Jack Nesbitt, born on January 12, 2007, is a Canadian junior ice hockey centre currently playing for the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).
Nesbitt spent the 2024-25 season with the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL.
As a native of Sarnia, he is part of a small group of players in the 2025 draft class with strong indigenous ties.
Liam Greentree, drafted by the Kings in 2024, is Nesbitt’s captain and knows him intimately.
In Team Canada’s gold-winning journey at the U-18 World Championship, Nesbitt scored five points.
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Лучший момент вечера в OHL: Джек Несбитт забивает красивый гол броском с бэкхенда.
NHL Draft and Player Profile
Jack Nesbitt was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers as the 12th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, after a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins involving picks 22 and 31.
Nesbitt is an 18-year-old center known for his significant size, hockey sense, and gritty playing style.
He stands at 6’5 and weighs 186 pounds.
During the 2024-25 season, he tallied 25 goals and 39 assists, totaling 64 points in 65 games, along with 10 points in 12 playoff games.
“I like to play gritty. I’ll hit and I’ll fight if I have to,” Nesbitt said at Flyers’ Developmental Camp.
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Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
Nesbitt’s high hockey IQ and spatial awareness make him a standout two-way center.
He excels defensively with an active stick, strong positioning, and an ability to intercept passes.
Offensively, he is a smart playmaker with good vision and patience, often finding open teammates or creating scoring chances by getting lost in the offensive zone.
His 6-foot-4 frame suits a power-forward style, making him effective in corners, on the forecheck, and around the net.
He is strong in the faceoff circle, boasting a 51.4% win rate, and contributes on both power play (6 goals) and penalty kill (2 shorthanded goals).
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Weaknesses
Nesbitt’s skating lacks top-end speed, which could limit his offensive ceiling.
While his scoring improved significantly, his finishing ability and overall offensive upside are debated, with some scouts projecting him as a bottom-six NHLer rather than a top-line star.
Scouting Reports and Rankings
- Ranked No. 17 by Sportsnet’s Top 64 Rankings: “Nesbitt has grown tall in his youth and has loads of room to add more weight and strength to his frame. It’s impossible to teach size, and Nesbitt has it in spades. He approaches the game with a combination of power and skill. He finished the regular season on a high note. In his last 10-game segment he produced 7G-8A while averaging over 20 minutes per game of ice time and being deployed in all situations. Nesbitt is a name to keep an eye on."
- Ranked No. 32 by Scott Wheeler’s March Rankings: “Nesbitt was one of the most improved players in the OHL this season, emerging to play significant all-situations minutes for the Spitfires. He’s a big, tall, strong center who looks like a man and yet still has room to get stronger. He’s also strong in the faceoff circle, reliable on and off the puck, with some of the complementary skills you look for in a bigger pivot, including good hands in tight and on tips and a willingness to battle, go to the net and then release into the corners to get pucks back and go to work on the cycle. He’s competitive. He’s got some secondary vision/sense on the puck and reads and anticipates well on and off the puck. He’s physical and will drop the gloves. He works to track back. There’s a lot to like. He needs to get a little quicker and doesn’t pop as a one-on-one player but if he continues to make the progress he has this season he’ll have a long career in the NHL."
- Ranked No. 25 by Hockey Prospect Radio: “Recognized for his blend of offensive production and physical edge. Standing at 6’4″ and 195 pounds, Nesbitt recorded 64 points in 65 games alongside 74 penalty minutes, showcasing his ability to thrive in tough, playoff-style environments. His versatility to play center or wing, combined with quick hands and small-area awareness, makes him a standout, though his skating requires improvement to unlock potential beyond a third-line NHL role."
Playing Style and Potential
Nesbitt thrives on supporting the play rather than driving it, using his hockey sense to move to open space and become a pass option or intercept opponents.
He plays a 200-foot game and is relied upon in penalty kill situations, though his decision-making needs further refinement.
When making the right choices, he utilizes his size and skills to make safe, smart plays.
His strengths include a strong 200-foot game, faceoff prowess (51.4% win rate), and effectiveness on the forecheck and Penalty Kill.
His skating speed is a noted weakness, raising concerns about his offensive ceiling, with some scouts projecting him as a middle-six center, potentially a 2C at his peak.
The pick was polarizing among fans, seen as a reach by some due to his skating issues, but others value his size and two-way potential as a fit for the Flyers’ rebuild.
Elite Prospects Data
Here's a summary of Jack Nesbitt's key data from Elite Prospects:
| Draft Type | Draft Year | Round | Overall | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OHL Priority Selection | 2023 | 1 | 20 | Windsor Spitfires |
| NHL Entry Draft | 2025 | 1 | 12 | Philadelphia Flyers |