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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Since Danny Briere became general manager of the Philadelphia Flyers and kicked off the rebuild, he has been clear about one thing: the team was not going to tank.
This upset a lot of Flyers fans.
The frustration is understandable. For starters, the rosters of recent Stanley Cup winners are littered with 1st-overall draft picks: Aaron Ekblad on the Florida Panthers, Nathan MacKinnon (and Erik Johnson) on the Colorado Avalanche, Steven Stamkos on the Tampa Bay Lightning–and that’s to say nothing of the Edmonton Oilers, twice the runners-up with Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins as 1st-overall selections. That doesn’t even account for Edmonton’s other two 1st-overall picks from that era, though Nail Yakupov and Taylor Hall haven’t been on the team for quite a while.
Then, if you branch out from 1st-overall picks to merely top five, it’s even more staggering: Cale Makar, Jack Eichel, Alex Pietrangelo, Victor Hedman, the Sams Reinhart and Bennett, Aleksander Barkov–the list goes on. If the Flyers were going to commit to a rebuild without tanking for top draft picks, how could they hope to construct a perennial Stanley Cup contending team? If the teams who’ve won have shown anything, it’s that you can’t win without players taken at the top of the draft.
Generally, that’s true. In the Flyers’ case, however, they drafted the kinds of prospects teams tank for, but without the tanking. Let’s take a look at some of the players the Flyers drafted and how consensus viewed them, potential high-end contributors the Flyers acquired outside the drafts, as well as one player that could outperform his draft slot to the point that he’s on par with lottery selections. We’ll begin with the blue chip guys, Matvei Michkov and Porter Martone.
The Blue Chippers
Boy, the 2022-23 season made you want to pull your hair out, didn’t it? Chuck Fletcher refused to acknowledge the need for a rebuild, made a series of utterly baffling trades and signings, and he hired John Tortorella as head coach to squeeze as much out of the mediocre roster as possible. In a draft year with unreal talent stacked at the top between Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson, Will Smith and Matvei Michkov, the Flyers were shooting themselves in the foot from the moment the puck dropped in Game One. They finished with the 7th-overall selection– just outside that upper echelon of talent, and the whole season felt like a waste.
Come draft day, however, none of it mattered: Matvei Michkov fell right in the Flyers’ laps.
It’s worth remembering that, up until Russia invaded Ukraine and was no longer allowed in international competition, 2023 was shaping up to be the Bedard-Michkov draft. Then, geopolitical tensions lessened Michkov’s ability to show out on the international stage, and a three-year KHL contract put teams off as well–not to mention a slow start in his draft year. Carlsson and Fantilli soon proved they were legit and, as centers, played a more coveted role than “diminutive winger” Michkov. Here’s Elite Prospects talking about Michkov in their 2023 Draft Guide:
A first-overall caliber prospect that the Flyers got at seventh. EP ranked Michkov fourth in their guide, but they go on to explain that’s largely due to the noise and risk around him. Scott Wheeler of The Athletic had Michkov ranked number two in the draft, and Corey Pronman ranked him third. Worst case outlook, the Flyers got a top-five ranked prospect that year, and a guy who could outshine everyone else in that draft when all is said and done. That’s a player you tank for, and the Flyers didn’t need to.
Two years later, the Flyers had similar luck, but first, a thought experiment: imagine the Flyers’ 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons were reversed. They bottom out in 2023-24 and pick sixth, then make progress with the addition of Michkov and pick 12th the following season. Is that a better outcome than the one we have before us?
It’s a bit of a tough sell. Porter Martone, selected sixth overall by the Flyers this summer, is a top-three caliber prospect–and there’s a good chance that nobody available at sixth in 2024 comes close. Here’s EP again, discussing Martone:
Despite a tough draft lottery loss where the Flyers fell from fourth to sixth, they still got one of the most highly thought of prospects in the draft. EP had Martone ranked third in their Draft Guide, Wheeler had him ranked fourth, and Pronman had him third, the same as EP. Again, the Flyers didn’t tank, but wound up with a prospect widely regarded to be in the top three of his draft year–certainly within the top five and, in some circles (as EP noted), a real candidate for consideration to go first. Another player front offices tank to acquire, but again the Flyers didn’t intentionally gut the team to get him.
