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The Flyers unveiled their new arena design concept on Tuesday. The architect modeled the new building’s exterior design on the Spectrum.
Comcast Spectacor plans a 2030-31 opening for the newly privately funded building project. Meanwhile, the current Xfinity Mobile Arena (formerly Wells Fargo Center) underwent a $400 million overhaul. The XMA projected started in 2015. The final phase completed shortly before the 2024-25 season.
The cost estimate for the new arena: $1.3 billion.
Team Toyota Top 20 Flyers Prospect Countdown: Jack Nesbitt (#3)
We’ve reached the top three position players on the Team Toyota Top 20 Flyers Prospect spotlight series. Today, we’ll look at center Jack Nesbitt, the 12th overall selection of the 2025 Draft.
This season, the former Windsor Spitfires (OHL) pivot jumps to NCAA collegiate hockey for the University of Michigan. The Flyers moved up 10 spots in the 2025 Draft in order to select the 6-foot-4 forward.The Flyers did so in order to jump past the Nashville Predators, who planned to trade up for the 13th pick.
Now-former Predators general manager Barry Trotz admitted as much without naming names.
“Our player fell through,” Trotz told NHL Network. “We were trying to get another player within the top 12 or 13 picks. We had a deal in place, but one team grabbed the player and we had to move on from there.”
There was only one draft pick traded in this range: that was the Flyers trading picks 22 and 31 to Pittsburgh in order to move up to 12th for Nesbitt.
Stats vs. Scouts
It’s hard to track Nesbitt’s post-Draft development just by offensive stats. His stat line from last season suggest virtual flat-line growth in his game from his pre-Draft season (25 goals and 58 regular season points in 55 games, 10 playoff points in 13 games vs. 25 goals and 64 points in 65 regular season games, 10 playoff points in 12 games). However, scouts who tracked him over the past year — Flyers and other teams– say he actually took important strides in his overall game. That was especially true in the second half.
Nesbitt himself agrees.
“Personally, I think I developed a lot of things. My skating (in particular). My skating coach helped me a lot,” Nesbitt said during Development Camp.
Because he committed to college hockey in 2026-27, Nesbitt is ineligible to attend Flyers Rookie Camp. However, his main short-term goal is to play for Team Canada at the 2026-27 World Junior Championship. He played the U18s in 2024-25, but had a disappointing tourney. Hockey Canada bypassed him for last year’s U20s. Nevertheless, he has a decent chance to play for the national team at the next WJC. It may be in a fourth-line role at 5-on-5.
Key challenges
Even on Draft day 2025, the Flyers said they consider Nesbitt to be a high-yield prospect for the long-term future. They did not anticipate him to fast-track to the NHL in similar fashion to Porter Martone. Rather, the process would take several years: one final junior year (2025-26), one collegiate season (2026-27) and probably an AHL campaign (2027-28) thereafter.
One of the main developmental goal: Nesbitt needed to fill out his frame. Working side-by-side with personal trainer Chase Ainsworth, Nesbitt added 10-plus pounds of muscle to his frame. Unlike junior hockey, collegiate players get significant gym time even during the season. Nesbitt plans to continue the process.
Meanwhile, there’s the question of Nesbitt’s skating. As the player cited, he works weekly with specialized skating coach Kathy McQuene to refine his edge work and stride power.
Nesbitt is already a very good player on the walls and near the net. The Flyers anticipate further growth as he adds more strength.Most of his offense comes off the cycle or netfront net-front on a power play. He has considerable room to grow in terms gaining separation on the rush or scoring in transition.
Projected ceiling
Scouts hold a widespread consensus that Nesbitt will develop into a very solid two-way forward. He plays a very competitive, team-first brand of hockey. His conservative floor: a reliable third-line center at 5-on-5.
Where there’s less consensus: Just how good could he become offensively? He does not presently track as a bonafide first-line center. However, could he eventually work his way into becoming a viable upper-end middle-sixer (AKA second-liner)?
