As the Philadelphia Flyers take a break and the trio of Olympians head to Italy to go represent their country and hopefully get some sort of medal, we’re taking a broader look at the future of this organization.
While the full Top 25 Under 25 series goes on during the summer over here at Broad Street Hockey, we thought it would be a perfect opportunity, with no Flyers going on, to have a mid-season check-in. Just look at where we think some prospects are heading and where some young professionals could end up relative to those younger and potentially hungrier players.
And before we even get into the actual mid-season ranking, let’s look at players who did not make the cut but received enough notable votes from the 13 writers who took part to at least draw attention. You might also call them honorable mentions.
Matthew Gard, C
Matthew Gard was one of the Flyers’ multiple second-round draft picks last year and as soon as he was picked, he was lumped in with the big glob of center prospects this team now has who don’t project to be instant top-six difference-makers but could be solid NHL role players. The 6-foot-5 pivot is known more for his smarts than his skill and is a very projectable player who might just slowly raise his stock as the years pass by — until he’s banging on the door for an NHL job at the age of 22, or something.
While his lack of production was concerning to start the season, he did enough to earn a mid-season trade to the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds and that worry has washed away. Before the trade, with the Red Deer Rebels, where offense goes to die, Gard had just 10 points in 23 games — abhorrent production for a Draft+1 player. Since the move, he has scored seven goals and 12 points in 13 games with the Thunderbirds, in a much more offensive environment.
Blink and you’ll miss it. MATTHEW GARD!!!@SeattleTbirds | @NHLFlyers | #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/LkFJYCfYDU
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) February 8, 2026
That level up earned Gard one single vote this year for 23rd overall from a writer, but honestly it could’ve certainly been more if we were willing to bet that he is more what we’re seeing in Seattle.
Karsen Dorwart, C
The Flyers signed center Karsen Dorwart as a college free agent at the end of last season and during the five games in the NHL that the 23-year-old played, he didn’t seem too out of place at times aside from a couple bad defensive reads. He was never going to stake a claim in the NHL for this season, but now his rookie AHL season isn’t jumping off the page either. Just 17 points in 44 games with the Phantoms isn’t all that great from someone who was consistently on the stat sheet with Michigan State.
There’s a limited runway for Dorwart as he’s going to turn 24 years old before next season and he could get jumped fairly easily by other center prospects. But, it is someone we have at least watched and could reasonably be a stopgap if the Flyers are looking for someone younger down the middle. Dorwart earned three votes — one at 25 and two at 22 — for being someone we’ve at least seen with the Flyers.
Nathan Quinn, C
Nathan Quinn was one of the youngest players in the 2025 NHL Draft and the Flyers snatched him up in the sixth round — and now it’s looking like a very good grab. The 5-foot-11 center has taken a big step forward this year for the QMJHL’s Quebec Ramparts, as he went from 46 points in 54 games last season to having already scored 27 goals and 55 points in 43 games this year. And, he’s scoring cool goals.
ENTRE. LES. PATTES. 🫡#DeQuébecPourQuébec pic.twitter.com/HEdh0gK01C
— Remparts de Québec (@quebec_remparts) February 7, 2026
Additionally, Quinn already has his path laid out for him. He’s committed to Northeastern University for next season. It’s going to be a big jump in competition, going from the QMJHL to Hockey East but it will also be a massive benefit if he can pass that test (and he could see himself potentially make the final ranking next year).
There are enough believers here, though. With six of the 13 writers placing him on their ballot, but only ranging from 22 to 25, placing him multiple spots away from making the cut.
Alexis Gendron, RW/LW
Alexis Gendron has his fans. The 5-foot-11 winger popped off the page last season when he scored 20 goals in his first full year of AHL hockey, but now as he’s settled in, Gendron has managed to score roughly at the same level with 19 points in 40 games. Nothing too crazy coming from the 2022 seventh-round draft pick.
He’s still a solid pick and someone who might just carve out a nice pro career, but his NHL opportunities are limited. Still, we’d like for him to make it for sure and he just turned 22 years old. There’s still time.
With some more familiarity, Gendron earned six total votes, ranging from 21 to 25 on the ballots.
Carter Amico, RD
There were some big hopes from us at BSH that Carter Amico can use a full season of healthy hockey to breakout and show that the Flyers selecting him with their first of four second-round picks was worth it. Unfortunately, things have not panned out that way. The large and physical defenseman was not getting the minutes he needed to shake off the rust after missing almost his entire draft year due to a knee injury, and was loaned down to the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks.
With the Lumberjacks, Amico has four assists in 10 games. While offense is certainly not Amico’s main focus, you would think that if he was getting at least some solid minutes at the junior level, he would be picking up more. Still, the potential of having a 6-foot-6 defenseman that can skate well and crush people, is enticing enough to earn him some votes. A total of seven people put Amico on their ballot, ranging from 21 to 25.
Cole Knuble, C
And finally, our last honorable mention comes in the form of someone who really broke out last season. Cole Knuble was seen as a nepotism pick when the 5-foot-10 forward was selected in the fourth round by the Flyers in 2023, but he is now much more than that. Last season, the center scored 12 goals and 39 points in 34 games for Notre Dame and now while wearing a letter as alternate captain, has scored five goals and 21 points in 27 games.
It is a step down in production but not enough to make us truly concerned. He showed enough last year and during the rookie and development camps that multiple members of Flyers staff blatantly said that he’s earned a professional contract at the end of this season. For his production to stall out a little bit before he turns pro is completely fine, especially not at a premier school.
With Knuble, it’s much more of a wait-and-see situation as what he does at the next level will tell us more about his future than what he’s doing during his junior year. The 21-year-old was just on the outside of the final ranking, with seven writers putting him on their ballot but some had him as high as 17.
Stay tuned over the next couple of weeks as we put out the full Top 25 Under 25 mid-season ranking!