NHL Prospect Watch: Philadelphia Flyers
Ahead of the 2025-26 hockey season, we’re diving into the WHL prospect pool for each of the NHL’s 32 teams. This series will highlight current and former WHLers who are signed to an NHL contract, have recently been drafted by an NHL team, or meet the NHL’s definition of a rookie.
Today, we’re getting *Gritty* with a crop of Philadelphia Flyers picks.
Carson Bjarnason
Brandon Wheat Kings star Carson Bjarnason has earned his crown time and time again with the Wheaties. The 20-year-old is coming off a third consecutive 20-plus win season, going 22-15-2-0 with a 2.93 goals-against average, a .913 save percentage and one shutout in what is expected to be his final season of major junior. Bjarnason tied for third among all WHL starters in save percentage and 11th in GAA while making the 13th most saves, highlighted by a 46-save effort in a 4-1 win over the Edmonton Oil Kings on February 25, 2025. The 6-foot-4, 208-pound netminder was named a WHL Goaltender of the Year finalist, earned WHL Goaltender of the Week honours once and backed up Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship. Philadelphia selected the Carberry, Man. product with the 51st overall pick in the second round of the 2023 NHL Draft and signed him to an entry-level deal that fall. Bjarnason will begin 2025-26 with the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms and graduates from the WHL sitting fifth in all-time wins by a Wheat Kings goaltender (75).
World Juniors teammates turned Western League rivals.@NHLFlyers prospect Carson Bjarnason shuts the door on @Penguins prospect Tanner Howe!@bdnwheatkings | #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/dbDIgQ2MpJ
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) January 12, 2025
Matthew Gard
Towering centreman Matthew Gard and his Red Deer Rebels pal Luke Vlooswyk are two of the newest members of the Flyers organization, with Gard getting snapped up with the 57th overall pick in the second round of the 2025 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-4.5, 193-pound pivot led the Rebels with 19 goals (including four game-winners) and 17 assists for 36 points in 66 regular-season games. Gard nailed his first NHL hat trick in a 4-2 win over the Brandon Wheat Kings (Carson Bjarnason was not in net) and finished 24th in the WHL in faceoff wins (529). Gard, from Winnipeg, Man., also made his international debut with Canada at the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championship, where he picked up a goal and three assists in seven games en route to a gold medal. Gard looks to continue his tenacious netfront play as the Rebels eye a return to the WHL Playoffs in 2026.
After a breakout campaign with the @Rebelshockey, Matthew Gard has his eyes set on the 2025 #NHLDraft! pic.twitter.com/LLOYyDqdHi
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) June 19, 2025
Ethan Samson
Sturdy defender Ethan Samson doubled his offensive output in his second season of pro hockey with the Phantoms, potting 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points in 69 regular-season games. Samson tied for eighth on the team in goals and finished second in scoring among Lehigh Valley blueliners (11th overall). Clocking in at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, the Delta, B.C. product also appeared in seven postseason tilts to help the Phantoms reach the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs. Drafted by the Flyers in the sixth round of the 2021 NHL Draft (174th overall), Samson played more than 200 games over four seasons with the Prince George Cougars, including two campaigns as an alternate captain. Samson, 22, netted 122 career points (36G-86A) and earned WHL B.C. Division First Team All-Star honours in 2023 and made Second Team All-Star in 2022.
Samson’s specialty is cannon fire 🏴☠️#LVvsROC | #LVPhantoms pic.twitter.com/7bCasHRWcr
— Lehigh Valley Phantoms (@LVPhantoms) January 18, 2025
Luke Vlooswyk
Towering rearguard Luke Vlooswyk made a splash in his first full season of WHL hockey, tallying three goals and 14 assists for 17 points in all 68 games of the regular season. The 6-foot-5, 201-pound defender also finished second on the Red Deer Rebels in plus/minus with a +8 rating and tied for second in assists by a defenceman. Vlooswyk, 18, was named WHL Rookie of the Week in March after notching a goal and four assists in just two games. The Calgarian was also a finalist for WHL Scholastic Player of the Year. A former first-round pick in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft, Vlooswyk was on hand in Los Angeles when Philadelphia chose him with the 157th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2025 NHL Draft.
Standing 6-foot-4, Luke Vlooswyk’s booming presence will be hard to miss at the NHL Draft – literally.@Rebelshockey | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/CAgqTk2NW9
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) June 21, 2025
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