The Acquisitions
In the last three and a half years, the Flyers have acquired three young players that were all selected in the top 10 of their respective drafts: Owen Tippett (10th overall, 2017), Trevor Zegras (ninth overall, 2019), and Jamie Drysdale (sixth overall, 2020). All three were distressed assets when the Flyers traded for them (and in Drysdale’s case the Flyers gave up their own fifth-overall pick in Cutter Gauthier), but they’ve all flashed the potential to be top-of-the-lineup contributors: Tippett has the size, speed and shot to be an imposing power forward; Zegras has borderline one-of-one puck skills; Drysdale’s a phenomenal skater with scoring and top power play upside. Delivering on the promise of their draft slots, however, has been a mixed bag–though those inconsistencies are what made them available to the Flyers.
Due to their ages, there’s a lot of projecting when it comes to Zegras and Drysdale. Both have had their careers hampered by coaching, injury, and a blend of the two. What’s important, though, is that Briere demonstrated he’s able to acquire high pedigree talent with significant upside outside of the draft route–the Zegras trade, in particular, exemplifies this, considering what the Flyers had to give up. It’s not hard to imagine a world where a fresh start for Zegras and continued development for Drysdale revitalize their games and confirm they were worth their draft slots.
Tippett’s in a more precarious position. He’s older than Zegras and Drysdale, has been with the Flyers for three seasons, and is signed to a long-term contract; he’s also coming off a down season that has fans questioning if he even has that top-six potential he’s flashed before. Opinions on Tippett vary wildly, and all have some sort of legitimacy, but it remains fair to be bullish that he’s got 30-plus goal potential in a unique player profile–and if that is his plateau, he’s deserving of that top-ten selection. Even if he’s only a 25-30 goal guy, that’s still a valuable player on a Cup contender.
The Riser
The Flyers have been due a player that outperforms their draft position, and they may have one in Tyson Foerster. Selected 23rd overall in the 2020 draft, Foerster has played 166 games (23rd most of the 2020 class), has scored 48 goals (10th most) and 83 points (15th most). Foerster’s goal count is better than 2020 top-10 forward selections Marco Rossi (45), Jack Quinn (39) and Alexander Holtz (23) while playing in fewer games than all but Holtz. Using Micah McCurdy’s sG model — an attempt at a catch-all metric for a player’s overall on-ice contributions — Foerster’s on a similar or better trajectory to all three of those players:
X-axis represents age. Courtesy HockeyViz.
That’s just within his draft year, and restricted to top-10 picks; let’s look at a couple other wingers who went top three in recent drafts and how Foerster’s career stacks up. Those wingers are Kaapo Kakko, Alexis Lafreniere, and Andrei Svechnikov.
X-axis represents age. Courtesy HockeyViz.
Svechnikov had quite the high in his age-22 season, though he was limited to 64 games in the 2022-23 season due to injury. One would expect a bit more from such high picks–Lafreniere in particular, being a first-overall selection–and Foerster’s hanging right there with them. A healthy start to 2025-26, and he’s got a real shot at surpassing them all in their age-23 seasons.
Of course, that’s just one collection of data. Over at Evolving Hockey, they use expected-Goals Above Replacement (xGAR), which attempts to assign a number that encapsulates a player’s impact on their team. Over all seven players’ careers–Foerster, Rossi, Holtz, Quinn, Svechnikov, Kakko and Lafreniere–Foerster has the second and fifth best xGAR scores of the lot.
Data courtesy Evolving Hockey
Player xGAR Marco Rossi (2024-25) 16.1 Tyson Foerster (2024-25) 13.3 Andrei Svechnikov (2019-20) 12.7 Marco Rossi (2023-24) 12 Tyson Foerster (2023-24) 11.5
Most of these statistics focus on offense, but what about defense? Foerster’s well known for is in-zone play and, lo and behold, the stats once again bear that out: he is above average in his own zone, according to the data tracked at All Three Zones.
Courtesy All Three Zones
There can be little doubt: Tyson Foerster’s on a path to becoming a highly impactful NHL forward. Maybe not a true star, per se, but a top-six lock with top-line potential–and the Flyers got him at 23rd overall.
What this all goes to show is that, in some cases, draft positioning can mean very little. Nothing is ever promised or guaranteed, and tanking for a top pick doesn’t mean you’re getting the sort of star player you’d expect. Sometimes, you get an incredible run like the 2023 draft, where a potential generational guy in Bedard went first, followed by Carlsson, Fantilli and Smith–all of whom have true top-line upside. Other times, you get a draft like 2019, where it’s murky after the clear 1st-overall selection, and it isn’t worth going scorched earth only to lose the lottery.
