James: My Favorite Prospects For the Flyers in the 2026 NHL Draft

Hextall’s offensive game features deception and good passing, but he needs to improve his shooting and pace.

Drafting in the 20’s, the Flyers won’t find that surefire 1C, but they can throw a dart and draft a player that could develop into one. Hextall may be that.

This year for the Youngstown Phantoms in the USHL, he had 20 goals and 38 assists in 59 games. Early projections have Hextall as a middle-six centerman. A season or two at Michigan State in Adam Nightingale’s program could work out well.

Xavier Villenueve, LHD, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)

The Flyers have been in need of a power-play quarterback. That need has been highlighted in 2025-26. Drafting in the 20’s, Xavier Villenueve is the best available option.

Villenueve is a 5’11” left-shot defender who thrives in the offensive game. He’s quick, a good puck mover, a strong skater, and has a solid shot. Defensively, I’d say he has a lot of work to do. However, the offensive upside is there.

This season, Villenueve had 6 goals and 38 points in 37 games played for the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in the QMJHL. He truly is a star of an offensive defenseman. If he were a little more physical, I’d say he was a lock for a top-10 pick.

Villenueve is also pretty familiar with Flyers prospect Spencer Gill, who also played for the Armada.

No Doubt Player: JP Hurlbert, C/LW, Kamloops (WHL), Michigan Commit

In each draft, I have what I like to call a “no doubt” player. That’s the sort of player that, if available at your pick, you rush the draft card in. Porter Martone was my no-doubt player in 2025. This year, it’s JP Hurlbert.

Hurlbert is a forward who has played both center and left wing in juniors. He is an elite offensive talent. In 68 games for the Kamloops Blazers in the WHL, he had 42 goals and 97 points in 68 games.

For a 6’0″ player, Hurlbert plays a lot more physically than most of his size. Still, defense and physicality are not necessarily his forte. Hurlbert’s game is about speed, instincts, and pure offensive talent. He just knows where to be on the ice, how to fill the space. Not to mention, he has all the skills in the world.

Hurlbert is headed to the University of Michigan, where I’d expect him to play on the wing with the number of centers they already have.

There’s a real chance he may have played himself into a much higher draft pick. But, if he were available for the Flyers on draft night, I’d sprint the draft card in.

Wild Card: Tynan Lawrence, C, Boston University (NCAA)

Tynan Lawrence is my wild card for the Flyers in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Once regarded as a lock for the top-5, Lawrence’s jump from the USHL to the college level revealed some things about the prospect that have him dropping a good bit. It’s still very likely that Lawrence goes in the top-10.

Lawrence had 10 goals and 7 assists in 13 USHL games with the Muskegon Lumberjacks. Then, he joined the Boston University Terriers, where his age began to show. 2 goals and 5 assists for 7 points in 18 NCAA games led some to believe he was not set out to be that game-changing prospect. But he’s just 17 years old.

He’s the most defensivley sound player in the players I’ve listed. His work around the walls, in battles, and closing lanes has made him flash. He’s an aggressive checker and has good rush abilities. His actual offensive creating and finishing abilities have seemed to fade at the NCAA level, but again, some put that on his age.

I would not trade into the top-10 for Lawrence, but if he were to slip into the mid-teens, I would start thinking about pulling the trigger and moving up for him. While it’s nowhere near certain, to me, aside from Caleb Malholtra, Lawrence may have the best chance to become a 1C from this draft class.

Read More: 2026 NHL Draft Rankings 1.0: As of Now, Who is in the Flyers Range?

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