The on-ice portion of Flyers Developmental Camp starts tomorrow August 29 and lasts through Wednesday September 1, 2021. It’s usually a joyous event for Flyers fans, but unfortunately with new cases of Covid-19 arising the Flyers have decided to close it to the public.
This does not mean our coverage stops. We will keep all fans informed of the happenings of camp, and who is performing well. Here is an overview of players to keep your eyes on.
Morgan Frost
Frost has had some great moments for the Flyers, and hopefully he continues to make this young team a consistent one at the very least defensively when his number gets called. Unfortunately, Frost has only played two organized hockey games in a year in and a half after suffering a season ending injury to his shoulder, which required surgery last season. He really improved tremendously on the defensive side of the puck as he got more chances with the big club in 2019-20, and Frost finished that season strong. Last year’s training camp was unlike any other as it was shortened with no exhibition games, but Frost put forth a good camp, and it was his best camp to date, “I am here to try to make the Flyers and if that doesn’t happen, we will see what management and coaches decide,” Morgan Frost said back at camp, “My goal is to make the Flyers, so that is all that is on my mind right now.”
This young 22-year-old in Frost excels at camps, and I would venture to believe he attends this developmental camp mainly to get him on the ice. As mentioned, Frost usually performs well at camps, so I would expect him to smash his last Developmental Camp.
Wade Allison
One thing Wade Allison does well is pressure the puck in all three zones. In the game against the New Jersey Devils, in which it was one of his first few games with the big club, he really showed his ability to beat players to the puck in the corners, whether it was on the forecheck or in the Flyers zone. This is something that the Flyers can lack sometimes, effort to the puck.
Allison also possesses strong skating and offensive skills. He goes hard to the net and does well to generate changes in front for himself and teammates.
Wade is a player I am so happy the Flyers have. He will only get better from here. I also believe he will make a great two-way player for the Flyers. Keep an eye on this kid Flyers fans.
Tyson Foerster and Samu Tuomaala
One has to think why I am pairing these two players together. Well, they are both snipers with a knack for the net. Both of these players can score at high rates, and are natural goal scorers. The difference between the two is skating.
Foerster continues to make improvements to his skating, and that was evident at the AHL level this past season. He excelled, and skated ok. Of course, he will try to make improvements, but it was noticeable this past season.
“I feel like I play a similar game to T.J. Oshie. I can be out there in any situation and score some goals too. I feel like he’s a good player comparison for myself.”– Tyson Foerster said after the Flyers drafted him
This young 19-year-old in Foerster just has a knack for the net. His skating is improving, but Foerster managed to smoke his opponents during the 2020-21 season with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms as he finished with 10 goals, and seven assists for a total of 17 points in 24 games played. Foerster is an absolute monster down the middle or on the wing. Early injuries could not derail his great season with the Phantoms as he made the most of his opportunity, and a great thing to know is he will be with the Phantoms this upcoming season. Zayde Wisdom and Foerster do not have to return to the OHL.
Tuomaala begins his journey here in North America, as he will play with the Sudbury Wolves or the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Slide Rule Eligible). Sudbury selected him 31st overall at the CHL Import Draft in 2020. Adding muscle (Bigger and stronger) is usually the common theme of young prospects at his age of 18. They are usually a bit raw, but fill out in a year to two years. Tuomaala loves to shoot the puck. He’s a shoot first player, not a playmaker.
The Flyers have had playmakers a plenty, especially with the man advantage, now they drafted a finisher. He possesses a quick wrist shot, and Tuomaala can quickly move his hands to change the angle on it. Tuomaala has an accurate shot, and it generates a ton of power. Don’t forget about his good slap shot and one-timer.
Tuomaala is also a good defensive player. He is strong positionally, and he will fight for pucks. Tuomaala just has a knack for the puck, and he’s a good skater. The Flyers really got a high value pick here at 46, as his skating appears to be solid.
Zayde Wisdom
Wisdom is hurt (Shoulder) he will just participate with the training staff, and might have small on-ice workouts. When he recovers from this shoulder surgery, he will play with the Phantoms as he does not have to return to the OHL.
Brian Zanetti
Zanetti was selected in the fourth round by the Flyers, and he is a smooth skating left-handed shot defenseman. He is a native of Switzerland, and he will play in the OHL for the Peterborough Petes this coming season.
This young 18-year-old defenseman would have played for the Petes this past season, however, the OHL canceled their season. Zanetti was fortunate enough to go back to Switzerland and play for the Lugano U20 team. He showed his range, and capabilities as he tallied nine goals, and registered 20 assists for a total of 29 points in 41 games played.
Zanetti needs time to develop. Like most prospects he has to get bigger and stronger, he’s a bit lanky, and he reminds me of the build of Mason Millman when he was first drafted by the Flyers. However, Zanetti likes to join the rush, and is a smooth skating defenseman.
