A Flyers Prospect Check In: Yegor Zamula

           Yegor Zamula A.K.A.”Egor” Photo Credit: Zack Hill

This 6’3″, 176 pound, 19-year-old defenseman from Russia is the team’s next Phillppe Myers. Found by former Flyers General Manager Ron Hextall, Zamula was a camp invite after he went undrafted. Once in camp, Zamula did nothing but impress, so much so, he ended up earning himself a professional contract in 2018.

Last season for the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL, Zamula posted 10 Goals and 46 assists for a total of 56 Points in just 61 games played. Additionally, Zamula was a plus 6 on the year. Playing at almost a point a game pace for anyone is exceptionally good, but producing that kind of offense, while playing defense is a feat few do on a nightly basis. This should go without saying that the Flyers knew exactly what they had found in Zamula, and there was just something pretty special about this kid. 

When training camp started this year, “Egor” managed to pick up right where he left off last season. However, things were a little different than the year before. The man who found, and signed him no longer was there, along with most of the coaches that he came to know last year. Never backing down from a challenge, Zamula worked tirelessly right from the start, and began grabbing the attention of both new Head Coach Alain Vigneault and General Manager Chuck Fletcher. Both Vigneault and Fletcher additionally let the 19-year-old in Zamula play in two pre-season games. 

In these two pre-season games, the young man in Zamula did not look out of place against NHL competition. Much like Travis Sanheim and Myers, Zamula showed that he was not afraid to jump into the offensive zone, to create a scoring chance when the opportunity presented itself. Zamula is a defenseman that has tremendous vision on a level that some NHL caliber defenseman never achieve. This awareness of what is going on while on ice, allows him to saucer LONG crisp outlet passes, right through members of the opposing team; landing them right on an awaiting wingers stick blade, thus making for unreal breakaway attempts.

Following the second pre-season game, the Flyers brass sent Zamula packing on his way back to Calgary to get ready for the Hitmen’s season. Now back in the WHL, Zamula has grown into a more complete defenseman. Over the course of this season people are now seeing a solid two-way defender. A defender with not only an amazing offensive mindset, but now a stronger defensive game, as well. In 19 games played, Zamula has 6 goals, and 12 assist for 18 points. A 0.95 Points per game average is impressive, but what thrills this life long goaltender-turned-writer is the fact that Egor is already a plus 18 on the year! A stat that is vastly overlooked now a days. 

One area that this young ‘blue chip prospect’ in Zamula needs improve upon is bulking up. He needs to put on weight, and plenty of muscle if he wants to play in the NHL in the near future. With his current weight of 176 pounds, while standing at 6’3,” rest assured he would be pushed around. In addition, Zamula has to be able to withstand the rigors of an 82 game season, and bulking up will help with the physicality that presents itself in the NHL. No one wants him to get hurt during the long grueling NHL or AHL season, so bulking up becomes more imperative for him to do. 

With that being said, if “Egor” continues to hone his craft, and continues to train in the off-season. Zamula would start the year in the AHL next season with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, with the possibility of him being called up to the bright lights of the NHL at some point if an injury occurs on the Flyers blue-line. In time, Zamula’s ceiling is to be a top four defenseman for this club, and to become a staple on the blue-line for years to come.