No Tank, No Problem
It’s one of the most tiresome refrains from pro-tank fans: that it’s impossible to get top talent at the draft without bottoming out. The Flyers, however, in Michkov and Martone, have picked up two players who are exactly the kind of prospects teams tear it all down for–and outside the top five, too.
Would we really feel better about the rebuild if the Flyers drafted Michkov fourth or Martone third, around where consensus had them ranked–but the team was a dumpster fire in the process? Are those the sorts of hairs we’re going to split? Yes, the Flyers got lucky–lucky that Michkov and Martone fell to them. Of course, winning a Stanley Cup takes quite a bit of luck, doesn’t it? You can only stack the deck so much and, despite pursuing a road less taken, the Flyers have in their organization two players who could be the driving superstars of a perennial Cup contending team.
Speaking of luck, the Flyers have shown they can get players with pedigree through trades. Tippett may be a product of the Fletcher regime, but Briere bringing in Drysdale and Zegras is a continuation of that. All three of those guys can be top-of-the-lineup, impact NHL players if things go well, and those kinds of risky bets are necessary parts of building a Cup contender. Maybe they never reach the level of “star,” but you need darn good players regardless.
Then, there are the players that outperform their draft slot–and the Flyers seem to have one in Foerster. Again, maybe he’s never a true top-line star forward (at least, not as a driver), but there’s a path for him to become a top-six lock and outplay quite a few wingers who have higher draft pedigree.
Whether it’ll all be enough isn’t yet clear, and there are still holes to fill, but the Flyers have managed to get the kinds players teams tank for–and they did it without blowing the whole thing up. Maybe they’re onto something.
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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. 20: Jack Berglund
2024-25 Primary League/Team: Farjestad BK
2024-25 Statistics: 1 G, 2 A in 17 GP
Age as of 9/15/2025: 19
Acquired Via: 2024 NHL Draft – Round 2, Pick 51
We are on a run of the players that the Philadelphia Flyers acquired to address their size concerns. Following defensemen Carter Amico and Helge Grans in our Top 25 Under 25 ranking is Swedish center Jack Berglund.
When the Flyers originally drafted Berglund back in 2024, a lot of question marks were raised. Yes, they clearly wanted to get a center more than anything and considering he was someone with limited professional hockey experience already under his belt and is listed at 6-foot-4, they thought it would be someone to nab in the second round. The classic second-round pick that has a limited ceiling but a decent floor — but we’ll get there eventually.
How did Berglund’s 2024-25 season go? Is his stock trending up or down from where it was entering the year?
In his first year since being drafted by the Flyers, there were minimal expectations. Yes, maybe Philadelphia coaches figured out something with his skates being too big and that’s why his skating was below grade leading up to the draft — but that possible fix alone shouldn’t make us think that he can just take Sweden by storm.
But, in our minds, if Berglund was able to play more than the eight games he did in the SHL during his draft year, and show some offensive pop, then that is a trend in the right direction. Depending on how much leash you want to give the sizeable center, he sort of did exactly that.
For his SHL experience, Berglund was able to play in a total of 17 games for Farjestad BK (earning one goal and three points), and then was able to improve on his production in the Under-20 league, scoring eight goals and 22 points in 15 games in the J20 Nationell. But the one major thing to consider is how back-and-forth Berglund’s season was.
This is going to look crazy but this was Berglund’s season from the start:
One game in the Champions Hockey League (CHL), one game in the J20 Nationell, three games in the CHL, two games in the J20 Nationell, two games in the SHL, one game in the J20 Nationell, one game in the SHL, one game in the J20 Nationell, one game in the SHL, three games in the J20 Nationell, one game in the CHL, one game in the SHL, one game in the CHL, seven games in the SHL, four games playing for Sweden’s U20 team, one game in the CHL, two games in the SHL, one game in the J20 Nationell, one game in the CHL, one game in the SHL, one game in the J20 Nationell, one game in the CHL, one game in the J20 Nationell, one game in the SHL, one game in the HockeyAllsvenskan, one game in the SHL, one game in the HockeyAllsvenskan, two games for Sweden’s Under-20 team — and then he was injured.
That is just up until December 23. December twenty-third.
