In Part two of my latest series of articles we will take a look at which kind of players the Flyers already have at wing position that may be ready to make the jump to the NHL and which may have to wait a little longer to get their shot. The battle for this position may be the most crucial of all when the Flyers’ camp is set to commence because it became very evident in the playoffs last season that this was a position that needed improvement. The Flyers’ wingers were not able to capitalize on their opportunities during the post season, and YES this included the Flyers’ regular season goal leader (winger) Travis Konecny, who was held GOALLESS throughout the 16 games played by the Flyers this past post season.
The first guy up is Carsen Twarynski. This 22-year-old left winger, who stands at 6’2 and weighs in at 198 pounds, has to be an option when the Flyers’ camp ensues because he had such a great camp last season. So much so that Carsen made the Flyers’ opening night roster last season. Twarynski was the teams 2016 3rd round pick. Since his days of averaging over a point per game playing for the Western Hockey Leagues (WHL) Kelowna Rockets, Carsen has been hard at work trying to improve upon his game since turning pro. His success comes from his extremely high motor and willingness to do just about anything to help his team win. While up with the Flyers last season, Twarynski was able to total just one goal in 15 games played. Although he was doing the little things right with these point totals (or lack thereof), Carsen was sent back to the team’s AHL affiliate (the Lehigh Valley Phantoms) for the rest of the season where his numbers then improved. Twarynski is set to make just $775,833 and would be an inexpensive call-up option next season if needed.
Moving on now to one of the more tantalizing prospects at wing we have Isaac Ratcliffe. This former Flyers 2017 2nd round pick is still just 21-years-old and is already 6’6 and 201 pounds! But he is no gentle giant. Ratcliffe (as may be expected for someone of his size) loves to play physical! So, it should not come as a surprise when you see him in a fight every now and again in order to stick up for a teammate, but that’s not the only part of his game: Isaac is a rare anomaly. This gigantic prospect astonished most scouts early on in his juniors’ career when he was able to use his hands not only to bash opponents’ heads in but for scoring goals as well; and score goals he did! Especially in his last year of juniors where he totaled an impressive 50 goals for the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)! Which he paired with 32 assists for 82 points in just 65 games played that year. That was good enough for a 1.26 point per game average. The only thing was Ratcliffe could not seem to transition those elite numbers to the American Hockey League (AHL) last year. Isaac was only able to total 6 goals and 9 assists for 15 points in the 53 games played in his first-year pro. Fear not though: This is not such a rare occurrence for young players coming out of juniors. In juniors, players range from the age of 15-19 years old. So, the shock of going from being the “big man on campus” playing against boys to be thrown into a high-glassed oval Battle Royale against men can take some getting used to. Ratcliffe will now enter camp knowing what is expected of him and has certainly had time this extended off-season to take the measures needed to ensure what happened last season will not happen again.
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The stiffest competition for these two (once camp opens) may just be the new man on campus: Linus Sandin. The Flyers won the battle against many other NHL clubs that were vying for his services when they were the ones that were able to ink this Swedish Elite League (SHL) workhorse. This hard-nosed player fought for every goal he got last season, and there were many. Sandin managed to score 19 goals last season for the HV71, which was good enough to be part of a three-way tie for 3rd place in the league’s goal standings. If you have not had the privilege of watching Sandin at work, know that he is an extremely hard worker who likes to crash the net and set up shop there. Yes, Sandin is willing to take the abuse that comes with settling in behind enemy lines. But with all the goal and point totals that he accumulates there, do not expect him to be moving anytime soon; and why should he? Whether his totals come from a deflection, or from banging home a nice juicy rebound after a point shot, Linus will take them any way he can get them. If this info is starting to make you make a comparison to players like Wayne Simmonds and Scott Hartnell you would not be too far off. For this reason alone, Sandin should have a good chance at making at least an appearance this season in a Flyers uniform, for there are not too many men that play the game like this anymore.
Now, you may be saying what about guys like Wade Allison (the 6’2, 205-pound, 2016’ 2nd pick) and David Kaše who should be on this list, and you might be right, but here’s why I have them just outside of the above-mentioned group: Allison and his stats are certainly impressive on paper, but the game is not played on paper! Allison, like the Flyers’ defensive prospect Sam Morin, both have great size and toughness for their position but cannot manage to stay healthy. Allison has spent the better part of his collegiate career on the injured reserve list. Being faced with a vicious torn ACL (like Morin has/had) which kept Wade out for parts of two seasons, and also a shoulder injury, Allison seems to just not be able to fully get started before another unfortunate injury arises yet again. That is why this writer thinks that the Flyers’ organization would like to see Wade get a year of play in the AHL and see how he does before rushing him into a full-time role in the NHL.
As for Kaše, we were able to see this 23-year-old former 5th round pick from the Czech Republic play in 6 games this year for the Flyers, in which time he only was able to total one goal. Although his adaptability to play on either side of the center is nice, his size seemed to hinder him somewhat. On record it says he is 5’11 but anyone who has seen him play would agree he plays much smaller than that, always being seen in a tight, crouch-like position. For these reasons, one would think that Kaše may have reached his ceiling within (at least) the Flyers’ organization and will be not much more than a glorified call-up (Here’s hoping he proves me wrong).
When looking at this list are you impressed? Do you see a player (a Black Ace if you will) amongst the masses that will without a doubt help the Flyers next year, possibly on a full-time role? I didn’t think so. The Flyers have extreme depth that is just waiting for their chance in the center position, on defense, and in-between the pipes; but the same cannot be said for the wing position. For right now there is no definitive prospect that plays the wing position currently signed to a contract that is on the cusp of greatness and thus ready to make that jump to the greatest stage hockey has to offer. That doesn’t mean that one day that these players previously mentioned won’t ever reach that level- they just still need more time to develop. Don’t fear though: It doesn’t mean that the lack of NHL-ready talent has gone unnoticed by the Flyers’ organization; On the contrary: There are reinforcements coming in the form of the Frozen Four Champion 17’ 5th rd. pick winger Noah Cates, 19’ 2nd rd. pick winger Bobby Brink, 20’ 1st rd. pick winger Tyson Foerster, 20’ 4th rd. pick winger Zayde Wisdom, and 20’ 5th rd. pick winger Elliot Desnoyers.
So, without a late free agent acquisition, we are left to hope that during this extended off-season one or more of these previously-mentioned players went above and beyond with their training, and has thus advanced his game enough to impress the Flyers’ Head Coach Alain Vigneault to earn a spot on the Flyers’ opening night roster for next season.
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