Potential Future Flyers (Mark Friedman Edition)

As the resumption of the season is hopefully right around the corner this summer, woohoo, I figured what better time then ever to introduce the segment of Potential Future Flyers, where we will examine all players that have a chance to be impactful for the Orange and Black fairly soon. Some quicker than others. This weeks talking point Mark Friedman, has of course already seen a seven game cup of coffee in the NHL. During this time, he showed some good and some off play, due to raw skills that still need to be developed. His stats in those games, one dating back to last season are zero goals and one assist for a total of one point. He also has a career +/- of -1 so far to go along with it. Friedman who was a third round pick back in the 2014 NHL Draft, has now established himself as a very respectable defenseman in the Flyers system with room to grow into even more. 

Friedman like another player who got called up this season, in Connor Bunnaman have impressed leaving the Flyers with more options in the future. As stated in a previous article article on Tyler Pitlick, if Pitlick leaves Bunnaman could be one of the many slated to slot into his spot. For Friedman, he is in a similar position. The Flyers have the expiring contract of Justin Braun coming up, as well as, the uncertainty surtounding the future of fellow defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere. If one of those two is not here next season, that already opens a spot for Friedman to compete for a shot right out of the gate. If Braun is allowed to walk, and Gostisbehere is traded elsewhere, then that really lines Friedman up to make the team as long as he impresses in camp. Of course, on the flip side, if both Gostisbehere and Braun are brought back that likely only leaves the possibility of a platoon role for Friedman. The likelihood in this situation would be if he doesn’t win a job outright in camp, he would be sent down for more seasoning in the AHL with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, rather than just wasting time watching his fellow teammates while he is a healthy scratch.  

As a Pro, Friedman can be a potential third pairing defenseman, with possibly the potential for some Power Play time if injuries were to arise. He can become a solid two-way D-Man with streaks of offense, as he has shown already in the AHL this season. In his final ten games before the AHL shutdown for the season, Friedman scored six of his total 18 points for the campaign. The rest of the stats on the season were three goals and 15 assists with a +/- of + 2 to go along with it. Friedman settled back into the AHL very well, aided by the fact he got a true cup of coffee this season of six games at the NHL level, rather than just one the season prior. This sets him up rather nicely going into next season. 

The young 24-year-old in Friedman yet again is another guy in the Flyers system knocking right on the door. Fortunately, the Flyers have a good problem with great depth of talent in the system leading to a potential to go out and acquire players if they so choose. Friedman is one of those talents that has a chance to go out and prove himself either to become a future Flyer, or go to another club to become part of their top six defensive group (Unlikely). All that is known for sure is Friedman has improved each year since turning pro, lining himself up nicely for a potential future role with the Flyers. Proving yet again, that the Flyers brass and their scouts are good at picking third round talent, or even later rounds of the draft like defensemen in Wyatt Wylie (5th Round), Wyatt Kalynuk (7th Round), and Mason Millman (4th Round). The Flyers are full of young defensive talent, and these are just a few of those names. All of which Potential Future Flyers articles will be written about. Stay safe and well everyone, I cannot wait to see some hockey back fairly soon!!!