Flyers Prospect Check-In: Mason Millman

Photo Credit: Zack Hill

The previous Flyers General Manager (The Draft Guru) Ron Hextall may not be the only one capable of finding a late round draft steal. Chuck Fletcher (the current Flyers General Manger) proved this when he selected the talented defenseman Mason Millman from the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Saginaw Spirit in the fourth round of the 2019 NHL entry draft.  

This 18-year-old in Millman stands strong at 6’1″ and weighs in at 176 pounds. He not only impressed Flyers management leading up to the draft, but Millman has done nothing but enhanced his stock since that time. Millman (or Milly as his friends and teammates call him) found himself being given a much larger role this year in Saginaw. Where he did nothing but flourish when he was given an increase in playing time, partnered with the task of quarterbacking the Spirit’s power play unit alongside one of this year’s top draft picks Center Cole Perfetti.  

With the help of a late season addition of lifelong teammate and friend Ryan Suzuki coming into the fold via a trade, Mason was able to amass a career high in points totaling 13 goals, and 31 assists for 44 points in 58 games played. That averages out to be 0.76 points per game. Numbers that aren’t too shabby for a defenseman. To go along with those exciting offensive statistics, Millman was able to play well in his own zone, as well. Posting a plus 31 rating at the seasons abrupt halt/end.   

The side of his game that might just separate him from the rest of the Flyers defensive prospects is his ever developing ability to lay big hits. The kind that will most certainly lead to a fight, to which Millman does not shy away but often welcomes. Mason does not just drop the gloves to drop the gloves though. He does so with a purpose, whether it be to police an opposing player for a dirty hit they landed on one of his teams star players, or just to swing the momentum of the game back to the Spirit’s side while being down on the road. Millman chooses his times (or bouts) wisely.

Mason credits his continued development partly to the constant vigilance of Flyers Director of Player Development Coach Kjell Samuelsson. Samuelsson (a former Flyers defenseman) who was a force to mess with in his playing days, checks in on Millman and Saginaw’s coaching staff a couple of times a week. Reviewing game tape, offering tips, tricks, and possible drills that may aid Mason’s further development towards a shot at the NHL. If Millman can stay in the weight room, pack on the pounds, and continue to improve upon the physical side of his game next year in Juniors, then Mason would become quite the complete player. Thus, finding a contract offer conceivably coming his way from the man that drafted him, sooner rather than later.