VOORHEES, N.J. — Aside from some action at development camp last summer, Rick Tocchet hasn’t seen a lot of Jack Berglund up close.
But he sure knows about him.
That’s how well Berglund played at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship. Tocchet, amid the grind of coaching his own players, had no problem talking about one of the Flyers’ prospects two days ago.
Berglund, a 6-foot-4 center, led Team Sweden to a gold medal at the best annual under-20 tournament in the sport. He had two assists in his country’s 4-2 championship win Monday night over Czechia to finish the world juniors with 10 points (three goals, seven assists) and a plus-9 rating through seven games.
The Flyers’ 2024 second-round pick was the captain of Team Sweden, which didn’t lose all tournament. Porter Martone, who the Flyers selected at sixth overall in 2025, was the captain of bronze-winning Team Canada.
Berglund impressed by using his size like a pro. He made winning plays and was confident with the puck on his stick.
“I’ve watched him a little bit more and more,” Tocchet said Monday afternoon. “I like the fact that he has a ‘C’ on his chest. Porter’s got one on his chest. That’s pretty good, they’re getting recognized in leadership and they’re our draft picks, so that’s the stuff you want to put in our dressing room.”
Six of the Flyers’ prospects played at the tournament. Martone put up nine points (six goals, three assists) in seven games. Heikki Ruohonen was the other standout, as the Flyers’ 2024 fourth-rounder led Team Finland with nine points (three goals, six assists) over seven games.
Denver Barkey, the Flyers’ 20-year-old rookie, was around Berglund at the team’s last two development camps. He also kept tabs on him in the world juniors.
“When he first came to dev camp, the thing that kind of blew me away was how well he moves for such a big man,” Barkey said Monday afternoon. “I’ve been watching this tournament, he has been their heartbeat, in my opinion. He has been a heck of a player, he has been doing it on all sides of the puck, which is good to see. He’s a big guy, he finishes his hits, so you like to see that stuff, too.”
Tocchet liked what he heard about Berglund as a captain.
“I’ve talked to some people, apparently he is that leader in the room,” the Flyers’ head coach said. … “The leadership part really excites me.”