Flyers’ Camp Battles Set To Ensue At Center 

Photo Credit: Zack Hill

With teams’ rosters now all but formed after the addition of free agents, completed trades, and this year’s entry draft now behind us, the focus will begin to shift to training camps; With that being said, one position that the Flyers’ organization has plenty of depth in- that will be perhaps the most intriguing of all to watch- is the center position.

Chuck Fletcher had a max exodus of players that he deemed were doing his team a disservice (like center Nolan Patrick), there looked to be a very real chance for one of the team’s prospects to be gifted the opportunity to not only make the big club right out of camp but sustain a spot on the Flyers’ roster for the entirety of next season. 

That glimmer of hope was eclipsed recently when the team decided to bring back the 36-year-old unrestricted free agent Nate Thompson to assume the role of the 4^th line center.  To add to that there’s been some speculation from some on who will ultimately be the team’s 3^rd line center as well, but in this writer’s mind it should be a no brainer: Scott Laughton’s name should be etched in stone for that position, although I understand the reasoning behind some people’s thought process given his increased point production when he has played wing in the past. Remember that he only got that chance after Oskar Lindblom was diagnosed with cancer. Besides, the Flyers already have plenty of depth on left wing with Giroux, Farabee, van Riemsdyk, and Lindblom.  Furthermore, it is this writer’s opinion that Scott can offer much more to the team at center than just scoring: Last season Laughton was the team’s best forechecker/back checker, and he led the team in both hits (with 141), and in plus minus (with a +13 average), both of which tend to be superb qualities any team looks for when trying to find a 3^rd line center.

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With that being said, even if both of these center positions are awarded to the above-mentioned players, there will still be a need for some help in this position over the course of the long, grueling, NHL season- Laughton’s spot especially (since he has shown in the past to be a versatile forward who when his head coach Alain Vigneault needs someone to step up and fill in holes in the lineup elsewhere (due to injury) he is fully capable of doing so). Hence the need for the teams’ prospects to stay at the ready. 

But at whom might the team be potentially looking you may be asking? One player who most would think to be at the top of that list would be the team’s 2017 1^st round pick (who they selected 27^th overall)- center Morgan Frost. This 6’0 185 pounder was drafted from the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) after he had an almost point-per-game pace in the 2016-2017 season for the Soo. He later followed that up by returning to the Greyhounds after being drafted and improved upon that success by achieving back-to-back 100+ point seasons in the ‘17- ‘18 and ‘18- ‘19 campaigns. Since turning pro, Morgan has spent the most time of any of the following prospects at the NHL level where, to date, Frost has played in 22 NHL contests. During that time, he has been able to net 2 goals and 5 assists for 7 points. The amount of time Morgan has spent at the NHL level has only been hindered by Frost’s own abilities (or lack thereof) to stay healthy and provide some kind of consistency when he is in the lineup. Case in point: This past season, due largely to Frost’s diminutive size, Morgan was only able to play in 2 games before suffering a season-ending dislocated left shoulder (which he later had to undergo surgery on) after sustaining a massive (clean) hit from a much bigger NHL opponent. Although arguably still viewed by most as the team’s top prospect based off of the pure skill he exhibited while still playing in juniors, he must prove he can be more elusive and durable in the coming season if he wishes to still hold on to that anointed title of the team’s top prospect. With that being said, time may be running out: Frost is now 22 years old, and his contract is set to conclude at the end of next season. Let’s not forget the teams’ general manager Chuck Fletcher did not draft Morgan and, during his stalled progression, Chuck has brought in a number of other viable options via the draft and free agency to further compete against him.

The next guy who will be competing for a spot on the Flyers’ roster next season is 24-year-old Tanner Laczynski who was drafted by the team back in the 6^th round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. Tanner also saw time last season with the Flyers, playing in 5 games with the orange and black but, to his credit, was able to tally no points during that time. Although Laczynski may have taken the long road to reach pro status, he has excelled at every level he has played in up to this point. In the United States Hockey League (USHL) he was a standout star for the well-known Chicago Steel. Following his time with the Steel, Laczynski decided to attend the Ohio State University where he spent the last 4 years playing for the Buckeyes and was able to average a point-per-game (or better) for half of his time there. Once turning pro last season, Tanner spent a total of 14 games playing for the team’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate the Lehigh High Valley Phantoms. While playing for the Phantoms Laczynski was able to post 6 goals and 4 assists for 10 points on the year in the AHL. Tanner seemed to make a smooth transition to the AHL ranks though he struggled to stand out when given the opportunity in Philadelphia with the Flyers. Now knowing what is to be expected from him at the professional level look for Tanner to come into camp with a renewed focus and knowledge gained for what’s ahead of him in the coming season. 

