As first reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Pittsburgh Penguins have traded the 12th overall pick to the Philadelphia Flyers for the 22nd and 31st overall selections. With their newfound pick, the Flyers selected forward Jack Nesbitt from the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires.
In what is considered a surprise selection by most analysts’ projections, the Flyers selected a player projected toward the bottom third of the first round, if not the second round. The most logical explanation is that Philadelphia believed other teams were interested in Nesbitt and were uncomfortable waiting until the 22nd pick to select him.
Still, he’s a prototypical Flyers player and has serious puck skills. Standing at 6’4″, 183 lbs, Nesbitt was selected as a center, but given his skating ability, is likely destined for a spot on the left wing. He recently concluded his second full year in Windsor, scoring 25 goals and 64 points in 65 games with a +12 rating, and winning the OHL’s Most Improved Player Award as voted on by the coaches.
Unfortunately, despite the raw scoring potential, there are serious concerns with Nesbitt’s skating ability. His scoring pace and effort level declined significantly toward the end of the 2024-25 campaign, tallying only one goal in 12 postseason contests with a -5 rating.
No freaking clue what Dubas is doing. Kindel was a major reach at 11.
You trade 12 for 21 where you could have likely had Kindel and 31. Dubas is just stockpiling to stockpile at this point
They could have gotten Kindel for less if they waited, Prime Day is July 8th.
What a dumb trade by Briere. Another slow skater. He is so out of touch.
This neolithic hockey team is stuck in the 80s. Set the franchise back big time tonight.
I was hoping that by trading up the Flyers were going to take Kashawn Aitcheson to put some snarl back on their blueline. Oops, he just went to the Islanders.
I was hoping for Elkund or Smith
seems a little high to draft laughton’s replacement
The “draft analysts” here are declaring the Nesbitt pick a miss. Time will tell.
I’ve seen some like that and others that were more inline with his draft position.
I’ve been a big supporter of Briere, but this trade makes no sense. Giving up two good assets to move up is fine, but to do it for a guy who doesn’t address a serious need such as center, defense or goal is just stupid. The team has more than enough wingers in the system, and drafting a kid with skating issues is a massive red flag. If the kid could skate well enough to play center….ok, maybe. But it looks like Philly is gonna have to move him over. I’ve got the. The same questions about his Zegras trade. Philly needs a couple centers, yet you go out and trade for a guy that loses 60% of his face offs. So are you moving Zegras to the wing or are you committed to being ok with starting play without the puck a third of the time less than your opponent when Zegras is on the ice? How many stinking wingers does one team need? Because it loos to me like we just added 3 more with that trade and these 2 first rounders. Who is gonna play center and where are the future D men coming from?
How did the Flyers not draft any goalies with all those picks ?