Jack Murtagh, a 2025 second-round draft pick for the Flyers, just wrapped up his freshman year at Boston University, and yeah, the scoresheet wasn’t exactly lighting up. He put up 6 goals and 5 assists in 35 games, for a total of 11 points. That’s not the scoring explosion a lot of folks expected from a guy who came out of the US National Team Development Program known for his offense.
BU’s Offense Was Just Flat Out Struggling
Don’t let those 11 points tell the whole story, though. You gotta put Murtagh’s performance in context, because Boston University’s offense was straight-up struggling the entire 2025-26 season. They only scored 2.9 goals per game, which ranked them in the bottom half of the entire NCAA. Their power play? Forget about it, it was 50th out of 63 college hockey teams. This wasn’t just a Murtagh issue. The Terriers had plenty of offensive talent, with guys like Tynan Lawrence, Sacha Boisvert, and Cole Eiserman, plus defensive pillars in Sascha Boumedienne, Charlie Tretheway, and Cole Hutson. The program is expected to compete for big trophies, but they just massively underperformed across the board. So, while 11 points isn’t ideal, it’s not like the team was dishing out goals like candy.
The Motor and the Sniper Shot Are Still There
Here’s the real kicker for Flyers fans looking for a reason to be optimistic: even with the low point totals, Murtagh’s core game is still absolutely legit. He was known coming out of the USNTDP as a hard-nosed, straight-line skater with an insane motor, and that didn’t disappear at BU. He was constantly the high-energy guy, forcing takeaways and getting in on the forecheck, doing all the little things that make offense go. He might not have been able to physically impose his will on college opponents the same way he did in the USNTDP, but he was certainly trying every shift. And the best part? His shot, which has always been his plus-plus skill, is still a weapon. He can score from distance, has a deceptive release, and can just absolutely rip the puck.
Murtagh is only 19 years old, and he’s got a couple more years at Boston University to get bigger and stronger, and really start finishing those hits and forcing the issue. If his development goes perfectly, the Flyers could have a shoot-first, energy bottom-six winger on their hands. Keep an eye on him in the next couple seasons at BU. That raw potential is still absolutely worth getting pumped about.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Broad Street Hockey.
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