While North American hockey does not have the yo-yoing of European hockey and being able to play in intraleague tournaments like the Champions Hockey League makes a game log look tiring, it is still a lot. There is probably not a lot of prospects who played a significant number of games in the SHL, HockeyAllsvenskan, and the J20 Nationell in a season.
But it was at least obvious why they did that. Berglund is physically ready for the SHL, but obviously being just 18 years old holds him back from being able to take advantage of his time there. He then is so large and dominant in the junior league, so they tried him out in the second division HockeyAllsvenskan on loan and did decent, scoring five points in 10 games during BIK Karlskoga’s bid for promotion to the SHL.
Basically, Berglund had people committed to his development and was trying to figure out the best fit for him. It’s tough to say if his stock is better or not — he played very well during the recent World Junior Summer Showcase but given that his last season was like just trying to farm XP in your favorite RPG, he hasn’t truly been tested in the long run.
What are we expecting from Berglund this season? What should we be looking for from him?
And with that, the expectations are a little bit strange. It all depends on the level of insanity we have, but the baseline should be that Berglund sticks in the SHL for the entire year. No going down to the junior level just because he technically can, or going on loan to a HockeyAllsvenskan team; just stick through the top division with the highest competition available to him.
If he is able to do that, then his stock will rise. Farjestad BK isn’t an SHL powerhouse by any means, so Berglund should be able to stay in that lineup and it will be his responsibility to produce enough and be responsible in all three zones, for him to keep his spot. That’s really the expectation — sure, he can score about half a point per game or maybe go on a hot streak a couple times, but just don’t look like you don’t belong in the SHL and that’s a step in the right direction.
How does Berglund fit in the Flyers’ rebuild? Is it likely he’s going to be part of the next good Flyers team?
It’s an interesting fit. Do the Flyers think that Berglund can be an option down the middle in the top six? Most likely not. Are they hoping that he can just turn out to be a draft pick of theirs that sticks in the NHL in some capacity? Maybe a little bit more than that.
It’s clear — along with the selection of Jack Nesbitt — that the Flyers want someone large to be able to play solidifying minutes at the center position when they’re good again. Berglund can be that, but so can Nesbitt. They just want someone to tower over and play tough minutes against a team’s star players and that is pretty understandable.
Berglund should fill a role and if he exceeds that expectation to just be a cheap option down the middle when he comes over with maybe an opportunity to blossom into something more, then that’s fine too.
What do we think Berglund’s ultimate NHL upside is, and how likely is it that he gets to something approaching that?
It is truly hard to get a read on what Berglund’s ultimate upside can be. From just this past year, he is clearly at a level where he’s above junior hockey but hasn’t shown enough in the professional ranks over in Sweden to envision a world where he’s some dominant two-way force that can play with some of the Flyers’ best wingers.
He can maybe get there if the skating improves and he shows more of a scoring touch — but maybe his ultimate upside is to be the counterprogramming to Jett Luchanko in the Flyers’ long-term middle six forward group at center. Luchanko’s speed and tenacity to work his butt off to keep possession, and Berglund will be that steady glacier down the middle and to get to the front of the net with an opportunity to crash and bang. If we want to put a label to that — a distinct marker — it’s a sizeable, physically gifted third-line center that contributes slightly more offensively than defensively? Maybe?
It doesn’t feel anywhere near a guarantee that he reaches there. It feels more likely that he isn’t even good enough to hang at the top of an AHL lineup, than be a reliable offensive contributor in the NHL. There’s a chance, though, and this season will almost certainly tell us how big that chance is.
Previously in Philadelphia Flyers Summer 2025 Top 25 Under 25:
- Intro / Honorable Mentions
- 25. Hunter McDonald
- 24. Cole Knuble
- 23. Samu Tuomaala
- 22. Carter Amico
- 21. Helge Grans
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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. 19: Jack Murtagh (LW)
2024-25 Primary League/Team: U.S. National Development Team (USHL)
2024-25 Statistics: 7 G, 11 A in 24 GP (USHL Juniors); 22 G, 31 A in 56 GP (NTDP U18)
Age as of 9/15/2025: 18 (8/22/2007)
Acquired Via: 2025 NHL Draft – Round 2, Pick 40
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, and now we cover the third of those picks, Jack Murtagh.
It’s easy to get excited about Murtagh’s upside when you consider he’s one of the youngest prospects the Flyers drafted this summer, thus early in his development curve–and he’s already 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds. Going into the draft, Murtagh was a borderline first-round prospect, and few would’ve blinked if he’d been taken late on Day One; that the Flyers got him with the 40th pick early on Day Two could be one of the steals of the draft. Add in that he’s a natural left winger–a position the Flyers lack depth in–and has a nose for the net, and envisioning Murtagh as an impactful NHL player isn’t much of a stretch.
