anywhere in South Jersey.
3. Mama’s Meatballs (Pennsauken)
Mama’s has become a staple for my family as we usually hit it up on the way back from the Adventure Aquarium in Camden. While the meatballs are great, it is the cheesesteak that always has me coming back for more. Mama is baking her own rolls that are right up there with Angelo’s and Del Rossi’s in Philly. Combine that with fresh shaved ribeye? It is a perfectly executed cheesesteak that has never let me down. There is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating to go along with its other great offerings like pizza (my son loves), chicken cutlet sandwiches, roast pork and meatball parms.
2. Lilo’s Tomato Pies (Hainesport)
This spot had blown up in popularity over the past few years and it took me forever to finally get there. But I did in 2025 and what was I even thinking waiting this long? I’m not sure you could make a better tasting cheesesteak than this. It has this rich garlicy flavor from this spready that you can add that I’ve never quite had in a cheesesteak that just put it over the top for me. Yes, it has the standard options for a seeded roll and Cooper Sharp. This is also a monster sandwich with 16 oz. of ribeye and a quarter pound of cheese of your choice. This shop also specializes in Trenton-style pies, so if you are into that make sure you grab a slice as well.
1. Donkey’s Place (Camden)
Did you think there’d be any other place at this spot on the list? Granted, this sandwich isn’t for everyone. You’ll get the haters saying it isn’t a cheesesteak because of its poppy-seed kaiser-style roll. Don’t listen to them. This eatery has been around since 1943 and was notably Anthony Bourdain’s favorite cheesesteak of all-time. Yes, better than anything in Philly. You have to have loved Bourdain’s blunt honesty because he is right. To be clear, this was my favorite even before the proclamation from Bourdain. There is just something about this sandwich that makes it special. The large caramelized onions that pour out of the sandwich? The steak sizzling in its own fat on a tiny flat-top grill? The ooey-gooey meltiness from the American cheese throughout? It is all these things. To enjoy Donkey’s is to experience Donkey’s in Camden. It is sitting down at the bar, eating your cheesesteak with a little bit of their homemade pepper relish, sipping a beer and snacking on their deliciously seasoned french fries. There isn’t anything quite like it when it comes to a true cheesesteak experience anywhere in the US.
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When Rick Tocchet became head coach, there were three glaring holes the Flyers needed to resolve to some extent if they wanted to become playoff contenders in 2025-26: depth down the middle, goaltending and the power play. The signing of Trevor Zegras should help the center ice position. Dan Vladar’s signing should perhaps help take a bit of the load and pressure off of assumed starter Sam Ersson when October rolls around. But perhaps the biggest question mark now remains the power play. Is Zegras enough to get the effectiveness up to less than miserable? Will Michkov and Zegras find instant chemistry and make the Flyers’ first power play unit a huge positive? Or will they continue to struggle despite Tocchet and his new coaching staff throwing everything but the kitchen sink in trying to make it better?
Without rehashing the numbers which are well-versed, a power play that is around 20 percent could make all the difference regarding playoff contention. If it’s puttering and on life support most of the year then it’ll be that much harder to overcome. A team with a great power play can overcome being outplayed, stealing a handful of games thanks to their effectiveness five-on-four. But for the Flyers, the key more this year than any recent season is to get the power play running quickly right off the bat, thereby leaving the team with some much needed confidence early on. And instilling some confidence throughout the lineup. So let’s take a somewhat in-depth look at how Tocchet’s teams (in their first year under Tocchet’s helm) have started the season on their respective power plays.
Although the numbers at the beginning of the year might be far different than the percentages at the end of the season, we’ve decided to look at the initial 20 games from five seasons. Three of the seasons are the first full seasons Tocchet coached with Tampa Bay, Arizona, Vancouver. And we’ve also included the first 20-game segments from the two partial seasons Tocchet became a new head coach: once when he replaced Barry Melrose in 2008-09 with the Lightning, and again in 2022-23 when he took over from Bruce Boudreau in Vancouver. The partial seasons are known below as “Tampa Bay Lightning I” and “Vancouver Canucks I.” The first full seasons are known as “Tampa Bay Lightning II” and “Vancouver Canucks II.”
