Flyers’ Camp Battle Set To Ensue (Defensemen)

In part three of this series, we’ll take a look at the blue-liners who will battling for a spot on the Philadelphia Flyers’ opening-night roster this upcoming season. This position battle within the Flyers’ system is potentially the one with the most NHL-ready talent just waiting for their time to shine. Now, without further ado, let’s dive into this camp battle that is sure to develop into an all-out war when these great power houses set to battle it out once camp begins.

First up is the towering defensemen Samuel Morin. This 6’7 227-pound giant is now 25-years-old. He was originally drafted by the Flyers back in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft in the 1^st round (11^th overall) after an impressive junior career for the Rimouski Oceanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). While playing for the Oceanic, Morin won a QMJHL Championship. Also, to add to his credit, Sam has two gold medals which he received from the World Junior Championships in the ‘12-‘13 season and the ‘14-‘15 season where he helped to solidify team Canada’s blue line. Morin’s height helps him possess a reach that seems to span from center ice to the dasher boards- which he uses to poke check the puck away from just about any offensive threat coming his goalie’s way. As frustrating as that may sound, it is almost a preferred option for the opposition when Morin is on the ice. As most have found out: If this monstruous human gets anywhere near you when you have the puck you will mostly likely be in need of your athletic trainers help to pry your face off the corner boards’ glass during the next commercial break; because to say that Morin likes to finish his checks would be an immense understatement!  This defense-first minded player could just be the second coming of Flyers’ great Derian Hatcher. Morin’s “erase-you-off-the-puck” style of play is something that Broad Street has not seen the likes of in a long time, and his willingness to absolutely manhandle anyone that is brave (dumb) enough to drop the gloves with him should be enough for the Flyers to want to bring this Bully to Broad Street sooner rather than later.  Unfortunately, his time since leaving juniors has been a little rough for this bruising blue liner: Ever since he has tried to advance his game beyond Lehigh Valley (the AHL) where he had two great seasons for the Phantoms, Morin has been able to play in just nine NHL games in the span of the last four seasons due to suffering back-to-back torn anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL) in his right knee. Sam is now thought to be back on the ice and one hundred percent once again, and should be ready to go when camp is set to ensue. Let’s just hope that (this time) he can remain healthy, and thus leave his injury-ridden history behind him. Sam offers the kind of grit and toughness that the Flyers currently lack on their roster that would force other teams around the league to respect the Orange and Black once again. 

The second name on this list to watch when the Flyers camp opens is the now 24-year-old defensemen Mark Friedman who the Flyers selected back in the ‘14 NHL Entry Draft with their 3^rd round pick from the Bowling Green State University Falcons. Mark may stand at just 5’11 and 192 pounds, but his mistake-free style of hockey more than makes up for his height disadvantage. Friedman is not a flashy, offensively-minded defenseman like the league seems to be drawn to lately; you may not have even noticed him on the ice (which is a good thing). But rest assured: Friedman is that guy that can play big minutes in any and all situations, and will not make you regret it! Mark has played in seven NHL games over the last two seasons and seemed to blend in flawlessly when given the opportunity to dress for the Flyers (when an injury occurred on their blueline). The one thing that may give Friedman a leg up on the rest of the competition is that he is a right-hand shot! This is something that the Flyers so desperately covet since they have so few in their system. 

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Continuing down this list that is no particular order: We now will take a look at another undrafted free agent that the former Flyers’ general manager Ron Hextall graced us with. That would be the fast rising 6’4 20-year-old Yegor (Egor) Zamula.  Zamula will now be turning pro after developing into quite the remarkable prospect during his time with the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League (WHL). During his time in Calgary Zamula became a point-per-game player: posting 7 goals and 21 assists for 28 points in just 28 games played for the Hitmen last season. If that wasn’t impressive enough, Egor managed to do so while maintaining a plus 19 average on the season. Zamula was on a roll for sure; That is, before he injured his back at the World Junior Championships while playing for Team Russia. Egor took the world by storm in this tournament showing he could compete against the best the world had to offer. So much so that he was a standout star for the big red machine before the injury occurred.  Zamula (like Morin) is now fully recovered and was even a Black Ace for the Flyers during their playoff run this season.  Zamula skates with ease with the puck on his stick and possesses a fanatic on-ice vison that helps him to lay some of the best long outlet passes this writer has ever seen from an upcoming prospect; The kind of outlet passes that find a speedy wingers’ stick blade as he is breaking away from the other teams’ defense, and thus sets him up for a one-on-one breakaway on the opposing goalie. For these reasons Zamula got an extended look at the start of last season before being sent back to Calgary. He, out of the all the named defensemen on this list, possesses the greatest potential to succeed at the next level. His play closely resembles that of the Flyers’ Travis Sanheim and Philippe Myers, and to be able to add another one of those type players could never be considered a bad thing. The only improvement this young defender needs to make to his game is to hit the weight room and bulk up his existing 176-pound frame in order to withstand a grueling 82-game NHL season.

The last name (a dark horse if you will) that will surely compete for a shot to at least be called up by the Flyers at some point next season is Wyatte Wylie. This 21-year-old right hand shot defensemen was drafted back in ‘18 in the 5^th round by the Flyers, and for good reason: Wylie is perhaps the most underrated player in this bunch, but I am not sure why? Last season, while playing for the Everett Silvertips of the WHL, Wyatte posted 14 goals and 50 assists for 64 points in just 62 games played. That was good enough for a 1.03 point per game average! What’s even better is that Wylie was able to do this while remaining a plus 28 on the season. This showed that he is not only offensively gifted, but good in his own zone as well- Which is sure to both please and fit into Flyers’ Head Coach Alain Vigneault (AV) system nicely. If you don’t believe me then simply look at the fact that during his time in Everett Wyatte was able to help two different goaltenders achieve the great honor of being named the CHL’s goaltender of the year, which is awarded to the best goalie in ALL of the Canadian Junior Leagues! Those goalies being Dustin Wolf most recently this past season and a guy you all know named Carter Hart back in the ‘17-‘18 season. Now if that feat doesn’t tell you that this kid can play some defense, I don’t know what will! 

That is why this particular group of defensemen will make AV’s decision very difficult when the teams’ camp is set to get underway. The fact that all of these previously mentioned players’ games differ from the next is not a weakness, but rather a strength! For at any given time when an injury occurs, or Coach just wants to strategize better for a particular team, any one of these fine young players could find themselves being called upon for the job!  

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