Flyers Prospect Edition: Out With The Old, In With The New

There’s no doubt after the Flyers disappointing season that the Flyers current general manager Chuck Fletcher will be looking to make some manager changes. Leaving the team widely the same besides some minor editions to this point has not worked out. It might be time to get rid of some of the prospect players from the Hextall era that haven’t quite lived up to expectations in order to make some more room for some players that Chuck himself has drafted and are now deserving of an entry level contract. 

The Flyers organization has a great deal of talent coming up the ranks (much more than they have seen in their system at one time probably ever). With that being said the Flyers are in need of a little spring cleaning. With all this talent that both Hextall and Fletcher have drafted over the years it has made signing anymore prospects nearly impossible. Stuffed to gills with prospects in the system the Flyers find themselves pushed to the leagues limit as far as contracts go; and should purge some of them in order to be able to sign others who are deserving of their own shot at the professional ranks.

Some of the names that should be considered not worth signing back next season are 23-year-old Pascal Laberge. The Flyers 2016 2^nd round pick has simply not lived up to the hype that surrounded him after the incredible season he had in-which made the Flyers draft him. Back in the 2015-2016 season with the Victoriaville Tigres of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) he was able to produce 68 points in just 56 games played. A feat that this now 4-year pro has not been able to come near that 1.21 point per game pace that got him drafted. Pascal who was once thought to develop into a great two-way center like Sean Courtier has instead struggled to even remain at the American Hockey League (AHL) level let alone develop into a future Selke Trophy Award winner. Laberge has found it tough to remain healthy and in the lineup since being drafted. So much so that this now injury prone player was even sent down to the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) last season to try and regain a spark to his game. However, this move clearly didn’t work seeing that in his 11 games played (GP) this season with the Phantoms he only has 4 points. This former Hextall draftee has clearly not progressed to be the type of player he was once hoped to be by now and seeing that he is a pending restricted free agent (RFA) the Flyers should most likely just wipe their hands of this now 4-year pro and allow him to move on elsewhere in order to create room for one of the teams more promising prospects in need of a contract.

The next player who should be considered a bust is the Flyers former 1^st round draft pick (now 22-year-old) German Rubtsov. This 2016 1^st rounder was taken by the Flyers extremely high and was thought to be a player who could develop into a dominant puck possessor, who could both distribute and be a finisher; While at the same time be a defensive specialist to boot. Although, what the Flyers thought they were getting and what they actually got were two different things. This Russian born player was given the chance to play for both the Phantoms and the Flyers during his time state side. To which this former QMJHL stand out proved to be rather passive once turning pro, seeming almost scared to go into the boards and retrieve a puck. While most 1^st round picks tend to shine once they get to the American league German was simply subpar. Where in 42 games played for the Phantoms last season, he managed to put up just 2 goals and 11 assists for 13 points. A far cry from what other ‘16 1^st rounders like Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Jesse Puljujarvi, Matthew Tkachuk, Alexander Nylander, Mikhail Sergachev, Charles McAvoy, Luke Kunin, Kieffer Bellows, and Trent Frederic have all managed to be able to produce to this point in their careers. With the Flyers being so disappointed in his lack of development they choose to not even have him play for them this season (in Lehigh) and instead returned him to sender. Rubtsov found himself being loaned back Russia this season with the hope that it may have been enough to re-ignite his play once again, but while playing for the HK Sochi of the KHL this season German was only able to post 3 goals and 8 assists for 11 points in 46 GP. This coming with an unimpressive -11 average on the season as well. Now, with all that being said it might just be time for the Flyers to grit their teeth and admit that this former 1^st round pick with an expiring contract MUST GO! 

Next up on the departure list is goaltender Alex Lyon. This now 28-year-old was signed back in 2016 and has played now FIVE seasons within the Flyers organization. Lyon came to the organization after what was an illustrious collegiate career with the Yale Bulldogs. One in which he was even considered a finalist for the treasured Hobey Baker Award (which is given to the top collegiate player ever year). However, to date his professional career has yet to be anything but distinguished. Where most players continue to get better when they return for another season in the AHL Lyon has not. In fact, his numbers this season in the AHL are his worse to date. Playing in just 4 games with the Phantoms this year Alex has 3.40 goals against average (GAA) and a .874 save percentage (SV%) Even worse when given the chance over the years in the NHL Lyon has faltered that much worse. Where in three games this season with the Flyers Lyon has a 4.23 GAA and .865 SV% with a record of 0-2-0.  If you’re thinking that this season’s numbers are only because of the Flyers current defensive problems. I ask you to look at what Lyon has done (or has failed to do) in seasons past when his number has been called. Like in the 2018-2019 season when the Flyers needed him the most when both Hart and Elliott went down with injury at the same time. Lyon managed to produce an atrocious 5.07 GAA paired with a .806 SV% in two games played for the Flyers before they decided to then look elsewhere via free agents and trades for help, seeing that they obviously weren’t getting any from Lyon. So, I ask you why is a player who has had this much time with the organization and done so little to help it over the years still have a job in this town? Why is Lyon still here taking up a roster spot this season that should have instead gone to a guy like prospect Ivan Fedotov? 

While were on the subject of lack luster goalie prospects we might as well mention the Flyers 2015 3^rd round selection Felix Sandstrom. This now 24-year-old Swedish netminder was once thought to be the one true contender when it came to competition against Hart. Although, he has turned out to be anything but that. Playing in his now third season state-side this once great Swedish Hockey League (SHL) guardian of the blue paint has yet to really find his groove at Lehigh Valley. So much so that last season he struggled to play above .500 hockey in the ECHL! Things have not gotten any better as of late either. Playing in just 6 games this season for the Phantoms Felix “the cat” should be considered to now be on his 9^th life, because his numbers are absolutely horrendous posting a 4.25 GAA with a .864 SV%. So much so that the team has decided to bring in career (veteran) minor leaguers Zane McIntyre, and Eamon McAdam to pick up a large majority of his slack. 