Granted, every season for each of the teams Tocchet coached was unique. Whether it was roster personnel, injuries or just the ups and downs of an NHL season, every season brings different issues. But in the end the numbers are the numbers. Here then is how Tocchet’s 20-game power play tenures broke down for each of the three respective teams he’s lead. (Note: the table below is broken down into 10-game segments, but each of the five in-depth looks breaks things down into smaller segments.)
First 10-game efficiency Second 10-game efficiency Overall 20-game efficiency Tampa Bay I (2008-09) 16 per cent (8-for-50) 11.1 per cent (5-for-45) 13.7 per cent (13-for-95) Tampa Bay II (2009-10) 18.4 per cent (9-for-49) 17.5 per cent (7-for-40) 17.9 per cent (16-for-89) Arizona (2017-18) 16.7 per cent (6-for-36) 10 per cent (3-for-30) 13.6 per cent (9-for-66) Vancouver I (2022-23) 22.6 per cent (7-for-31) 18.8 per cent (6-for-32) 20.6 per cent (13-for-63) Vancouver II (2023-24) 34.3 per cent (12-for-35) 25.6 per cent (10-for-39) 29.7 per cent (22-for-74) Tampa Bay Lightning I (2008-09)
After Barry Melrose was fired by Tampa Bay, the Lightning took a chance on Tocchet. And in terms of the team (which included Martin St. Louis, Vincent Lecavalier, Steven Stamkos, and Mark Recchi), the Lightning started clicking right off the bat. From Tocchet’s first game as coach on Nov. 14, 2008 through to their overtime loss against the Flyers on Dec. 2, Tampa Bay had scored on the power play in six of their first eight games, including a pair against both the Flyers the previous game against Colorado. They also scored in four of the last five games of that same 20-game segment from Nov. 14 through Dec. 30.
Unfortunately, there was a seven-game stretch in that roughly quarter of the season where the Lightning went seven consecutive games without scoring on the power play, ending up going 0-for-27 before snapping the drought on Dec. 20 against Atlanta. In short, the Lightning scored multiple power play goals on three occasions, and once in seven different games. That works out in terms of games to a simple 50 per cent in terms of how many games of the 20 they scored a power play goal. In terms of total efficiency or effectiveness, it ended up going 12-for-95, which works out to a percentage of roughly 12.6 per cent.
Compared to where the Flyers were at last season, the Lightning’s first 20 games under Tocchet with the man advantage was not great. But then again, Tocchet took over during the season. And that’s not really a completely fair measuring stick given he had very little practice time (or a training camp or exhibition season) to implement what he thought might work. Tocchet also missed Stamkos’ first NHL goal as seen below.
Tampa Bay Lightning II (2009-10)
With a training camp under his belt and another year of Stamkos, St. Louis and Lecavalier to help offensively, Tocchet’s Lightning again — much like they did when he took over in 2008-09 — hit the ground on all cylinders. From their season opener Oct. 3 loss against Atlanta through to a Nov. 21 loss against Carolina, the Lightning mirrored their effectiveness in the 2009-10 opening quarter much like the previous year. The power play started with five consecutive games where they scored a power play goal including a pair in a 3-2 win over the Panthers on Oct. 12. Through five games they were 6-for-27 for a 22.2 per cent efficiency.
However, after that opening stretch of games, Tampa’s power play went quite frigid. Only in two games in the next eight-game stretch did they score on the power play, scoring twice in an Oct. 29 game before going scoreless with a man up the ensuing three games. That eight-game stretch amounted to going 3-for-31, or essentially a power play percentage of, er, 9.7 per cent. The last seven games (from Nov. 5 through Nov. 21), Tampa Bay found whatever mojo they had in the opening stretch, scoring power play goals in six of those seven tilts. In that seven-game segment, the team went 7-for-31 on the power play, which is a slight improvement on their opening stretch (22.6 per cent). On the whole, Tampa Bay went 16-for-89 in the opening 20 games of 2009-10, which is good enough for a 17.9 per cent. If the Flyers ended up at 17.9 per cent through 20 games, there’s a good chance there would be a few more smiling faces on the bench and in the front office.
