The Flyers: A team currently full of undersized playmakers that lack the size, strength, and grit (not to mention scoring ability) needed to compete with the likes of the Tampa Bay Lightning or the Boston Bruins- who are the best in the East right now. Aware of the need of a winger with such attributes, former Flyers General Manger (and Draft Guru) Ron Hextall set out to acquire just that when he utilized his 2017 2nd round pick on Isaac Ratcliffe. This 6’6″ 201-pound (gargantuan) prospect from the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) is a player who checks all those boxes and more.
Ratcliffe (who now plays for the Flyers American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate the Lehigh Valley Phantoms) showed immense offensive talents leading up to the season. Coming off a remarkable year playing for the Guelph Storm, where he had netted an impressive 50 GOALS and 32 assists, for 82 points in just 65 games played. Isaac followed-up on the regular season with an equally impressive playoff run that lead to an OHL Championship in which Isaac scored 15 goals and 15 assists, for 30 points in 24 games played (a 1.25 points per game average); doing so while still managing a +16 average in the playoffs. He accomplished such a feat by playing with an intense edge to his game; a trait the Flyers so desperately need in their lineup. Using his size and strength to his advantage in every way possible, Isaac was positively a force to be reckoned with and amassed 105 penalty minutes during his final year at the Jr level. Some might say that this stat shows recklessness, but his +32 average on the year says otherwise.
Needless to say, after a year like that, the Phantoms hopes were sky high for this young, promising prospect set to attend their camp this year. Unfortunately, Ratcliffe’s play did not meet expectations this season. Isaac totaled just 6 goals and 9 assists, for 15 points on the year for the Phantoms. It was quite easy to see that Ratcliffe did struggle at times during this season, however, he did show glimpses of those excellent puck-handling skills that he possesses, while also managing to make wise decisions on the ice. The most impressive feature to take away from Isaac’s (not so spectacular) season was his willingness to attack his inadequate point production like a pro, seeking help from his coaches, spending countless hours in the video room, and spending time on the ice practicing different skills that the coaches felt needed improvement. Like a goaltender, a player with size sometimes takes longer to develop then others. Determined to improve upon his game, Ratcliffe expressed a strong desire this year (at times) to get back to what he knows best and spend some more time in games in front of the oppositions net.
What will help this towering prospect the most this offseason might be more frequent trips to the supermarket, followed by longer sessions in the weight room! Although, Ratcliffe may be 200 pounds, he is underweight for his size. Isaac may have been able to overpower people in Jr’s, but he is not going to be successful with that in the pro level (at his current size). Ratcliffe is at his best when he can be aggressive and play a physical game. If Isaac can start to work towards putting on a good 35 pounds of muscle, then he could return to that GRITTY player he was in Jr’s. The Flyers player development coaches and Ratcliffe should pull up some tape on Milan Lucic (from the Boston Bruins) Circa 2010/2011 seasons, where Lucic was completely unstoppable- averaging 30 goals, and 130+ penalty minutes per season; efforts that helped the Bruins hoist the Stanley Cup in 2011.
The Flyers have plenty of depth down the center, at defense, and in goal, but need sizeable wingers with a “shoot first” mentality; ones that are accustomed to lighting the lamp! Signing Linus Sandin from the Swedish Hockey League was huge! But, it did not help in this aspect; it merely replaced what the team lost when Oskar Lindblom was diagnosed with cancer ,and could no longer suit up for the Orange and Black (for the foreseeable future). For that reason, the development of Isaac Ratcliffe should be placed on a level of high importance. Seeing that no other winger in the system has his scoring touch, let alone his size, this unique power forward deserves the special treatment needed to accelerate his development in order for him to help the Flyers sooner rather than later.
