Philadelphia Flyers: Top 10 Prospects entering 2018

The Philadelphia Flyers have one of the NHL’s most impressive prospect pools. Here are their top 10 prospects entering 2018. 

The Philadelphia Flyers are a team with a young surrounding cast around an older core. Their most important players, including Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek, Wayne Simmonds, and James van Riemsdyk are aging. But their young players are helping the team win and should continue to do so into the future.

Here are some players who can help with that. The Flyers have so many prospects that the following are not included, but could be on other lists: German Rubtsov, Jay O’Brien, Maksim Sushko, Mikhail Vorobyov, Mike Vecchione, and Carsen Twarynski.

These prospects are ranked according to three factors: NHL readiness, ceiling, and likelihood said prospect plays with the Philadelphia Flyers. Chief amongst these is ceiling. To qualify, a prospect must not have played 25 games in the NHL prior to this season (and are thus Calder eligible).

Let’s start with the goaltenders.

1. Carter Hart [20] (2-48, 2016)

Stats (Everett Silvertips, WHL): 41 gp, 1.60 GAA, .947 SV%, 7 SO (22 pgp, 2.40 GAA, .921 SV%, 2 SO).

He’ll start the year as the Philadelphia Flyers’ goaltender in the AHL, but Carter Hart is so much more than that. At 20, he’s coming off a season where he was first in goals against average, save percentage and shutouts in the WHL’s regular season. Hart was also second in playoff GAA, save percentage, and tied for second in shutouts. He’s one of the best goaltenders to come out of the WHL in a long time, maybe the best since Braden Holtby.

He’s one of the best goaltenders to come out of the WHL in a long time, maybe since Braden Holtby.

Hart doesn’t do a lot wrong, and while there’s room to develop, most Philadelphia fans eagerly anticipated Hart starting the year in the NHL. He’s seen as the franchise savior in net, which puts a lot of pressure on him. Perhaps the best idea would be to play him in the AHL for a season so he gets a taste of professional play with less pressure. When he’s shown himself to be a valid professional goaltender, then he can take the step into the NHL.

Before then, however, Hart is still incredibly young. Outstanding goaltenders haven’t played in the NHL until their age-27 season before. He’ll likely be a permanent fixture in the Flyers’ net before he’s 23, and could be a superstar before then as well. There should be patience.

2. AlexLyon [25] (UDFA)

Stats (Lehigh Valley Phantoms, AHL): 27 gp, 2.75 GAA, .913 SV% (11 pgp, 1.98 GAA, .944 SV%); 11 gp, 2.75 GAA, .905 SV%. Philadelphia Flyers, NHL

Alex Lyon will be splitting starts with Hart in the AHL this season but could be the first call-up of the two if the occasion arises in the NHL this season. Lyon was good in the AHL last season, posting a .913 save percentage and 2.75 GAA and he has shown a capacity to make good saves. He was better in the playoffs than in the regular season, which shows he can step his game up when he needs to and be an important part of a playoff run.

He was better in the playoffs than in the regular season, which shows he can step his game up when he needs to and be an important part of a playoff run.

Ultimately, the Philadelphia Flyers might not need Lyon to be anything more than Hart’s backup. That’s not a bad position for the future, and it looks like Lyon can achieve it. He’ll be NHL ready before Hart is, and will likely get a chance at a season of starting first. He got 11 games in the AHL this past season and had decent stats. There’s a good chance that he ends up at least as part of the Flyers’ (or another NHL team’s) goaltending battery.

10. David Kase, LW [21] (5-128, 2015)

Stats (Mora IK, SHL): 44 gp, 9 g, 14 a, 23 p, 1 PPG, 4 GWG, .52 pts/g (5 pgp, 1 g, 2 a, 3 p, .6 pts/g).

David Kase was one of the best young forwards in the SHL last season, putting up 23 points and nine goals in 44 games. He was tied for sixth in points amongst players under 21, and was fifth in assists, tenth in points per game, and tied for fifth in goals amongst players under 21. In the playoffs, Kase was tied for ninth in goals amongst U21s and was sixth in points per game.

