4 Flyers Prospects Ranked in Recent Ranking of U23 Players and Prospects; 5 More Listed in Ranking of Players Drafted After Round 1

The Philadelphia Flyers prospect pipeline recently ranked as the 11th best in the league by prospect expert Corey Pronman of The Athletic. Pronman released his latest edition of his U23 NHL players and prospects rankings. If you’re a Flyers fan, it may not be the most encouraging ranking, yet the Flyers still have 4 on the list, including a few surprises.

It should come as no surprise that forward Porter Martone is very highly ranked on the list. Pronman ranks the Flyers’ Calder Trophy favorite as the 13th-best U23 player or prospect right now. He sits one spot behind Flyers’ heel Cutter Gauthier, and one above Washington Capitals rookie defenseman Cole Hutson.

Pronman put the players into Tiers. At 13, Martone sits in the 4th tier, tabbed “Top of the lineup player”.

With high-end puck skills, compete, and shot, average puck sense, and below-average skating, Pronman still has Martone as a top-end talent. Pronman said in the rankings, ” The skill is so special though that even with his feet, he could be a top-line winger.“

Next on the rankings comes Matvei Michkov, the Flyers’ winger entering his 3rd NHL season. Pronman lists Michkov at 35, a Tier 5 “Bubble top and middle of the lineup player”. He falls behind players like Roger McQueen, Ilya Protas, Carseon Karels, Kash Aitcheson, Ryan Leonard, and Will Smith.

Pronman gives Michkov high-end hockey sense and puck skills, an above-average shot, and average skating and compete.

To me, the down year deserves some questions, but a fall to 35 feels a little harsh on the 21-year-old winger.

Not far behind Michkov in the same tier is Jack Nesbitt, 41, a prospect not many seem too high on. The big, two-way center plays a physical and reliable game. Pronman ranks his compete as his top trait, with average puck skills and hockey sense, followed by poor skating. In fact, per Pronman, it’s the skating that holds him back.

Wrapping up the top U23 players for the Flyers is Jack Berglund. Pronman ranks the Swedish centerman at 67, which is in Tier 6, “Middle of the lineup players”. He gives Berglund a 3rd-line projection with his great compete and defensive game, but he won’t “blow you away offensively.”

Two players that were missing from Pronman’s list, that come as a bit of a shock, are Jett Luchanko and 2026 1st-round pick Maksim Sokolovskii.

Top 100 U23 Players After Round 1

Pronman kept the rankings going with his ranking of the top 100 U23 players selected after Round 1. Of course, the Hutson brothers top the list at 1 and 2, but the Flyers still managed to get 5 players ranked on the list.

Berglund made his second appearance on Pronman’s list. He was ranked as the 10th-best U23 player selected after Round 1. That is the first player in the “Middle of the lineup player” group.

2025 2nd-round pick Matthew Gard is the next Flyers prospect on the list. Ranked at 53, Gard falls into the “NHL prospect” category. The defensive center has one more year in the WHL for the Seattle Thunderbirds before he joins Michigan State hockey in 2027-28.

Behind Gard is Denver Barkey at 69. I won’t lie, that number feels a little bit disrespectful to Barkey, who played very well in his first bit of NHL action. The Flyers’ utility forward proved he has the tools to be a long-time NHLer.

2025 2nd-rounder Shane Vansaghi is next in the same tier. Pronman ranked Vansaghi 78th on his list, which feels accurate for the grinding winger.

Ending the list for the Flyers is 2026 2nd-rounder Martin Psohlavec, ranked at 96 of 100. The goalie was one of two Czech netminders selected in the mid-rounds by the Flyers. Psohlavec is the clear favorite in the eyes of The Athletic’s senior NHL Prospect writer.

What do you think of Pronman’s lists?

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