Spencer Gill may not be the most talked-about name in the Philadelphia Flyers’ prospect pool, but the 18-year-old defenseman is quickly making his presence known, and the details of his progress are starting to paint a compelling picture.
Gill, drafted in the second round of the 2024 NHL Draft by the Flyers, stands at 6-foot-4 and weighs 180 pounds. When he was selected, the general consensus was that he was a bit of a project, mainly because his offensive instincts and puck skills were already well-regarded during his time with the Rimouski Océanic of the QMJHL. Nonetheless, questions remained about his defensive play and how his wiry frame would hold up at the pro level.
Unusually for a player of his size, Gill was initially known more for mobility and offensive contributions than for imposing physicality or shutdown defense. Still, his development over the past year has shown a noticeable change. During rookie and training camp last season, Gill began to demonstrate a more complete two-way game. Observers said his physical engagement, tenacious defensive presence, and efficient stickwork — traits that hadn’t been front and center in earlier scouting reports.
Now preparing for his final season in the QMJHL, Gill has been traded to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. There, he will join a lineup that includes several top prospects eligible for the 2025 NHL Draft: Bill Zonnon, Justin Carbonneau, and Arseni Radkov. This upcoming campaign presents an opportunity for Gill to continue rounding out his game, especially after coming back from a broken ankle that disrupted part of his previous season.
Despite that setback, Gill appears to be finding momentum again, and the timing is significant. On July 29, 2025, he took the ice for Canada Red in the World Junior Summer Showcase (WJSS), a high-visibility event held annually to evaluate candidates for the IIHF World Junior Championship. During the Canada Red vs. Canada White intra-squad scrimmage, Gill played in a third-pair defensive role but made a strong impression.
Midway through the game, he denied an attempted zone entry at the opposite blue line, quickly transitioning play in the other direction — a sequence that culminated in Gill scoring a goal from the point. After taking a D-to-D pass, he walked the line and sent a screened shot through traffic that found the top-right corner. The goal, assisted by Cameron Reid and Brady Martin, gave Canada Red a 3–1 lead.
That wasn’t his only contribution. Throughout the game, Gill showed solid defensive zone play, including smart positioning and a few timely breakups. The showcase performance came as the final year of his World Junior eligibility began, giving him a chance to push for a roster spot on Canada’s team for the 2026 World Junior Championship.
Flyers fans watching the Showcase also had their eyes on Porter Martone, another top Philadelphia prospect. Martone, who has been praised for his decision to join Michigan State University in the NCAA, also took part in the July 29 scrimmage, suiting up for Canada Red on the top forward line. He assisted on Michael Hage’s goal, the team’s first of the game, by making the initial play to enter the offensive zone and set up the scoring chance. Martone’s game featured several high-event moments, including near chances where he wasn’t able to get a shot off due to tight coverage. In the second period, he briefly exited the game after taking a hard hit in the corner but returned without apparent issue.
While neither Martone nor Gill currently appears in player prop markets or award futures, betting lines at major sportsbooks do provide some context for how the broader market views the Flyers organization. As of late July 2025, BetMGM lists the Flyers at +10,000 odds to win the 2026 Stanley Cup, and +5,000 to win the Eastern Conference. Their odds to take the Metropolitan Division sit at +3,000. Across sports betting sites, those odds make Philadelphia one of the underdogs. This is because the team had a tough season, finishing with a record of 33 wins, 39 losses, and 10 overtime losses in the 2024–25 season. They ended up last in their division and missed the playoffs for the fifth year in a row.
Outside of the international stage, Gill’s career path is still getting a lot of attention. Some evaluators, including those updating end-of-season Flyers prospect rankings, have placed him ahead of 2023 first-rounder Oliver Bonk. Bonk, taken after Matvei Michkov in last year’s draft, had a productive 2022–23 season with 24 goals and 67 points in 60 games. However, his point total dropped to 11 goals and 40 points in 52 games this past season, partially attributed to a change in his role, specifically, no longer playing the bumper position on the power play.
It remains uncertain whether Bonk will reprise that position with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms or the Flyers, which could affect his long-term ceiling. If he doesn’t, projections suggest he may settle into a second- or third-pairing role with some offensive upside.
In contrast, Gill has produced at a similar level without top power-play minutes and has done so on a highly competitive team within the CHL. His size, athleticism, and improving two-way game present a profile of a player who could potentially fit into a top-four NHL role. While not expected to post numbers comparable to offensive defensemen like Quinn Hughes or Cale Makar, Gill’s ability to manipulate shooting lanes and get pucks through traffic aligns well with Philadelphia’s current defensive philosophy.
Another Flyers prospect, Nikita Grebenkin, is also working toward an NHL roster spot. Grebenkin, who is preparing to push for a place in Philadelphia out of training camp this fall, has reportedly received advice from Washington Capitals veteran Alexander Ovechkin as he gears up for the challenge.