Brian is a solid two-way defenceman, has good puck skills, and uses his size well to protect the puck. He closes gaps well which is a bonus, but he needs to work on playing the body more as well.
There is some rawness, but he knows what he needs to work on. He has the height is he stands at 6’2, now he just needs to fill in. That will come in time.
Cam York
York is one of the Flyers top prospects, and he made quite the impression in his Flyers debut. He was named a star of the game for his efforts in 20:59 of ice time. York finished the game with a plus 1, one blocked shot, one shot on net, and one takeaway.
He is typically a confident smart player, skates well, and is just so darn good with transitioning from defense to offense. One of the best qualities he possesses on the offensive side of the game is his shot accuracy. He hits the net nine times out of ten, and he showed that while quarterbacking the top Power Play unit. York was great with cycling the puck, and holding the pucks in at the blue line, thus extending zone play for the Flyers.
The best part of York’s game was his confidence with the big club. This lead to long strides skating wise, and he was able to pass the puck with ease to his defensive partner Justin Braun, which lead to clean zone exits. It just appeared that when he was on the ice he settled things down. Getting back to his confidence, one could sense it as he was joining the rush up the ice, and pinching when needed.
Jackson van de Leest
van de Leest is just 20-years-old as he stands at 6’7, and weighs 238 pounds. He is a camp invitee, and there is a reason for this. Many players are afraid to go into the corners while he is on the ice. van de Leest likes to throw his weight around and plays a simple game.
The Flyers scouting staff knows him well as he plays with the Calgary Hitmen. The Hitmen are well known to the Flyers organization as Egor Zamula and Travis Sanheim played for the Hitmen.
Owen McLaughlin
McLaughlin is a local product as he is from Phoenixville, PA. He started the year playing for Mount St. Charles, where he posted 16 goals, and 38 assists in 34 games played. McLaughlin did manage to play the US National team in the USDP where failed to register a point. For his efforts, he was drafted by the Flyers in the seventh round in 2021, and he will be making his Flyers Developmental Camp debut.
Flyers Developmental Camp will be like a homecoming of sorts for this local product. This young 18-year-old in McLaughlin is committed to Sioux City in the USHL for the 2021-22 season, and he will play for Penn State University in 2022-23.
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McLaughlin knows that he is ways away from making an imprint with the orange and black, but the Flyers have gone down the high school route before with drafting Noah Cates in 2017. He likes to shoot, and does it well. Now it’s time to become a solid two-way player, and hopefully he is able to do that with the Sioux.
This hometown native in McLaughlin is a highly skilled forward that leaves defenders in the dust. His stickhandling is one of his best attributes, and he sees the ice very well. McLaughlin is a good playmaking Center that can play the Wing if need be.
Samuel Ersson
The one thing Ersson needs is patience. Felix Sandström struggled in his first season in North America, and was relegated to the Reading Royals for the majority of his first pro season in large part due to getting adjusted to the rink size. Like Ersson, Sandström also lit it up in the third toughest league in the world the SHL. Ersson needs patience to get adjusted to the North American rink size.
Ersson was masterful in his final season for Brynäs IF in Sweden. For the 2020-21 season, he registered a 2.96 GAA, and a .911 Save Percentage in 42 games. If it were not for Ersson Brynäs would have been a laughing stock of the league as he carried the team on his shoulders.
Kirill Ustimenko
Ustimenko suffered an unfortunate injury before last season began and that derailed him from any ice time for the 2020-21 season, which was supposed to be with the Phantoms.
“Usti” was primed and ready for his journey with the Flyers organization, when he signed his ELC (Entry-Level-Contract) in May of 2019. Ustimenko appeared to be happy, giddy, and carefree with the Reading Royals in 2019-20. The guy appeared to be ecstatic in his first professional season in North America, and winning will do that for a person. His eyes were like a kid at a candy store throughout his tenure with the Royals.
The former MHK Dynamo St. Petersburg product in Ustimenko, appeared to be confident, and one could see the jubilation on his face after he made save after save for the Royals this past season. It should come as no surprise he was able to adjust to the rink size, as Ustimenko registered a 1.78 GAA, and a .927 Save Percentage in 46 games played for the MHK Dynamo in 2018-19.
Ustimenko was able to adjust properly to the North American rink size, as he posted a 19-4-5 record, a 2.40 GAA, and a .919 Save Percentage in 31 games played for the Royals. Moreover, Ustimenko garnered two shutouts, and only allowed 70 goals against on 867 shots faced. For his efforts, he also managed to play in five games for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, as Chuck Fletcher traded Phantoms backup netminder J.F. Berube to the New York Rangers to pave the way for Ustimenko late in the season. That’s how well Ustimenko performed, he earned that last recall to the Phantoms before the season was shutdown due to the Coronavirus.
Look out for lots of camp related articles and interviews.