How did Murtagh’s 2024-25 season go? Is his stock trending up or down from where it was entering the year?
As mentioned, Murtagh is on the younger side (three weeks shy of being a 2026 draft-eligible skater) and very early in his development curve, and the end of his season with the U.S. National Team Development Program may’ve only hinted at what’s to come. Elite Prospects called him “a force down the stretch” in their annual draft guide and that, in a down year for the NTDP, Murtagh was a bright spot on an otherwise underwhelming team. He was fourth in goals (22) and points (53) on the U18 team, and ninth in goals (7) and points (18) on the juniors team; not sparkling totals relative to the rest of the USHL, though to be fair, he only had 24 games at that level.
While playing in the USHL, Murtagh finished with the 16th highest points per game, with 0.75, among skaters that played at least 10 games. It’s not the most mind-blowing numbers but considering that five USNTDP teammates ranked above the East Greenbush, NY native, it could be possible that Murtagh just did not have prime offensive opportunities in those games — if only they could provide time-on-ice metrics.
Murtagh plays with drive, speed, physicality, and has a great shot. The only knocks on his game are his hockey sense and “meh” defense, but having better teammates around him next year at the collegiate level may help him improve on the playmaking that he flashed more often late in the 2024-25 season and not make him feel like he has to do everything himself, as it sometimes seemed on the US team. Murtagh’s stock has been on the rise since the fall, and there’s a good chance it keeps rising.
Did we mention he loves scoring goals? He loves scoring goals.
THE SHOT>> the shot
#USHL #FallClassic #Hockey #USAHockey #USNTDP pic.twitter.com/lNNvlVIf9Z
— FloHockey (@FloHockey) September 22, 2024
What are we expecting from Murtagh this season? What should we be looking for from him?
Murtagh is headed to the NCAA next year, joining fellow Flyers prospect Carter Amico at Boston University. The Terriers are annual contenders for the championship title, so Murtagh will be in a great environment for his development. We’d like to see the playmaking evolve so that he utilizes his teammates more frequently, and hopefully continue to put pucks in the net at a high rate. He’ll have to earn his ice time in a competitive program like this, but Murtagh’s motor and effort should gain the coaches’ trust and put him in a position to succeed. On the Terriers, Cole Eiserman is the clear choice for first-line left wing, but behind him should be a healthy competition with Murtagh in the mix for line two–though as a freshman, don’t be surprised if he starts on the third line.
Of course, the transition from juniors to university can be a difficult one, so we’re not expecting any sorts of records, but a continuation of his upward trajectory seems within reach. He’ll need to develop his hockey sense and learn to play smart, not just fast, and plenty of prospects with that sort of profile bust, though there are enough secondary elements to his game to believe he’ll have an NHL career regardless. There’s a good chance that, due to his size, Murtagh adjusts quickly, too, and learns to impose himself through his sheer athleticism. Rounding out his so-so defensive game would be gravy.
How does Murtagh fit in the Flyers’ rebuild? Is it likely he’s going to be a part of the next good Flyers team?
A natural left winger in a pool that has very few? Murtagh’s got a great shot at being a part of the Flyers in a few years’ time. He brings size, goal scoring, energy, good vibes, and nascent playmaking ability–all things that a contending NHL team would want in their lineup.
How long until he reaches the NHL is another question entirely. Though the AHL is changing its eligibility rules next summer, and Murtagh could theoretically be the sole 19-year old on the Phantoms, odds are much higher that lone roster spot would go to Jack Nesbitt if we’re going on draft pedigree (and assuming Porter Martone makes the team outright in a year). That means Murtagh is probably about two years away from signing an Entry-Level Contract, though a gangbusters first season in the NCAA could spice things up. Being realistic, Murtagh probably doesn’t get NHL games until the tail end of the 2026-27 season at the earliest, after his NCAA season wraps up, though a Flyers playoff bid could change the math.
The second barrier to Murtagh being part of the next great Flyers team is the sheer depth of wingers: Porter Martone and Matvei Michkov obviously get top billing, but Tyson Foerster, Travis Konecny, and Owen Tippett pretty much round out the top nine–and that’s before considering all the other winger prospects in the pipeline, or that maybe Trevor Zegras isn’t an NHL center at all. The NHL roster will likely undergo a number of changes in the coming years but, at time of writing, spots on the wings will be at a premium. Murtagh will need to make quite the impression to snag one of those coveted spots.