Kase was one of the best young forwards in the SHL last season

Kase improved his game in the playoffs, going from .52 points per game to .6, and looks like a good goal scorer. He’ll need to prove he’s able to transition his game to North America while playing in the AHL. With a talented Lehigh Valley roster, Kase will be able to show what he can do with talented teammates, and the Philadelphia Flyers will be able to determine whether he’s a playmaker or goal scorer, and what his NHL potential is.

He’s not NHL ready yet, and he’ll need to have a good show in the AHL. Right now, it appears that Kase can be a third-line scorer, but not much more. The Flyers are a team with a lot of talented prospects, and while Kase is definitely one of them, he’s not one of the nine best.

9. Matthew Strome, LW [19] (4-106, 2017)

Stats (Hamilton Bulldogs, OHL): 65 gp, 37 g, 31 a, 68 p, 12 PPG (12 A), 1 SHG, 6 GWG, 185 SOG, 1.05 pts/g (20 pgp, 4 g, 14 a, 18 p, 2 PPG (5 A), 48 SOG, .9 pts/g).

Matthew Strome played on one of the most talented teams in the OHL and was one of the less-played members of the team. Still, he produced at a better than point-per-game pace, proved himself to be a good goal scorer, and was able to produce on the power play. Strome is still a while away from being in the NHL and will need to use this OHL season to its best, becoming a better point producer and shot generator and get more than 37 goals.

he produced at a better than point-per-game pace, proved himself to be a good goal scorer, and was able to produce on the power play

Not that 37 goals are necessarily a bad thing. He was 13th in goals in the OHL in the regular season and was tied for 38th in points per game. Still, Strome will need to do more than that in his draft-plus-two year to make the NHL, and the Philadelphia Flyers have a lot of players in his position in the pipeline. One way he can do this is generating more than 2.84 shots per game. For as good of a goal scorer as Strome is, that’s a very low average in the Canadian minors.

Strome improved as a playmaker in the playoffs, tied for 10th in assists and 16th in points per game. His shot metrics didn’t jump that much, but that should be fine provided a better season this year. He isn’t the most hyped of the Strome siblings, but if he works on his skating and continues to grow as a goal scorer, he could be the second best.

8. Wade Allison, RW [20] (2-52, 2016)

Stats (Western Michigan University, NCAA): 22 gp, 15 g, 15 a, 30 p, 4 PPG, 2 GWG.

Sixth in points per game in the NCAA despite missing 14 games, Wade Allison did really well in an injury-shortened season. He’ll need to prove that he’s better than just sixth in points per game this season when he’ll be back in the NCAA. Allison is playing against some of the finest competition in the NCAA while playing with one of the less talented teams in the division at Western Michigan University.

Allison did really well in an injury-shortened season

Allison was also an Honorable Mention on the NCHC’s All-Star Team, likely the only award he could have won with his limited number of games. Allison was tied for 56th in goals this past season, even in the limited amount of time he had on the ice, and he’ll look to do even better than that this upcoming season.

He has NHL potential, but it really depends upon what Allison does with a healthy season. Even if he gets to the 40 point mark in the NCAA, he may need a season in the AHL. He’s a while away from making an impact in the NHL, but could have middle-six potential, perhaps even top six. Right now, it doesn’t appear likely that Allison will play with the Philadelphia Flyers, but that can change quickly.

7. Nicolas Aube-Kubel, RW [22] (2-48, 2014)

Stats (Lehigh Valley Phantoms, AHL): 72 gp, 18 g, 28 a, 46 p, 2 PPA, 1 SHA, 4 GWG, 1 ENG, 123 SOG, .64 pts/g (10 pgp, 0 g, 0 a, 0 p).

Nicolas Aube-Kubel did a lot of good work in the AHL this past season, and at 22, could continue to improve, even though he’s not one of the young prospects on this list. Aube-Kubel did the vast majority of his damage at even strength, which is actually a good sign for his chances of playing with the Philadelphia Flyers eventually. He did have some special teams production, but it came in the form of three assists. Aube-Kubel averaged 1.71 shots per game, which is what allowed him to score 18 goals. If he wants to do better, however, he’ll need to get better shot production this season.

