The Flyers concluded their 2025 development camp with a scrimmage Sunday. (Photo: Jonathan Bailey, The Hockey News) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/7ed630ac-f8b5-4073-b3ef-354ec6713f2f.jpeg] The Flyers concluded their 2025 development camp with a scrimmage Sunday. (Photo: Jonathan Bailey, The Hockey News) If the Philadelphia Flyers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers] have one thing to look forward to in the coming months, it's the continued development of their standout prospects. The team's 2025 development camp is now in the books, with a number of rising prospects setting their sights on an NHL roster spot come October. Porter Martone [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/flyers-porter-martone-sets-sights-on-early-nhl-debut] comes to mind, as does camp standout Alex Bump [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/alex-bump-ready-to-take-perfectly-clear-path-to-flyers-roster-spot]. The latter cashed in on his early opportunity to impress before training camp. Bump started Sunday's scrimmage with a nice stick lift backchecking on Martone in transition, then beat Jack Nesbitt to the front of the net to open the scoring for Team Jones. The 21-year-old later potted his second goal of the game, once again from close range, converting Cole Knuble's feed from below the goal line. As for Martone, his work with the puck was far and few between. Team Briere was down 3-0 before eventually coming back to win 4-3 in overtime, but Martone and Co. struggled to possess the puck in the offensive zone for swathes of the scrimmage. Martone did, however, prove quite adept with his defensive stick, getting back at Bump on the backcheck a few times and swatting down a saucer pass defending a 2-on-1 against Heikki Ruohonen and Alex Ciernik [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/philadelphia-flyers-prospect-puts-nhl-dreams-on-pause-signs-overseas] in the 3-on-3 overtime period. The Flyers' No. 6 pick started the scrimmage paired up with Nesbitt and Jack Murtagh [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/flyers-can-thank-cutter-gauthier-for-new-left-wing-prospect], but eventually swapped places with Noah Powell and joined Owen McLaughlin and Karsen Dorwart [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/how-rookie-karsen-dorwart-fits-into-philadelphia-flyers-lineup] on a line. Flyers Built to Survive Tyson Foerster Injury [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/9f6ff4f0-89c9-40d1-9291-3ad68641cf15.webp] Flyers Built to Survive Tyson Foerster Injury Standout <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> winger Tyson Foerster could miss the start of the new season with an offseason bicep injury, and that's ok. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/flyers-built-to-survive-tyson-foerster-injury] Nesbitt, the Flyers' No. 12 pick, had a slow start to the scrimmage, but finished strong with two goals, including the overtime winner. The 18-year-old prospect fell over unabated trying to position himself to receive a pass along the wall in the neutral zone; his skating and agility are his biggest weakness, and perhaps his only weakness. Nesbitt showed his smarts and offensive chops on a few occasions, like when he drew a high stick and a penalty shot crashing the circles in the second half. He didn't score that penalty shot, but did go forehand-backhand on a feed from Murtagh to start the comeback and put Team Briere down just one at 3-2. In the 3-on-3, Nesbitt drove at Spencer Gill from the neutral zone, handcuffing the opposing netminder with a rifled shot between the helmet and glove that went off the crossbar and in. If his feet can eventually catch up, his hockey IQ and skill will take care of the rest. Speaking of players with questionable skating, 2024 second-round pick Jack Berglund put Team Briere on the board with his goal, then aided his team in tying the game by setting a perfect screen at the front of the net while Santeri Sulku fired home from the right circle on a faceoff play. Berglund, Sulku, and Max Westergard were impressive as a line together, as limited as they were by a lack of a transition game at pace. Don't Discount Nikita Grebenkin in Battle for Flyers Roster Spot [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/f00f7ad5-c5db-4d34-8773-43c17d731aa1.webp] Don't Discount Nikita Grebenkin in Battle for Flyers Roster Spot With an open battle brewing amongst wingers for an NHL roster spot with the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a>, don't discount Nikita Grebenkin. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/don-t-discount-nikita-grebenkin-in-battle-for-flyers-roster-spot] Final Score: 4-3 (OT), Team Briere defeats Team Briere. Goals: Alex Bump (2), Jack Berglund, Santeri Sulku, Jack Nesbitt (2), Cole Knuble, Heikki Ruohonen Some other odd notes I had written down here and there: I hadn't known of Tim Lovell before Sunday, and perhaps I shouldn't have, but he was mighty impressive from the blueline, albeit as the second-oldest guy on the ice and also happens to have pro experience. Lovell had the primary assist on Sulku's game-tying goal on the 6-on-5 and was the lone defenseman on the ice for Team Briere. The 23-year-old, who has five seasons of NCAA experience and played six games for Jukurit [https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/483774/tim-lovell] in Liiga last season, was flying up and down the ice at a rapid pace. I felt Hunter McDonald, Devin Kaplan [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/flyers-reward-important-prospects-with-entry-level-contracts-what-it-means], and Matthew Gard all had strong performances, as well. The latter seems pretty strong already at 6-foot-5, 200 pounds, and that strength, at least relative to his peers on the ice, earned him a penalty shot, though a backchecker was able to come from behind and disrupt Gard's shot attempt. Spencer Gill projects to be a defense-first guy at the NHL [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/latest-news/where-did-these-former-flyers-end-up-in-nhl-free-agency] level, but I appreciated how he's striving to add more offense to his game. The 2024 second-round pick was constantly pinching, activating in plays, and presenting himself as a lateral passing option along that right flank. Bump was the star of the show, but linemates Knuble and Shane Vansaghi [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/latest-news/the-truck-rolls-in-shane-vansaghi-on-playing-style-first-flyers-development-camp] performed excellently in their roles as complementary pieces. However, Bump and Knuble both struggled badly in overtime, mishandling pucks and overthinking odd-man rushes, which ultimately contributed to Team Jones's demise. Last and certainly not least is Murtagh, whose speed is extremely noticeable. He's not as experienced as Bump is in the NCAA and AHL fields, but I can see some similarities. Both players are darting wingers with plus shots, speed, stickhandling ability, and a desire to create by going east-west. If Murtagh can continue to hone that and bring it to the pro level, he's going to be some player for the Flyers. Believe me.