Next up on the potential depth chart would be Jackson Cates, a center who was signed by the Flyers out of the collegiate ranks last season after he completed a historic run with the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, where he was able to win a National Championship back in 2019. The team had been scouting Jackson for some time, given the fact that they had previously drafted his younger brother Noah in the 5^th round of the 2017 draft and were there anyway checking up on Noah’s progression quite frequently. Jackson, who is now 23 years of age, was able to play 4 games with the Flyers last season in which this gritty 2-way center was able to accumulate just 1 assist during that time. Cates is signed through the ‘21- ‘22 season and should offer the team the experience necessary to provide a steady call-up option in case of injury occurring within the Flyers’ every day roster. 

The next two players’ names to be mentioned both created a lot of buzz for themselves in the AHL rankings this past season while playing for the Phantoms. They both made the most out of the opportunities that were given to them to play a year early in the AHL due to the COVID pandemic shutting down both of their seasons in the OHL. One of those players was the Flyers’ 2020 1^st round pick Tyson Foerster who played for the Barrie Colts before being drafted. This player, who was thought to have an NHL-level shot (by all scouts) while still playing in juniors, scored an impressive 36 goals and 44 assists for 80 points for the Colts.  This is not all though- this young man already measures out to a pro size being 6’2 and 194 pounds, which helped him this past season playing for the Phantoms when he scored 10 goals and 7 assists for 17 points in just 24 games played.  While he is still young and now buried within the teams’ centers depth chart, don’t be surprised if Foerster’s elite-level shot and sure size causes the team to call him to action sooner rather than later even if it’s to play wing.  

    The other player who was dealt a very similar hand as Foerster is Zayde Wisdom another 2020 NHL draft pick who surprised everyone besides Chuck Fletcher who moved up in the draft to the 1st pick of the 4^th round in order to select him. Wisdom, who stands at just 5’10, and weighs in at an impressive 201 pounds is definitely an intimidating presence while out on the ice. Playing for the Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL, Zayde’s play was often overshadowed by the likes of linemate Shane Wright who is destined to be the top prosect selected in the 2022 NHL draft. Wisdom’s numbers however were nothing to sneeze at: In 62 games played for the Frontenacs in the ‘19- ’20 season, Zayde scored 29 goals and 30 assists, totaling 59 points. That scoring touch carried over to the professional level when he too was given the chance to turn pro early because the OHL’s decision to not have a season to play last year. In 28 games played in the AHL last year, this bulldog of a skater scored 7 goals and 11 assists for 18 points for the Phantoms. Before that though he seemingly did not even look out of place when playing in the Flyers’ preseason games. His drive and determination are some traits that set him apart from the rest in his age bracket and will have this still-young player set to see time with the Flyers fairly soon. 

Like no other year in recent or distant memory, the Flyers’ depth chart (especially at the center position) is filled to the brim with budding prospects. The only question is just which one of them will prove to want it more than the rest? With some of these prospects already seeing time within the Flyers’ ranks, they’d better not get too comfortable with their recent success because if their focus was to slip even in the slightest during camp- or shortly thereafter- there is no less than 5 others currently waiting for the chance to prove themselves as well. 

While the sure depth of the team at this position may seem extensive it doesn’t stop there: These are but the players who are signed to a professional deal currently and will be pushing for a roster spot this upcoming season. There is another name that shouldn’t be considered as such a long shot for the following season. Like previously alluded to, most of these prospects are going to be entering the last year of their deals and their development will be under a microscope this season. The Flyers have yet another former 1^st round pick in center Jay O’Brien merely waiting in the wings. O’Brien was drafted by the team in 2018 with the 19^th overall selection and he had to deal with and overcome his own adversities in order to return to the player he always knew he could be when he suited up for Boston University last season as a member of the Terriers. Scoring 16 points in just 16 games played in the shortened NCAA season, Jay showed the Flyers and fans alike that he too is more than ready for his chance to prove himself at the next level and thus should be signed an entry-level contract in the near future. 

With all these names I for one don’t envy the tough decisions that are to follow for coach Vigneault and his staff when deciding who to keep and who to cut. But at the same time, it is a much better feeling now to have too many to choose from rather than the previous years’ problems of having too few. This upcoming camp is set to be an interesting one to say the least and this crop of centers is sure to be the main focus of many watchful eyes in the coming weeks.