Arizona Coyotes 2017-18
The Arizona Coyotes Rick Tocchet took over in 2017-18 had none of the weapons he had in Tampa Bay. Instead of St. Louis, Lecavalier and Stamkos, Tocchet was working with a 19-year-old Clayton Keller, Derek Stepan and Max Domi as his top three offensive forwards. Over the first 20 games (Oct. 5 through Nov. 14), the Coyotes scored a power play goal in eight games. So in terms of games, that amounts to 40 per cent of the time Arizona had a game where they capitalized on the power play. In the opening five games, the Coyotes scored four goals. That works out to a 4-for-19 ratio, or a 21 per cent effectiveness. Not bad.
Unfortunately, outside of a four-game streak where they scored a power play goal in each, Arizona was as dry as their desert environs the remaining 15 games. They scored a power play goal in five contests of those remaining 15 which is a 33.3 percentage. The low point was the last eight games where they scored a lone goal with the man advantage. And that one came in an shootout loss to the Blues on Nov. 9. That 1-for-22 stretch works out to a measly, embarrassing 4.5 per cent. Overall, Arizona was 9-for-66 on the power play the opening 20 games of 2017-18. That is a 13.6 percentage. Which is essentially Flyers country the last few seasons.
Vancouver Canucks I (2022-23)
Much like he did in Tampa Bay, Tocchet entered the Vancouver Canucks situation roughly halfway through the season. His first game as Canucks head coach was Jan. 24, 2023 and Vancouver went 0 for 5 on that evening. Unlike his previous 20-game stints in the aforementioned seasons (and with seemingly comparable talent that would’ve rivaled what he had in Tampa Bay), Tocchet’s Canucks didn’t have a pulse much of the first five games of his tenure. Vancouver scored on the power play in one of their first five games, going 2-for-16 which is 12.5 per cent. The next segment of games was the polar opposite as Vancouver scored a power play goal in five of their following six, including a pair in a 6-5 win over the Islanders. They were humming along, going 6-for-19 for what was a highly impressive 31.6 efficiency.
The remaining remaining nine games had a power play goal in five of them. And due to the number of power play opportunities, the percentage wasn’t too shabby. A 5-for-28 works out to be 17.9 per cent, not tearing up the NHL but definitely a percentage that the Flyers wouldn’t mind. On the whole, Vancouver went 13-for-63, good enough for 20.6 per cent in their first 20 games after Tocchet took over mid-season. Again, it took a little while for them to figure out out, but the last three-quarters of those 20 games were quite strong for Vancouver with the power play.
Vancouver Canucks II (2023-24)
Tocchet’s first full season with the Canucks saw Vancouver score power play goals in the opening 20 games. And often in bunches! On opening night, the Canucks went 3-for-6. And that was one of four games in the first 20 where they scored three power play goals or more. Unfortunately, the opening seven games was a bit of a dry spell, coming up empty in four of the first seven. That percent didn’t drop much in those games as on two occasions they were limited to just one power play opportunity. So over the first seven games, Vancouver was 6-for-21, which is a stellar 28.6 per cent.
The following seven games, Vancouver doubled their power play production, scoring 12 times, including a ridiculous four goals against lowly San Jose on Nov. 2 in a 10-1 rout. But the Canucks also scored a pair on Nov. 11 and had three on Nov. 6. In short, they were 12-for-34, a criminal 35.2 per cent against the opposition while up a skater. Ridiculous! Of course, that hot streak cooled off somewhat, with Vancouver having four of the remaining six games out of the 20-game quarter without a power play goal. Nonetheless, Vancouver went 4-for-19 in that stretch, which is 21.1 per cent.
