VOORHEES, N.J. – It might have been just a development camp scrimmage but it wound up being a showcase for some of the Flyers’ top prospects.
The two teams – Team Briere and Team Jones (named after GM Daniel Briere and president Keith Jones) – met at the Flyers Training Center and the place was packed.
What ensued late Sunday afternoon on the final day of camp justified a full house.
First, Team Jones, on the strength of a pair of Alex Bump goals, raced to a 3-0 lead.
But Team Briere was unfazed. That unit clawed back into it, finally getting a tying goal with less than two minutes to play in regulation time, then the game-winner in overtime, by Jack Nesbitt.
Some of the other late-teenagers also performed well, including Jett Luchanko, Cole Knuble, Porter Martone and Jack Berglund.
Assistant GM Brent Flahr, who oversees the scouting department, was all smiles in the post-scrimmage media session. This year’s array of 46 propects have shown a lot of promise.
One of the first questions he addressed was whether he believes someone like Bump or Martone can fill in for the injured Tyson Foerster, should he not be able to start the season in October.
“That, but I also think Bump has put himself in a position regardless of Foerster’s injury where he’s going to be competing for a job,” Flahr said. “He’s done everything we’ve asked him to as far as his collegiate career, his training since we drafted him (133rd overall in 2022). You can see the product out there for a young guy.
“He’s come to camp to make the team and if he’s good enough, we’ll have to figure it out. It’s July but he’s done the work, had a tremendous season. My guess is he’s going to get an opportunity to play with good players (at training camp in September) and if he continues to play like that, he’ll get a shot.”
Nesbitt also saw his stock rise during this camp. He’s got a knack for making the big play at the right time.
“Just in this brief little blip here, his hockey sense, his ability to handle the puck, his competitiveness, he’s an exciting player,” Flahr said. “He’s one of those guys that everytime you watch him play, you like him more and more. He certainly grew on our staff this year.”
There was similar praise for Martone, the Flyers’ first-round (sixth overall) pick in last month’s NHL Draft.
“To see his maturity, the way he handles himself around the group, he’s a pretty comfortable kid,” Flahr mentioned. “One he gets with NHL players, he’s going to stand out that much more. He’s always looking around, learning. You see the hands, the vision, the ability to make plays that even very few players on our big team can make.”
The Flyers traded two first-round picks (No. 22 and No. 31) to move up and secure Nesbitt at No. 12 in the draft. So expectations are understandably high.
He says he’s ready for the challenge.
“I feel like I did a pretty good job of showing what I’m capable of doing,” he said. “Using my size, my shot, my strength. Doing all that at practice and in the game, I think I did good job at that.”
Nesbitt’s physical, rugged style of play should fit right in if he ever makes it to the NHL on a regular basis. Especially in Philadelphia, where the hockey team is constantly among the league leaders in hits.
“I love playing gritty, love making hits,” he said. “Once I put more weight on, it will get even better from there. I feel like I could stick up for anyone. If someone does something stupid out there, I’ll stick up for anyone.”
Martone believes he was able to showcase to the coaches what he’s all about.
“I wanted to come in here and show who I was as a person and a player,” he said. “I think I learned a lot of new things this week. I really feel like a part of the Flyers’ organization.”
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