The Flyers’ Hockey Ops people believe so, although they think it could take a few years to get there even after he turns pro.
“We’re very happy with the progress he’s made so far. He also understand what he needs to keep working on. We knew there guys ahead of him (in their development) last year, two years ago. But we think he’s going to catch and pass some of those players as he develops. He’s already started that process,” Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr said during a pre-Draft Night edition of Flyers Daily with Jason Myrtetus and Bill Meltzer.
Projected Wolverines role
Presently, Michigan head coach Brandon Naurato appears likely to slot Nesbitt into a third-line center role at 5-on-5. However, it’s also possible that he could line up sometimes on a wing and slide up into a hybrid arrangement periodically. That’s how today’s game trends at various levels. However, playing down the middle remains Nesbitt’s baseline and probable future baseline for the Flyers.
The Wolverines like to play fast, especially in transition. It will be a good challenge for Nesbitt to show he can keep up with the pace. The challenge only increases as Nesbitt arrives in the pros, especially the NHL.
Additionally, look for Nesbitt to carry key checking responsibility at 5-on-5. He also projects to start the year on the secondary power play unit as a down-low and netfront presence. He does not project as a bumper guy near the hash Mark’s or a one-time shooter on the flank. That’s fine from the Flyers’ standpoint.
Rather, Nesbitt’s primary power play role: screen opposing goaltenders, hunt for rebounds, and win battles below the goal line. Overall, his aim will be to further sharpen his two-way hockey sense: use his frame and active stick to shut down opposing top lines, wear down opponents and generate old-fashioned lunch-pail points. Don’t look for many highlight-reel type plays.
Flyers Training Camp Schedule
There are exactly two days remaining until the Flyers open their 2026 Rookie Training Camp on Friday, September 11. The NHL camp starts the following week.
Because the NHL expanded the regular season to 84 games the league abbreviated the preseason. The Flyers open their regular season schedule on Sept. 30, the earliest date ever in franchise history. Highlights of the first 11camp days.
September 11: Rookie Camp opens at the Flyers Training Center (Voorhees, NJ)
September 12–13: Rookie Series vs. New York Rangers (PPL Center, Allentown, PA, stream on PhiladelphiaFlyers.com)
September 17: NHL training camp opens (FTC, Voorhees)
September 21: Preseason opener at Washington Capitals
There will be a Flyers camp-wide scrimmage in Voorhees the weekend prior to the exhibition opener. Stay tuned for details.
Phans of Philly Flyers Trips: 2026-27
Our friends at Phans of Philly have put together an extensive lineup of fan travel packages and tailgates to support the Flyers on the road this season. In 2025-26, the team went a perfect 6-0-0 in regular season and playoff trips attended by Flyers supporters traveling with Phans of Philly. The trips typically sell out. Phans of Philly is also the fan travel partner of the Official Flyers Fan Club and Nasty Knuckles as well as Hockey Hot Stove. Plan now if you aim to participate in the trips or give one as a holiday gift.
This season’s two big trips:
- Ottawa (Nov. 19 game) and Montreal (Nov 21)
- Vegas (March 11, 2027) and Utah (March 13, 2027). This is a five-night and two-game trip. However, travelers also have an exclusive option to add the Colorado leg (March 9 game) of the road trip to the front end of the package.
- Additionally, Phans of Philly annually organizes shorter-distance bus trips for Flyers fans, such as road games against Pittsburgh or New Jersey. These trips will be announced on a later dates. They trips are typically the most budget-friendly, as they don’t involve flights or hotel stays.
You can reach Phans of Philly through the following direct contact methods:
Phone : 610-517-7171
Email: [email protected]
Online contact form: Here
Win this Travis Konecny autographed photo
Today (September 9) is the final day to enter our random drawing for this autographed Travis Konecny photo courtesy of our friends at Carl’s Cards and Collectibles. We will choose a winner by random drawing at noon EDT on September 10, and then contact the winner. Once contacted, we will announce the winner on our social media and website.
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