Aube-Kubel did the vast majority of his damage at even strength, which is actually a good sign for his chances of playing with the Philadelphia Flyers eventually

Aube-Kubel also scored four game-winning goals. Still, the fact that he disappeared in the playoffs doesn’t look good for his NHL chances and he’ll need to work on that. There’s a good chance he makes the roster next season or this season depending on injuries, but even if he does, his NHL impact could be limited. Aube-Kubel does a lot of things right, but a better season in the AHL could really cement his case for the Philadelphia Flyers.

6. Isaac Ratcliffe, LW [19] (2-35, 2017)

Stats (Guelph Storm, OHL): 67 gp, 41 g, 27 a, 68 p, 12 PPG (12 A), 2 SHG, 7 GWG, 282 SOG, 1.01 pts/g (6 pgp, 5 g, 4 a, 9 p, 2 PPG (4 A), 22 SOG, 1.5 pts/g); 2 gp, 1 g, 0 a, 1 p. Lehigh Valley Phantoms, AHL

Isaac Ratcliffe is an excellent power forward who can score a good number of goals and looks like he has top-six potential. He was tied for sixth in the OHL in goals with 41 and produced a good number of shots (4.21 shots per game). Ratcliffe isn’t nearly as good as a playmaker – tied for 98th – and that dragged down his other totals (tied for 35th in scoring and he was 47th in points per game).

Ratcliffe is an excellent power forward who can score a good number of goals and looks like he has top-six potential

Ratcliffe became a better producer in the playoffs, tied for 29th in goals, 57th in scoring, and fifth in points per game. He averaged 3.67 shots per game in the playoffs and was great on the power play. Ratcliffe has high power-play potential and should be a permanent fixture on the man advantage for the Philadelphia Flyers in the future. He’s already scored his first professional goal with the Phantoms and looks like a solid player.

Ratcliffe is a giant (6’6″) and if he’s able to work on developing his skating and his all-around game, there are multiple models for his game in the NHL. Blake Wheeler and Brian Boyle both stand out most amongst these bigger forwards. If Ratcliffe can become one of those players, that would be ideal for the Philadelphia Flyers.

5. Oskar Lindblom, LW [22] (5-138, 2014)

Stats (Lehigh Valley Phantoms, AHL): 54 gp, 16 g, 18 a, 34 p, 5 PPG (9 A), 1 SHG, 4 GWG, 119 SOG, .63 pts/g (11 pgp, 4 g, 3 a, 7 p, 2 PPG, 1 SHG, 1 GWG, 1 ENG, 24 SOG, .64 pts/g); 23 gp, 2 g, 4 a, 6 p (4 pgp, 0 g, 0 a, 0 p). Philadelphia Flyers, NHL

Oskar Lindblom is already playing with the Philadelphia Flyers, having posted a goal in two games so far this season. He’s averaging 13 minutes and playing in the bottom six. The reason he’s so low is that his ceiling is about where he is right now, and he’s 22. He’s a third line scorer, somebody who can bring on the depth scoring when it’s needed, but he will always be a depth player.

He did well in the AHL last season but was nowhere close to the best player in the AHL nor the best rookie. He’s decent on the power play but should be on the second unit more than the first. He has good shot metrics, averaging more than two shots per game. But in the NHL, he doesn’t score as consistently as is needed and expected of a top-six forward. However, he has a decent defensive game and looks to have already locked up a third-line role on a talented team.

Still, he’s a top-five prospect for the Philadelphia Flyers, even though this season will end his qualification as a prospect.

3. Philippe Myers, D [21] (UDFA)

Stats (Lehigh Valley Phantoms, AHL): 50 gp, 5 g, 16 a, 21 p, 3 PPG (5 A), 83 SOG, .42 pts/g (13 pgp, 3 g, 4 a, 7 p, 1 PPG (2 A), 28 SOG, .54 pts/g).

Philippe Myers looked to be on track for a Philadelphia Flyers defensive spot heading into the season, and will still have good opportunities in the future. He was sent back to Lehigh Valley after training camp, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. He’s looked like a real piece for the future and has a chance to be even more impressive this season with the Phantoms. At just 21, he’s still young enough where development is still happening as well.

