NHL Draft
Flyers Trade Up; Draft Jack Nesbitt at No. 12

The Philadelphia Flyers needed size and physicality, and they double-dipped in the 2025 NHL Draft. After selecting Porter Martone sixth overall, the Flyers traded up with cross-state rival, the Pittsburgh Penguins, to select Jack Nesbitt, a center from the Windsor Spitfires (OHL).
Nesbitt was not on my radar as a 10-20 pick, but he surely checks a box for the Flyers. In fact, they must have believed it after trading picks No. 22 and No. 31 to Pittsburgh to select Nesbitt at No. 12.
For Windsor this season, Nesbitt tallied 25 goals and 39 assists for 64 points in 65 games. Nesbitt also appeared in the men’s World U18s, where he tallied five points on two goals and three assists in six games.
He is a BIG center. Coming in at 6’4″ and 185+ pounds, Nesbitt uses his size and frame to play a strong and physical brand of hockey. His shot is strong, and when dialed, can be a thing of danger.
He has speed and puck skill, but could use some work on his skating ability. He has second-line center upside, but his strength and physical game alone should find him some stability in the NHL.
Nesbitt plays a solid two-way game and is someone who can be in all of the right places on all 200 feet of the ice.
The Flyers definitely reached a bit for Nesbitt. I firmly believe they could have landed Nesbitt at No. 22, if not 31. However, Briere and Co. had to have heard something if they felt the need to move up for Nesbitt. They clearly wanted him, so the Flyers moved up for their guy.
He will certainly be a project, but with some development, Nesbitt could be a steal.
Welcome to Philadelphia, Jack.
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He was rated as a B level player in this draft by Central Scouting, and a second round pick at best. He did have a good season and has size and they wanted a center but seems like another “we’re smarter than everyone else” pick. As with just about all of these guys, we’ll wait and see.
In 1991, the Flyers reached at #6 for Foppa, who of course ended up going into the Hall of Fame and was the cornerstone of the Lindros trade. Not saying that Nesbitt will make the hall of course, but if the Flyers scouts see something in him and they didn’t think he would last till #22, then trading the two picks makes sense.
I’m having a hard time with trading up to #12 for him, as he wasn’t rated that high on any of the mock drafts I saw.
Beyond that, what are the plans for him this coming season, when can we expect to see Nesbitt at either the AHL or NHL level?
Ranked #28 by CONSOLIDATED RANKING
Ranked #48 by ELITEPROSPECTS.COM
Ranked #17 by TSN/BOB McKENZIE
Ranked #38 by TSN/CRAIG BUTTON
Ranked #51 by THN/FERRARI
Ranked #20 by THN/KENNEDY
Ranked #27 by MCKEEN’S HOCKEY
Ranked #25 by FLOHOCKEY/CHRIS PETERS
Ranked #24 by FCHOCKEY
Ranked #32 by DAILY FACEOFF
Ranked #15 by NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING (NA Skaters)
Ranked #25 by HPR/MALLOY
Ranked #41 by DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY
Ranked #18 by SPORTSNET/COSENTINO
Ranked #19 by SPORTSNET/BUKALA
Ranked #44 by RECRUIT SCOUTING
Ranked #33 by DOBBERPROSPECTS
Ranked #52 by SMAHT SCOUTING
Ranked #28 by CONSOLIDATED RANKING
Ranked #48 by ELITEPROSPECTS.COM
Ranked #17 by TSN/BOB McKENZIE
Ranked #38 by TSN/CRAIG BUTTON
Ranked #51 by THN/FERRARI
Ranked #20 by THN/KENNEDY
Ranked #27 by MCKEEN’S HOCKEY
Ranked #25 by FLOHOCKEY/CHRIS PETERS
Ranked #24 by FCHOCKEY
Ranked #32 by DAILY FACEOFF
Ranked #15 by NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING (NA Skaters)
Ranked #25 by HPR/MALLOY
Ranked #41 by DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY
Ranked #18 by SPORTSNET/COSENTINO
Ranked #19 by SPORTSNET/BUKALA
Ranked #44 by RECRUIT SCOUTING
Ranked #33 by DOBBERPROSPECTS
Ranked #52 by SMAHT SCOUTING
Nhl.com last mock had him going 12th
Lehigh vs Wilkes Barre games will be fun in a few years.