What do we think Murtagh’s ultimate NHL upside is, and how likely is it that he gets to something approaching that?
Murtagh is one of those rare prospects with an easy projectability to a middle-six role, but the floor of a good NHL player. If everything breaks right in his development, and Murtagh continues to score up levels and adds some more defensive acumen to his game, he’s got a clear path to becoming a hardworking second-line winger with some special teams utility. If we’re tempering expectations, he’s more likely to become a rock solid middle-six option who can pot 15-20 goals per season–though that will require his brain to catch up with his feet. Even if things don’t work out, it’s still easy to see Murtagh being a good fourth liner due to his work ethic, size and skating. Somehow, he’s a low-risk prospect with enough untapped potential to dream on–and dream, we do.
Previously in Philadelphia Flyers Summer 2025 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
Source
The Philadelphia Flyers released their television and radio broadcast schedule for the 2025-26 season and it includes 14 games where they’ll have a national audience.
Ready for primetime.
Check out the 14 national broadcasts featuring the Orange & Black this season. #LetsGoFlyers https://t.co/sr67YMZjoQ
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) August 27, 2025
The Flyers will play on ESPN four times, including twice against their bitter rivals from Pittsburgh (Oct. 28 in Philadelphia and Jan. 15 in Pittsburgh) and be included on ESPN+/Hulu a total of five times. In addition, TNT will showcase the Flyers four times, including twice against Buffalo (Dec. 3 in Philadelphia and Jan. 14 in Buffalo). Philadelphia and Buffalo will also clash in a nationally broadcast game from Buffalo on Dec. 18.
The other remaining games before a nationwide audience includes the following: at Chicago (Dec. 23), at the Rangers (Feb. 26), at home against Boston (Feb. 28) and hosting Washington (Mar. 11). It appears as if the networks and streaming services might see the Flyers as either being in playoff contention or with a playoff spot as five of the 14 broadcasts take place near the season’s homestretch. They begin with hosting Columbus (Mar. 26) and then traveling to Detroit to face the Red Wings (Mar. 28). An afternoon tilt at home against Boston (Apr. 5) kicks off three April broadcasts, with road games in New Jersey (Apr. 7) and Detroit (Apr. 9) wrapping up the national broadcast portion.
As yet, no local broadcast schedule for the Flyers has been released but it’s expected to be in the coming weeks. And last but certainly not least, after releasing the schedule earlier this summer already four Flyers games have had their original start times adjusted. These include the Dec. 18 game against the Sabres (7:30 p.m. ET), Jan. 21 when they visit Utah (9:00 p.m. ET), hosting Columbus on Mar. 14 (7:30 p.m. ET) and finally against host Detroit (6:30 p.m. ET).
With any luck, the Flyers don’t find themselves playing close to midnight Eastern time as was the case a few seasons ago when they were the last game on the full 16-game slate as part of the NHL’s “Frozen Frenzy.” The gimmick saw all the games with staggered starts, resulting in the Flyers starting their tilt almost the following day.
The fact the Flyers are getting just a wee bit more attention is never a bad thing. And any time that Matvei Michkov can be put in the spotlight should help get the Flyers back up to being one of the league’s more prominent organizations. It’s been quite a while after all.
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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. 18: Spencer Gill
2024-25 Primary League/Team: Rimouski (QMJHL)
2024-25 Statistics: 6 G, 29 A, in 51 games
Age as of 8/28/2025: 19 (8/17/2006)
Acquired Via: 2024 NHL Draft – Round 2, Pick 59
Number 18 brings us an intriguing defensive prospect from the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League in the lanky, skilled, Spencer Gill.
Despite an injury ending his season early, Gill once again led the charge on the Rimouski back end, scoring the most points of any defender, and being relied on to play the lion’s share of minutes. And while an offseason trade to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada may have changed the scenery, it still insures that Gill will have the leading role on a QMJHL team that will be trying to contend.
How did Gill’s 2024-25 season go? Is his stock trending up or down from where it was entering the year?