Overall, in the opening 20 games of 2023-24, Tocchet saw Vancouver go 22-for-74 on the power play. That works out to a stellar 29.7 per cent. Yes please, where does Philadephia sign up for that?
What can we take from this?
While it’s foolish to see a trend with five different 20-game segments over five seasons with three different teams, a lot of Flyers fans would be pleased to see seasons where the Flyers were clicking at 17 to 20 per cent in the opening quarter of 2025-26. It’s doubtful to think Zegras, Michkov, Travis Konecny, Tyson Foerster and Owen Tippett can somehow get the Flyers humming along at nearly 30 per cent, but if Philadelphia was at 20 to 22 per cent the majority of the season (with some highs and lows along the way), it’s a given Tocchet and his staff will have found the problems and fixed them, something Rocky Thompson never did in his time in Philadelphia. A strong start, particularly at home with a power play that looks not just average but in the top half of the league, will put Tocchet in a good light. And the Flyers in a great position for snapping the playoff drought.
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Welcome to Broad Street Hockey’s Summer 2025 Top Under 25! The series is back and with the Philadelphia Flyers focusing so much on the future, it’s more important than ever. Join us as we rank the 25 best players under the age of 25 for the next few weeks.
No. 17: Shane Vansaghi (RW)
2024-25 Primary League/Team: Michigan State University (NCAA)
2024-25 Statistics: 6 G, 10 A in 37 GP
Age as of 9/15/2025: 18 (10/11/2006)
Acquired Via: 2025 NHL Draft – Round 2, Pick 48
The Flyers made four selections in the second round of the 2025 draft: one was covered in the Honorable Mentions, one was ranked 22nd on our list, Jack Murtagh had his time to shine earlier this week, and now we’re onto the fourth and final 2025 second-round pick, Shane Vansaghi.
It is so, so easy to love Vansaghi’s game. He hits like a freight train, but brings enough puck skills and hockey sense to make plays that you’d expect from higher level prospects. This highlight reel from Vansaghi’s freshman year at Michigan State University really captures the major elements of his game: violence, net-front presence, and surprisingly astute playmaking.
Hope you like ska soundtracks!
This kid was born to be a Philadelphia Flyer.
How did Vansaghi’s 2024-25 season go? Is his stock trending up or down from where it was entering the year?
Vansaghi played for the Spartans at MSU, who ended up going 26-6-1 and won their conference. As a freshman, Vansaghi’s role on the team was limited; he spent most of his time on the third line, but boy, did he make the most of those minutes. The scoring doesn’t jump out at you (only six goals and 16 points in 37 games), and very early on in the season, scouts really only saw the physicality: Vansaghi was there to deliver crushing hits on the forecheck and get the puck back for his linemates. That’s it, very simple, and not enough ice time to show much else. A first-round pick? Probably not, but the kind of fourth line player coaches and fans alike could love if he made the league.
As the season went on, however, other elements of Vansaghi’s game started to pop. The smarts in his play came through in impressive passes and some softer skill (see: the video above). Scouts took note, and Vansaghi’s draft stock began to rise from “maybe a fourth liner, maybe” to “oh, he could be a middle sixer.” We don’t normally include full game reports from outside sources, but this March game report near the end of the NCAA season illustrates the culmination of Vansaghi’s season, evolving from a mid-round project to a borderline first-round power forward in the eyes of scouts:
“He battles.” We all know how much the Flyers love a hardworking player (all that smoke around Brady Martin going into the draft, for example), and that part of Vansaghi’s game was always present, but some of the softer skills were missed early on in the shadow of the extraordinary physicality. His stock trended up as more elements–the passing, the hockey sense–emerged alongside the hits and checks, and there’s still so much room for improvement. The Flyers getting him in the middle of the second round could be an outright steal.
What are we expecting from Vansaghi this season? What should we be looking for from him?
