Nolan Patrick, second overall pick of the Philadelphia Flyers, poses for a portrait during Round One of the 2017 NHL Draft. (Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)
Philadelphia Flyers: Top 10 Prospects
Photo Credit: Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images
The Philadelphia Flyers prospect group is one of the best in the NHL. There is a lot of top tier talent here, and if they pan out – let’s just say the Metropolitan Division will be the best division for years to come.
Alright, Philadelphia Flyers fans, I know. Anthony Stolarz should be number one on this list. But he’s not on it. I could give you excuses about how he’s already started 7 games and he’s no longer a prospect, he should be splitting starts with Brian Elliott this season. I could say that with him being protected in the Expansion draft, he doesn’t count as a prospect. But I won’t. I forgot to put him on here and I like the list as is.
Still, this list is a great group. The Flyers should look forward to the future (cause let’s admit, in their division, there’s not much hope for the present). They have a great group of 11 prospects (when not forgetting Stolarz) and it means that the Flyers will be closer to the playoffs as these guys get incorporated.
10. Samuel Morin
Last season stats (Lehigh Valley Phantoms, AHL): 74 GP, 3 G, 13 A, 16 P, 129 PIM.
Playoff stats: 5 PGP, 0 G, 2 A, 2 P, 2 PIM.
Samuel Morin is one of the members of the defensive prospect group that has already produced Shayne Gostisbehere and includes a few others on this list. It’s been a while since he was drafted number eleven overall in 2013. But Shayne Gostisbehere didn’t play in the NHL consistently until he was 22. That’s the same age that Morin is now, and he, like Gostisbehere, made his first appearance at 21. Still, Morin’s point production has gone down three points with only two fewer games played over the last two years. He might be a great NHL defenseman, he might not make it.
9. Morgan Frost
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Last season stats (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, OHL): 67 GP, 20 G, 42 A, 62 P, 36 PIM.
Playoff stats: 11 PGP, 2 G, 6 A, 8 P, 4 PIM.
Frost was one of two first round picks in the 2017 draft – he’s not the lottery pick, though. That’s why he’s down here – Frost still looks to be a great player in the NHL, but he’ll take a bit longer to develop than the first, first round pick. Morgan Frost‘s production more than doubled from last year to this season. That shows a ton of development, and if Frost produces just 125% more production than he did this year, well, he’ll presumably be NHL-ready.
8. Felix Sandstrom
Last season stats (Brynas IF, SHL): 22 GP, 2.25 GAA, .908 SV%. 13 PGP, 2.83 GAA, .901 SV%.
Felix Sandstrom is the third-best goalie in the Philadelphia Flyers system, yet he’s still in the top 10 of their prospects. While that may signal bad things about Flyers young defensemen and forwards, it’s actually just Ron Hextall, one of the best goaltenders in NHL history, recognizing other greatness. Sandstrom at 19 was playing against grown men in the Swedish Hockey League, one of the best pro-leagues outside of North America. Sandstrom wasn’t that impressive in his games, with just a .908 save percentage, but again, dude was playing against top-level competition as a teenager.