Those where just a few examples of some players that should not be resigned next season to make way for some other prospects who are now flourishing and are deserving of their own chance. One of those players who are currently within the Flyers system already and in need of an entry level deal is the 6’3 207-pound defenseman Ronald Attard, the Flyers 2019 3^rd round draft pick. Attard currently plays for Western Michigan University where he relentlessly patrols the Broncos blueline. What makes Ronnie so desirable and might see him getting that entry level contract sooner rather than later from the Flyers, is his aggressive style of play. Attard is a force on the back end and very seldom will be seen retreating from the blueline. He instead prefers to stand the opposition up before they have the chance to even enter into his teams’ zone by way of a body check. Something the Flyers need to learn to do more of.  Although, perhaps the most tantalizing thing about Ronnie’s game is that he is a coveted RIGHT-HAND SHOT!!! While the Flyers do have a wealth of young defensemen developing within their system already, only one other is a right-hand shot. Attard is often overshadowed by some of the other defensive prospects in front of him but this writer believes if given the chance to turn pro like his fellow (now) Bronco alumni Wade Allison he too could turn some heads.

The next prospect who maybe deserving of an entry level deal this off season is Boston University’s own Jay O’Brien. O’Brien is commonly known as Philadelphia’s other 2018 1^st round pick. He was selected by the Flyers just five picks after Joel Farabee was that season, but has had a little bit of a longer road to the NHL than Joel had. While it only took Farabee one season of playing in the NCAA with Boston University for the Flyers to be willing to sign him to an entry level deal. Jay has had to take a more scenic route. After being drafted O’Brien decided to head to Providence College to play for the Friars. A prominent hockey school close to his hometown that had been recruiting him for some time. One that O’Brien had committed to at just 15 years of age. While this may have seemed like the perfect fit for Jay it turned out to be far from it. Things did not gel for O’Brien while in Providence he was not having fun playing the game of hockey anymore and he sustained a pretty serious concussion early on in the season there, only to fight his way back into the lineup to endure a neck and shoulder injury in the teams’ regular season finally.  Down on his luck and fed up with Providence, Jay then decided to take his talents elsewhere. But NCAA rules would not allow him to just jump to a new school, so he had to spend a year in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) playing for the Penticton Vees in the 2019-2020 season. It was here that Jay began to bulk up, regain his confidence, showing the Flyers that he was indeed that talented player that they had drafted. Scoring at a rate of 1.43 points per game (PPG) in the regular season and an incredible 2.0 PPG in the playoffs that year. That takes us to this season where he again decided to try his hand at the colligate level but this time playing for the renowned Boston University (like Farabee did). This would prove to be a much better fit than Providence was for O’Brien. Playing in 16 games this season for the Terriers, Jay was able to score 8 goals and 8 assists for a total of 16 points. That PPG average that O’Brien was able to produce on this shorted season is better than the .97 PPG average that Farabee was able to sustain in his one season in Boston. This is why at 21-years of age O’Brien may just be ready to sign on the dotted line and at least join the Phantoms next season. 

Some other prospect names that you may think you would be hearing in this article that might be deserving of a contract at this point would be Noah Cates, or Bobby Brink but this writer thinks they would both benefit from another year in the NCAA. While they are equally talented in their own ways, they both got off to hot starts this season only to fizzle out shortly there after as far as point production goes. Therefore, may need a little more time to work on their consistency.  

    The rest of this list is going to be contingent on whether the AHL next season continues to allow underage players to participate. Many of these “underagers” have had success this season around the league with a few of them being right here in Lehigh Valley: such as Tyson Forester and Zayde Wisdom who needed a place to play this season because of COVID causing the shutdown of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) where they both lace them up at. If this trend continues next season or if the AHL decides to drop their age restrictions it should then come as no surprise if one or more of Chuck Fletcher’s recent draftees get a chance at turning pro. One individual who would fit that bill would be 19-year-old Elliot Desnoyers who Chuck drafted in the last draft in the 5^th round. When selecting Elliot, Fletcher must have saw great potential because while Elliott put up decent numbers in his draft year, he was vastly overshadowed by the sure depth of the rest of his Moncton Wildcats teammates. It was only after he was selected by the Flyers that Elliott was given a real chance to excel. This coming when Moncton decided to trade Desnoyers to the Halifax Mooseheads, where his career seemingly took off. Scoring 21 goals, and 28 assists for 49 points this season in just 37 games played. A 1.32 PPG average.  

While this list of potential Pros. mentioned maybe short it is just the tip of the iceberg. Many more are nearing that level and should be ready to be inked after next season (like the Flyers 2020 6^th round pick Connor McClennon). So with all the Flyers struggles this season don’t be surprised if their general manager Chuck Fletcher decides to start to make some drastic changes this off season. For he has already allowed time for the team and the prospects he was gifted to develop and while some have flourished when given that opportunity some have floundered it away. Over that time period a few of Hextall’s late bloomers have now blossomed and plenty of Chuck’s own draft selections have already made their pro debut with still many more excelling where they are, but find themselves left in a holding pattern in the junior or collegiate leagues because there is simply no room in which to sign them. Therefore, look for Fletcher to rid himself of some of these stagnant prospects who have been given their chance but have failed to improve upon their games to this point in exchange for the space needed to bring in some other more promising youth that are more inclined to help the teams chances of winning a championship in the future.