It’s in the dead smack middle of the hockey season, and most Flyers fans are glued to the big club and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms primarily. Now is a perfect time to highlight some Flyers prospects with the Phantoms, NCAA, and the QMJHL.
Zayde Wisdom
The Flyers selected a sturdy, powerful winger in the 4th round of the 2020 NHL Draft. They selected a physical goal-scorer in Zayde Wisdom, who compiled 29 goals, and 30 assists for 59 points last season for the Kingston Frontenacs.
Wisdom is fortunate to be in the AHL this season with the uncertainty to the OHL season, but he is taking full advantage of this golden opportunity. He is adding a goal scorer’s touch to his impressive resume as he has tallied six goals and four assists in 12 games played for the Phantoms. Remember Wisdom is just 18-years-old and killing it.
Linus Högberg
Högberg really established himself as a quality puck moving defenseman last season in 2019-20, while playing for the Vaxjo Lakers in the SHL. He became much better in transition, and Högberg was able to exit the defensive zone cleanly, whether if it was by pushing the play up the ice, or looking for a quick pass to exit the defensive zone. For the season, he recorded five goals, and nine assists in 50 games played in arguably the third toughest league in the World.
Now these above offensive stats won’t blow people away, but Högberg played in a Men’s league in the SHL, so the competition was much fiercer. Högberg could have better stats if he played in an easier league, but he likes stiff competition. He’s a competitor, one that can skate well, sees the ice well, and will pinch at the right time. Most of all, Högberg plays a mistake free game, and he has transitioned well to the North American ice.
This young prospect in Högberg really has showed his range by playing in any situation the coaching staff asks if him, and he has done well with puck protection. His skating appears to be much smoother than in prior years, and the young 22-year-old defenseman is on the rise folks. Högberg is an excellent defenseman, who is really good at his craft.
Wade Allison
Allison finally tallied his first professional goal, as he has gifted hands. He can shoot and pass on top of being a physical guy. Allison enjoyed a great freshman year by registering 12 goals, and 17 assists for a total of 29 points in 36 games played. He really enjoyed the pressure of his first year. In turn, it actually made him a more physical player, as Allison explained to me in 2017 during an interview.
Max Willman
Willman has very good puck skills, and has great lateral mobility and edging. He can make plays at high tempo, and he may not be be the fastest skater but he skates well. Willman clocks in at 6’0 and weighs 183 pounds. Of course, like most prospects he needs to get bigger and stronger, and could always improve their skating abilities. Willman has a heavy shot, and is dead accurate when he shoots. He can pick apart the net with the best of them. He is killing it this season and not far off from an NHL contract as he has tallied six goals, and chipped in two apples in 10 games played for the Phantoms this season. Willman has opened eyes throughout the entire Flyers organization.
Wyatte Wylie
Wylie is a great skater and stick handler for that matter. He remains calm and poised, as he is very rarely out of position defensively. Hextall selected Wylie to help aide the Flyers with transitioning out of the zone, but more importantly join the rush when he sees fit. The Flyers will need speedy right-handed defencemen in the future, as the name of the game in the NHL is speed. There is no doubt Wylie can eventually be that speedy spark to amp up the offense, but play a sound defensive game, as well.
He started his professional career off with a bang in just his first professional game with the Phantoms, as he tallied a game time tying goal that sent a game into overtime with Ryan Fitzgerald scoring the overtime winner. Wylie is playing a sound defensive game as his gap control has been very effective.
Unfortunately, he took a puck to the face last weekend, so let’s hope he’s okay to play tomorrow night for the Phantoms, as he continues to impress in his first season as a Pro.
Cam York
York is a young 20-year-old and he had had a marvelous season for the University of Michigan. He finished the season with four goals and 16 assists, and was a plus 13. York has become very good with gap control as he’s like a leech on his opponents and he suffocates his opponents at the blue line. He has become excellent with quick zone exits, which leads to him joining the rush up the ice.
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He’s not the fastest skater, but he’s a solid skater. York is an intelligent hockey player, has a good hockey sense, and knows when to pinch at the right times. York makes his teammates better, and he sticks up for them. John Beecher was leveled by Jacob Wilson early in the season during a game. York didn’t like the hit and went after Wilson. I did not know York was known for this type of feistiness, but Flyers fans love players like this. York will sign an ELC when the season wraps up.
Ronnie Attard
Ronnie Attard, a 2018 gifted Flyers draft pick, Right-Handed defenceman is officially on the ELC signing watch as well, as he had a phenomenal year the Western Michigan Broncos. He registered eight goals, and 14 assists in 25 games played this season. Attard really has shown the Broncos his great vision of the ice, and that his passing abilities rank off the charts.
For his strong efforts offensively this season, Attard won the NCHC conference’s Offensive Defenseman of the Year award on Wednesday March 10, 2021, becoming the first Bronco in history to due such. Attard is one of the most underrated prospects in the Flyers system. He played in any situation the coaching staff asked of him, to include the penalty kill and the power play. The only question remains is if and when the Flyers will sign him to an ELC.
Jay O’ Brien
O’Brien is a great skater and stick handler. He can reach top-end speeds in a matter of seconds, as he is very good at separating himself from his opponents. Hextall selected O’Brien to help aide the Flyers with scoring, but more importantly speed. The Flyers will need speedy natural goal scorers in the future, as the name of the game in today’s NHL is speed. There is no doubt O’Brien can eventually be that speedy spark to amp up the offense.
He opened some eyes in a big way after a successful season for Boston University. O’ Brien in many ways this season has resurrected his career as her tallied eight goals, and eight assists in 15 games played. He played in all situations the coaching staff asked of him. What a great year it was for O’ Brien as this speedy forward has reignited conversations of being an asset in the Flyers farm system once again.
Noah Cates
Cates started the year off strong, but really took a step back this year. He only registered five goals, and 13 assists in 26 games played.
He was a shoe-in to possibly sign an ELC (Entry- Level-Contract) at year’s end, however, Cates did not do him justice towards the latest parts of the NCAA season for such, this ending the year with some disappointment.
Cates, has a bottom six forward capability, and he can score some wild goals. He gets to the dirty areas to score, wins face-offs cleanly, and sacrifices his body to block shots. Cates poisonous salad two-way game, and he shall improve upon that next season for the University of Minnesota-Deluth program.
Elliot “The Destroyer” Desnoyers
Once seen as a project pick for the Flyers after being traded from the Moncton Wildcats. Desnoyers brings a combination of high-end skating and hockey sense that makes him a dangerous player without the puck. He plays a good two-way game, and is rarely out of position. Desnoyers blocks shots, gets into the passing lanes, provides high energy, and simply plays the game the right way.
Desnoyers is providing a leadership role with a rebuilding Halifax Mooseheads, and he is increasing his production while playing with a potential first round pick in Zachary L’Heureux. Both L’Heureux and Desnoyers are being utilized in every situation to include the top Power Play Unit. For his efforts he is having a strong season with potting 16 goals, and chipping in 23 apples for a total of 39 points in 30 games played.
Stay with us for continuing coverage on all prospects throughout the Flyers system.