Gill’s stock was continuing to remain steady during what turned out to be a solid final campaign with the Rismouski Oceanic, before an ankle injury ended his season in early March and caused the defender to miss the entirety of the Oceanic’s playoff run, that ended in defeat to the Moncton Wildcats. Despite the injury, Gill was still the highest scoring defenseman on the team with 35 points in 51 games. His loss was a huge blow to a Rismouki team that was looking like a true contender, and finished the QMJHL regular season with a blistering 46-14-4 record.
Gill was the best defender on the roster, leading the line and looking like the poised, smooth skating giant that got the Flyers so excited when they drafted him in the second round of the 2024 NHL draft. His play was rewarded with a spot on Team Canada’s roster for the recent World Junior Summer Showcase, which continues the trend of Hockey Canada looking favorably upon the 19-year old, after already being a member of Canada’s team at the under-18 World Championships the year prior.
Gill was the best defender on his team, and compared well when matched against high level talent. While he missed out on an opportunity to play on the biggest stage at the end of the year, the work he did before his injury was sound and showed that he is primed for a breakout next season. Gill’s naturally smooth skating stride at a stout 6-foot-4 and passing vision have continued to be his most noticeable traits, but as he gains experience, his physical game is starting to come along as well. He has become a bit tougher of a customer and is not shy about playing in front of the net, and he is partial to a big open ice check, if the situation calls for it.
But what really stood out was his ability to use his height and scan above the traffic in order to get shots to the net, and make pinpoint breakout passes that aren’t very easy to pull off. That X-factor, combined with Gill’s size, is a very intriguing package.
What are we expecting from Gill this season? What should we be looking for from him?
Gill’s career in Rimouski is finished, but he will still play next season in the QMJHL after being traded to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in June, who also acquired recent Pittsburgh first rounder Bill Zonnon around the same time. He should be once again a part of a team that has their sights set on playoff success on a team that also features high-flying first rounder Justin Carbonneau, projected top-15 talent Xavier Villeneuve, and two NHL prospect goaltenders.
Gill will step in and immediately become the Armada’s most heavily relied upon defenseman, supplemented by the aforementioned Villeneuve. Whether power play, penalty kill, or five-on-five, it should be a steady diet of minutes for the Flyer prospect. With another year of CHL play under his belt, there is a reasonable expectation that Gill should take another step in production and improve on his 35 points in 51 games, not only due to his experience, but also due to his developing skills and confidence with the puck on his stick.
Much of what makes a great offensive defenseman boils down to confidence, knowing when to maximize the space given to you, without putting your team in jeopardy on the other end. Gill seems to be learning how to walk that fine line, and has flashed the raw puck skills that make it plausible to expect that he can take a jump towards some more gaudy numbers, maybe even flirting with something just under a point per game pace.
How does Gill fit in the Flyers’ rebuild? Is it likely he’s going to be a part of the next good Flyers team?
At 19 years old and in what should be his final QMJHL season, Gill will be breaking into pro hockey within the next two years at most, depending mostly upon if a move to the NCAA isn’t too tempting. So he should just start making a push for a roster spot just as the Flyers are starting to really make their move into contention.
There’s a chance that the Flyers are able to turn this ship around before Gill truly arrives for NHL duty, but he should at the very least be apart of a second wave of prospects who will be pushing the (hopefully) established roster players.
What do we think Gill’s ultimate NHL upside is, and how likely is it that he gets to something approaching that?
I am higher on Gill than my colleagues, evidently, and I really think he has the sort of standout tools to become a late-bloomer who can help supplement even the strongest defensive corps, with his puck moving skills and lengthy skating stride. That skill ceiling opens doors, and will make it so Gill won’t have to necessarily turn into either a shut down stopper or offensive dynamo, and will have the freedom to develop into someone who is a bit more of a jack of all trades. As he continues to fill out his frame, he will become even more of a physical presence, and hopefully arrive at a point where he resembles something like Braydon Coburn.
But even if he doesn’t reach his full potential and beecome a top-pair defenseman, there’s seemingly enough here to turn Gill into an improved Phillippe Myers-type late bloomer, who can play a fast-paced offensive game while also adding in that crucial dimension, that Myers lacked, of throwing the body around without getting caught in a bad defensive shape.
As far as likelihood goes, I’d say it’s a pretty good chance that Gill stands out during training camp, builds some hype, and pushes on to establish himself as one of the more intriguing Flyers of the future. The skills are here, it’s just a matter of limiting mistakes and finding consistency with his play.
Previously in Philadelphia Flyers Summer 2025 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
Source
