As the NHLPA has agreed to the proposed playoff format, game locations have been selected, and practice facilities are set to begin to reopen (with stipulations), the season looks to reconvene soon. So, who might be the Flyers’ “Black Aces” (a term used for AHL (American Hockey League) players who are recalled by their NHL clubs for a playoff push)?
Obvious:
Nicolas Aube-Kubel will be back in the Flyers lineup when the team suits up for their first game back after having months off. Aube-Kubel spent some time in both the AHL and NHL this season, before becoming a solid 4th line player when the stoppage occurred. Nicolas did so by managing to clean up prior mistakes he made earlier in the season which allowed the team to then roll 4 consistent lines night in and night out. This enabled the Flyers star players to have an opportunity to catch their breath before having to get back on the ice, something that Head Coach Alain Vigneault was incredibly happy about. Aube-Kubel seemed to be on quite the hot streak when the season came to abrupt halt: totaling 7 goals and 8 assists, for 15 points in just 36 games played for the Flyers. With Nicolas really starting to hit his stride, Coach Vigneault took notice of his hard work ethic and fine defensive play, and rewarded Aube-Kubel with some playing time on both the Flyers 2nd Power Play Unit and the 2nd Penalty Killing unit before the stoppage of play.
Another name who should be an obvious call-up is defenseman Mark Friedman. This 24-year-old shut-down defenseman saw action in just six NHL games this season; all of which were played while filling in for Flyers defenseman Justin Braun, while he was out with an injury. Friedman might have only totaled one assist while up with the big club, but he did enough for most people in and around the organization to make a case for him being one of the Flyers six defenseman next season! While Mark may not play a flashy game, he is effective. Flyers coaches can rest assured that when they tell Friedman to take the ice that this rookie will not go and make a costly mistake. Gifted with a remarkable ability to see the ice, Friedman rarely commits a turnover. Pair that with his refreshing “defense first” mentality, and you have the makings of a fine bottom-pairing defenseman. Seeing that the Flyers have a ton of players to re-sign this off-season and next, the Flyers just might consider moving on from Braun (who will turn 34-years-old next season) and is an unrestricted free agent (UFA) after the season-who made close to $4 million dollars this year. Friedman, on the other hand, who came up and filled Braun’s spot flawlessly, is a restricted free agent who made roughly $749,000. Friedman will likely require only a fraction of what it would take to re-sign Justin Braun. So, if given a chance to play in the playoffs, Friedman should take this as an audition for next season, because the team will be looking for places to cut some salary in order to pay others that they must retain. Here is Friedman’s first NHL point below:
Morgan Frost’s name should be on the list of players that gets a call when the season reconvenes as well, even though he struggled to put up points in the 20 games played while in the NHL this season. This former 2017 1st round pick has used his time wisely once sent back to the AHL, and was able to regain his confidence while playing for the Phantoms, largely due to the fact that he finally got the proper playing time needed for a young talented prospect such as himself. Although, the future looks very bright for this developing 21-year-old Center, he could still benefit from getting to spend some time practicing, and possibly even playing in a playoff game or two. Seeing the uncertainty of center Nolan Patrick’s health, and Derek Grant and Nate Thompson both being UFA’s at season’s end, there will be some noticeable holes in the Flyers lines in the center position next season. Plus, after selecting Frost in the 1st round, the Flyers hope that he can be the guy to step up.
The team will most likely call up a third string goalie in case Hart or Elliott go down in the playoffs. Sadly, Alex Lyon is the only real option who could make the jump right now, seeing that the promising goaltender prospect Kirill Ustimenko had just made the jump to the AHL from the ECHL (East Coast Hockey League) a couple of games before the stoppage occurred. Alex has been an emergency call-up numerous times in his tenure within the Flyers’ organization, though recently it has not gone so well: playing in 3 games this season he had a 3.55 goals against average (GAA) and a .890 save percentage (SV%). The previous year was even worse; When called up, Lyon averaged a 5.07 GAA with a .806 SV% in 2 games played. With numbers like these, the Flyers will probably look to move on from this now 27-year-old netminder in the off season seeing that he will be an UFA at the season’s end. The team could easily fill his spot in the AHL next season with any number of talented goaltending prospects they have in their system- each one just waiting for their chance to prove themselves.
Possible:
Center Connor Bunnaman, who is just 22-years-old, saw time in both the AHL and NHL this season as well. It was only after this last time getting called up that things seemed to click for the former Kitchener Rangers standout. While Bunnaman filled in well, he did fail to produce many stats. He was eventually bumped out of the lineup because the team acquired tough guy Nate Thompson at the trade deadline who added some much-needed grit to the lineup. If called up, Connor will likely not get any playing time but will continue to get an opportunity to prove himself in practice against the top players in the organization.
The Flyers have given plenty of other prospects a chance at one point or another this season when they needed a body for a game or two. So, any number of names could go here like Carsen Twarynski, David Kase, Andy Andreoff, German Rubtsov, or Mikhail Vorobyov, but none of these names scream take me. Isaac Ratcliffe is a promising player who will one day surely see some time in the NHL, but he isn’t quite ready currently. One player who is deserving that has not been called up yet in his career is the talented Maxim Sushko. Sushko, who was drafted in the 4th round of the 2017 NHL entry draft by the Flyers, is a hard-working winger that does not quit. If you talk to other Phantoms players after a game, you will most likely hear something good that Sush (Maxims nickname) did during the game, whether it be to set a teammate for a goal, forechecking and retrieving the puck, or making a strong defensive play. Sushko is not only a good teammate and locker room guy he is a player that leaves nothing out on the ice, virtually giving it all he has on a nightly basis and doing anything he can to help his team win a game. These are traits that Coach Vigneault not only loves, but rewards. So, although he might be a long shot to receive playing time in a game this postseason, he could be that spark plug at practice that is going 100 m.p.h. forcing those guys that will play back into shape.
So, whomever General Manger Chuck Fletcher and Head Coach Alain Vigneault decide to bring up when the season reconvenes to help the Flyers battle their way through the playoffs should be a good choice. The Flyers system is full of talented young prospects that would love the chance to help their teammates add their names to, and hoist, the prestigious Stanley Cup.