Myers was also one of the more impressive Phantoms in the playoffs, scoring seven points from the blue line. He’s somebody who can put in work on the power play and still look good in his defensive zone (though that’s where most of his work developmentally will focus this season). He produces a good number of shots, has some creativity offensively, and can be someone who sets up plays and gets the puck in the net.

He has NHL potential, could be a possible fifth defenseman on a loaded Flyers blue line and while this likely won’t happen this season, Myers could be a prominent part of the team within the next two years. That’s all three categories where Myers is at least good. The reason he’s above Morin is that he’s healthier, he’s younger, and he’s better offensively.

2. Joel Farabee, LW [18] (1-14, 2018)

Stats (US National U18 Team, USDP): 62 gp, 33 g, 43 a, 76 p, 8 PPG, 5 SHG, 4 GWG, 207 SOG, 1.23 pts/g; 26 gp, 15 g, 25 a, 40 p, 6 PPG (4 A), 1 SHG, 1 GWG, 2 ENG, 92 SOG, 1.54 pts/g. USNTDP Juniors, USHL

Joel Farabee was the Flyers’ first pick of the 2018 draft, coming in at number 14. The thing is, Farabee is already shaping up to be a steal and was a projected top 10 pick by more than a few draft analysts. He was one of the best players in the USHL and USDP this past season, coming in second in scoring in the USDP, second amongst U18s in goals, assists, and was third in points per game with more than one game played. He was fourth in points per game in the USHL.

Five shorthanded goals, four game-winners, and eight on the power play. Farabee is a well-rounded scorer, somebody who could be a crucial top-six guy for the Flyers, especially with an aging first line. Even as James Van Riemsdyk signs a long-term deal, Wayne Simmonds deserves at least a mid-length contract and Jakub Voracek is a permanent fixture, Farabee has the power to open up a hole for himself on the Flyers’ roster and should at some point.

However, the next two seasons, Farabee should be free to play with Boston University and earn some hard minutes against excellent North American competition. That’s not a knock on 14th overall – these two years should be incredibly important for Farabee developmentally. Instead, it’s a comment on how hard it will be to crack the Flyers’ lineup – something Farabee should inevitably do anyway.

1. Morgan Frost, C [19] (1-27, 2017)

Stats (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, OHL): 67 gp, 42 g, 70 a, 112 p, 10 PPG (13 A), 4 SHG (4 A), 4 GWG, 201 SOG, 52.2 FO%, 1.67 pts/g (24 pgp, 10 g, 19 a, 29 p, 5 PPG (9 A), 1 SHG (1 A), 1 GWG, 63 SOG, 50.1 FO%, 1.21 pts/g).

2nd scoring, T-3 goals, T-1 assists, 4th pts/g; 4th playoff scoring, T-9 goals, 4th assists, 22nd pts/g

Last year, the Philadelphia Flyers drafted what was considered a risk in the young Morgan Frost. He was coming off a 62-point campaign in 67 games, scored just 20 goals, and fell to 27th overall. People were divided on the Flyers draft choice, even with decent size and good hands and mind for playmaking.

This season, Frost proved the doubters wrong. He scored 112 points, second in the OHL, tied for first in assists, and was fourth in points per game. He was one of the very best forwards in the Canadian junior system, showed up in the playoffs (tied for ninth in goals, was fourth in assists) and was excellent as both a goal scorer and playmaker.

While Frost will head back to the OHL out of necessity this season, he’s clearly professionally ready. He’ll get some games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at the end of the season if everything goes the Flyers’ way, and he’ll be a member of the big team in no time. He’s got solid NHL potential, top-six center type-potential, and he and Nolan Patrick could be a dangerous combination in the future. He’ll need more proof that he has what it takes to score at a professional level (right now there’s zero) but Frost is an exciting center prospect in the pipeline, something the Flyers haven’t had in a long time (Patrick doesn’t count, as he went from yet to be drafted to on the team and was never “in the development pipeline”).