The Spartans saw a few of their top players (Ike Howard, Karsen Dorwart) move on to the pros at the end of the season, which means Vansaghi should get a bigger role on the team as a sophomore. More exciting is the fact that 2025 sixth-overall pick Porter Martone is joining Vansaghi; seeing those two on a line together would make for quite the season for Flyers fans. Whether they play together much at even strength remains to be seen, but you can picture a power play unit with Vansaghi at the net and Martone dictating play with his vision and passing. A sign of things to come for the Flyers’ power play? We can only hope!
There’s only one real knock against Vansaghi: poor skating. “Lumbering” may be too kind an adjective to describe it, and it’s the one thing that could dramatically reduce his ceiling or even keep him out of the NHL entirely. We’re not too worried about that outcome, though; his hockey sense is good enough that he can find his way to the right position even without high-end speed. We’d also like to see more production–which should come with an increased role this season–but more than anything we want to see an improvement in his skating. If he adds a step and some agility, he could be the most unique prospect in the Flyers’ pool.
How does Vansaghi fit in the Flyers’ rebuild? Is it likely he’s going to be part of the next good Flyers team?
The Flyers seemingly set out this summer to draft beefy guys who can bring a physical element to future playoff runs–but every single one of them brings more than just size. Jack Nesbitt has legit puck skills; Carter Amico is a monster with skating ability; Jack Murtagh can fly and rip a puck; Porter Martone has elite vision and puck skill–Vansaghi falls into that mold with an elite checking ability and above average hockey IQ in a big body. He’s the right age to fit the timeline and has special elements to his game that make it easy to see him being part of the next great Flyers team–though he may take some time to get there.
Much like with Murtagh, however, the limiting factor is a numbers game on the flanks. Martone and Matvei Michkov are the clear top-line wingers, followed by some mix of Tyson Foerster, Owen Tippett, and Travis Konecny–maybe even Trevor Zegras, if he isn’t an NHL center. Then, there are all the other winger prospects that’ll be pushing for those coveted spots.
Vansaghi’s at an advantage here, though: his game has fourth line written all over it, and any movement up the lineup is icing on the cake. This isn’t a case of a player like Bobby Brink, whose game doesn’t translate to a fourth-line role due to his size and how he plays; Vansaghi can excel as a fourth liner, or move up the lineup if the skating approaches average and skills develop further. Of the Flyers’ forward prospects from the 2025 draft, Vansaghi might be the best positioned to stick on the main roster, simply because he could be versatile enough to be a fourth-line checker or bring a different feel to a second line in need of some jump. Being able to change roles like that can lead to a long NHL career.
What do we think Vansaghi’s ultimate NHL upside is, and how likely is it that he gets to something approaching that?
Once again, like Jack Murtagh, there’s a clear projectability here: Vansaghi’s floor is probably “good fourth-line player” in the vein of Garnet Hathaway–but there’s enough skill elsewhere in Vansaghi’s game to believe there’s more upside and untapped potential than meets the eye. Does Vansaghi have what it takes to be a first-line winger? Unlikely–but an extra step in his skating and you’ve got a no-doubt middle-six winger that brings a physical element usually reserved for bottom-of-the-lineup plugs, as well as an absolute menace in a playoff environment. If the skating doesn’t improve, then he can settle in as the quintessential, hockey man’s dream of a fourth-line forward.
That outcome doesn’t seem like it would be a problem for Vansaghi, either. He seems to know and understand his role; he knows exactly what kind of player he is, and what he’s tasked with on the ice. If the skating improves, there’s a fascinating, physical middle-six winger there–and if it doesn’t, you have a fan-favorite fourth liner in the making. However Vansaghi pans out, one thing’s clear: we’re gonna have a good time.
Previously in the Philadelphia Flyers Summer Top 25 Under 25:
- Intro / Honorable Mentions
- 25. Hunter McDonald
- 24. Cole Knuble
- 23. Samu Tuomaala
- 22. Carter Amico
- 21. Helge Grans
- 20. Jack Berglund
- 19. Jack Murtagh
- 18. Spencer Gill
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