The Philadelphia Flyers have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL. Let’s take a look at their top 10 prospects after the 2019 draft.
The Philadelphia Flyers fired general manager Ron Hextall back in November. He left the team with one of the deepest prospect pipelines in the NHL. Since then, general manager Chuck Fletcher has made it even deeper.
You can say Hextall didn’t get results, but the Flyers potency in drafting has set the team up with a very bright future. The 2019 NHL Draft saw them make it even brighter. Combined with the signing of Kevin Hayes, the Flyers should be competitive very soon.
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Before I begin my list of the top 10 Flyers prospects, I’d like to clarify a few things. First of all, everyone has a different definition of “prospect”. For me, it’s anyone who is under 25 years old (because by then you tend to know who a player is) and has yet to find a consistent spot in the NHL. Carter Hart, for example, is not a prospect. Neither is Oskar Lindblom.
Let’s start with the goaltenders. Because, as any player will tell you, they’re special and deserve their own category.
Goaltenders
1. Kirill Ustimenko
Acquired: 2017 third-round pick
Age: 20
Stats: 46 games, 1.78 GAA, .927 save percentage (MHK Dynamo St. Petersburg, MHL)
It’s not quite the KHL, but Kirill Ustimenko dominated in a pretty competitive league as a starting goaltender. The Flyers recently signed him to his entry-level contract, so he’s likely heading to North America.
However, Philly has a bit of a logjam in net in their organization. So it wouldn’t shock me if they loan him back overseas. If Ustimenko sticks in North America, it will probably be in the ECHL. His athleticism is what jumps out at me. Ustimenko has also improved his positioning quite a bit. He is proof that you can find quality goaltenders outside of the first round if you know what to look for.
2. Felix Sandstrom
Acquired: 2015 third-round pick
Age: 22
Stats: 19 games, 2.16 GAA, .911 save percentage (HV71, SHL)
Felix Sandstrom took a big step forward last year, showing the potential the Flyers loved back in 2015. He should be joining the Lehigh Valley Phantoms next season full-time. A combination of injuries and illnesses have held him back, but Sandstrom has shown a ton of potential.
I’m excited to see what he does in Lehigh Valley. He’ll likely serve as the backup there. If Sandstrom continues to grow, the Flyers could have a heck of a goaltending tandem down the road. I like his composure in net and his positioning is very strong. Also, he’s a high character guy because a lot of goalies would have let his injuries bother them. He hasn’t.
3. Roddy Ross
Acquired: 2019 sixth-round pick
Age: 19
Stats: 22 games, 2.94 GAA, .920 save percentage (Camrose Kodiaks, AJHL); 25 games, 2.76 GAA, .919 save percentage (Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL)
Roddy Ross is a really intriguing goalie for me. His size (6’3″) is intoxicating. But what stands out to me is his positioning. I didn’t notice him making many highlight reel saves. For me, that’s a very good thing – it means you’re reading shots and taking good angles.
Ross isn’t overly athletic, but he’s got good side-to-side quickness. If the Flyers get anything out of him, as a sixth-round pick, that’s terrific. I think they might. He’s very raw but the Flyers can afford to be patient with him.