One of the times Bill Bowler scouted Jack Nesbitt, it didn’t last long.

That’s because Nesbitt was tossed from the game on his first shift.

Bowler didn’t mind, though. After all, his Windsor club ended up taking Nesbitt at 20th overall in the 2023 OHL draft. So that brief outing and trip home didn’t deter Bowler.

“That was one of the many times I got to watch Jack play,” the Spitfires’ general manager and vice president of hockey operations said last Thursday in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “It wasn’t that bad, it was about a two-hour drive. It was unfortunate, it was a clean hit, but the player turned late at the last minute and Jack was committed to the hit, so he got kicked out.”

If anything, it further showed Bowler the ingredients of the long and lanky center. Those ingredients have gotten only better with Windsor, leading the Flyers to trade up for Nesbitt at the 2025 NHL draft. They sent pick Nos. 22 and 31 to the Penguins to grab him at 12th overall.

“Regardless of what the opposition wants to play, Jack will be as willing to play any style,” Bowler said. “Looking at players today, that’s a hard trait to find and acquire. When we selected Jack, we knew we were getting a real competitive man that checked a lot of boxes.”

In two seasons with the Spitfires, Nesbitt has taken significant strides. On a loaded team last season, he put up 64 points (25 goals, 39 assists) and a plus-12 rating over 65 games. He added 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in 12 playoff games.

Nesbitt, who stands between 6-foot-4 and 6-foot-5, loves to play an all-around game. He doesn’t shy away from the trenches, he’ll deliver a hit and he’ll even fight, too.

“He’s an exciting player, he’s one of those guys that every time you watch him play, you like more and more,” Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr said last month after development camp. “He certainly grew on our staff this year.”

Windsor has appreciated Nesbitt’s team-first, detail-oriented ways. His size and smarts reminded Wayne Simmonds of Sean Couturier. Flyers amateur scout Mark Greig visited the Spitfires quite often to see Nesbitt.

“You watch Jack enough, he plays any position his coach tells him,” Bowler said. “He competes and plays the same way regardless of the score, of the opponent.

“He brings a physicality element and he’s a true hockey player. He’s the exact kind of guy you want around your team and your locker room.”

The 18-year-old will have to work on his strength and foot speed. But his hands are very good and there’s a real chance his scoring spikes in Year 3 with Windsor.

“I bet he still has a little more offensive upside, believe it or not,” Bowler said. “I think he can produce even more once he gets more comfortable.”

From Year 1 to Year 2, Nesbitt saw a 46-point jump.

“The progression, I don’t know if he can mimic or copy what he has done here in the last two years, but if he does, it’ll be amazing,” Bowler said. “I know Jack will continue to get better because he has the inner drive and the work ethic. He’ll just become even more of a complete player. He’s not an older player yet, but he’s not a younger player, so we’re going to lean on Jack a lot again next year.”

The Spitfires know they have a player who will be ready to do anything.

“He’s just a kid that can adapt and understands that he’s part of a team,” Bowler said. “Off the ice, when I see him walking around with his teammates, I just see a real good guy.”