Philadelphia traded a pair of late first round picks to move up to 12th overall to select a 6-5 center who registered 64 points in 65 games for the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL. Nesbitt is a rangy, high-IQ center which helps him on both sides of the puck. He is expected to return to Windsor for his third OHL season in 2025-26.

Selected 12th overall, Jack Nesbitt is now a member of the Philadelphia Flyers after a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins for the 22nd overall and 31st overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

Nesbitt is a big 6-4 center with the maturity and faceoff ability to stick at center. Nesbitt has enough of a toolkit to be a reliable two-way center at the NHL. Solid playmaker with good overall skating who works hard on defense, but a lack of a standout trait makes it questionable how high his upside is. Nesbitt looks safe to play NHL games at the very least, but it may take a year or two to see if the projection can grow, as many bigger players like him can take a bit longer to hit, Nesbitt very well may be one of those guys as he gets older and stronger. Austin Kelly

Final Rankings – Jack Nesbitt has fallen under the radar while playing down the lineup on a very strong Windsor team. Despite this, Nesbitt produced near a point per game in the regular season. Defensively, he’s detail-oriented, with an active stick, good positioning, and a commitment to tracking through the middle. Offensively, he shows a feel for playmaking with good patience and vision. The fluidity in his handling ability is still an area he needs to improve. Coaches will love his compete level, opponents will dread his consistency. A complete, work-horse type forward with undeniable upside.—