Philadelphia Flyers: Top 8 prospects worth getting excited about
As a team right now, the Philadelphia Flyers are in pretty good shape.
While they have aging veterans in players like Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek, they also have plenty of great young talent, none better than goaltender Carter Hart who is continuing to get better. To put it simply, this isn’t a team who will fall down in the standings any time soon.
More from Puck Prose
- Detroit Red Wings 2023 Rookie Camp Has Plenty of Ups and Downs
- This Columbus Blue Jackets rookie doesn’t want to be forgotten
- 2 trades the Boston Bruins must make to secure the Stanley Cup
- 3 reasons the Avalanche won’t win the Stanley Cup in 2024
- This is a big year for Alex Turcotte and the Los Angeles Kings
For quite a few years during Giroux’s true prime, the Flyers squad was one that seemed to have plenty of talent but failed to live up to their potential, often missing the Playoffs or being eliminated early on. Thankfully, that appears to no longer be the case. After bringing in Head Coach Alain Vigneault prior to the 2019-20 season, things have really turned around for this team, as they finished just one point behind the Washington Capitals last season for first place in the Metropolitan Division. Things haven’t cooled down for them early on this season either, as they currently have a 7-2-2 record through their first 11 games.
The Philadelphia Flyers over the years have done a tremendous job of drafting and, as a result, they have plenty of very young players in their current lineup that aren’t on this list. Still, their current prospect pool is nothing to scoff at, ranking near the middle of the league in terms of talent. While it isn’t the best prospect list in the league, it is still quite solid with a few very high-end players on it.
As mentioned in every other Top 8 Prospects articles throughout this series, any player who has played in more NHL games than any other league in a season, regardless of the season, will not be included. (Exception has been made for the 2020-21 season, given that many leagues, including the AHL, have yet to play any games).
Here are the Top 8 Prospects in the Philadelphia Flyers Farm System:
8. Egor Zamula
Despite only having an 18-point rookie season in the WHL, the Flyers brass saw something they liked in Egor Zamula. Though they did not draft him, they invited him to their 2018 Training Camp and signed him to an Entry-Level deal right there and then. While many were surprised at the time, it didn’t take long for Zamula to prove they made the right decision, as he returned to the Calgary Hitmen that season and put up 56 points in 61 regular season games. His 46 assists that season led his team by a wide margin, and got the attention of many around the hockey community.
Related Story. Top 8 Detroit Red Wings Prospects. light
Zamula was once again back in the WHL for the 2019-20 season and, despite being limited to just 28 games, was able to put up 28 points. Unfortunately, after returning from the 2020 World Juniors, the Hitmen announced Zamula would have to undergo back surgery, which ended his season. The good news now is that he is fully recovered and ready to begin the 2020-21 season, one that Flyers fans will want to keep tabs on him for. This appears to be a very smart signing by the Philadelphia Flyers brass.
7. Jay O’Brien
Jay O’Brien has had quite a strange career path to this point, especially for a First-Rounder. The now 21-year-old forward was selected 19th overall at the 2018 NHL Entry Draft after a season of high school hockey with Thayer Academy, in which he posted 43 goals and 80 points in 30 games. While the future looked very bright, the following season was an outright disaster as O’Brien played as a freshman for Providence College and posted just five points in 25 games. He was still able to crack the Team USA roster for the World Juniors that year, but his offensive struggles continued at the tournament as he was held off the scoresheet.
Rather than going back to Providence College for his sophomore season, O’Brien made the unique decision to play junior hockey, and chose the Penticton Vees of the BCHL. It turned out to be the right call, as he posted a team leading 25 goals and 66 points in 46 games played on what was a stacked Vees roster. He then made the decision to commit to Boston University, where he has suited up for six games so far this season. Though its early, this time around at the college level has gone much better for him as he has three goals and six points in six games on the year. While his prospect status took a major hit, he is doing a good job of climbing back up the ranks.
6. Tanner Laczynski
The Philadelphia Flyers appear to have found a player in Tanner Laczynski, who they drafted in the Sixth-Round (No. 169 overall) at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He proved his offensive skills during his draft eligible season by scoring 24 goals and 63 points in 52 games split between the Chicago Steel and Lincoln Stars. The following season, the now 23-year-old made his college debut, suiting up for 34 games with Ohio State University and putting up a very impressive 32 points in 34 games.
Laczynski followed up the great freshman season with an even better sophomore campaign, registering a team leading 47 points in 41 games. Unfortunately however, that ended up being his highest college total despite playing in two more seasons with Ohio State. His numbers were still solid, sitting right around a point per game, but it is both disappointing and somewhat concerning he wasn’t able to improve on his totals during his four years at school. This season, where he will soon be making his AHL debut, will hold a lot of leverage on whether or not he is still considered a high end prospect for the Flyers heading into the 2021-22 campaign.
5. Noah Cates
Another intriguing college prospect the Flyers have is Noah Cates. Like Tanner Laczynski, Cates was taken in the later stages of the Draft, being selected in the Fifth-Round (No. 137 overall) in 2017. The 21-year-old forward is currently in his junior year with the University of Minnesota-Duluth, who he has had some successful seasons with. During his freshman campaign, he was able to post 23 points in 40 games, numbers that were fairly impressive for a player of his age.
Related Story. Top 8 Washington Capitals Prospects. light
Last season saw Cates make a big jump, upping his point total from 23 to 33 despite playing in just 34 games. His 33 points trailed only St. Louis Blues prospect Scott Perunovich, who had 40. Cates, who is still unsigned, is currently in the midst of his junior season, where he has 14 points in 17 contests. The Flyers would be wise to try and get him signed to an Entry-Level Contract this offseason.
4. Bobby Brink
This is where the prospect depth takes a big leap for the Philadelphia Flyers. While Bobby Brink is another college player like the last three above him on this list, what makes him much more exciting is that he is just 19-years-old and already in his sophomore season. The uber-talented American born forward was drafted 34th overall by the Flyers in 2019 after a ridiculous 35 goal, 68-point season in just 43 games with the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL.
Related Story. Top 8 New Jersey Devils Prospects. light
After being drafted, Brink headed to the University of Denver, where he continued to impress with 24 points in just 28 games as an 18-year-old. He was also able to represent Team USA at the World Juniors that year, scoring a goal and adding one helper in five games. Brink has only been able to play in seven games with the University of Denver this season, but has managed five points. He was also able to compete on the world stage again at the 2021 World Juniors where he made a great impression on Flyers fans with six points in seven contests. One concern regarding him is his size as he is listed at just five-foot-eight, 159 pounds. However, it is important to remember that at just 19-years-old, he still has time to grow.
3. Tyson Foerster
Flyers fans have to be quite happy with the fact that they were able to get Tyson Foerster with the 23rd overall pick at the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. Given that the recently turned 19-year-old forward had a big season in the OHL with the Barrie Colts with 36 goals and 80 points, many expected him to be selected within the top 20. Perhaps the even more impressive thing about Foerster’s season was the fact that he was able to post those numbers without virtually any help, as the next leading scorer on the Colts roster had just 47 points.
Foerster came quite close to cracking the Team Canada roster at the 2021 World Juniors, which is quite impressive given how stacked they were this year. He will more than likely get his chance to play in the tournament in 2022 however, and he has a chance to be relied on as one of Canada’s top offensive threats. This pick has the potential to be looked back on as a major steal.
2. Cam York
Another promising First-Rounder the Philadelphia Flyers have in their system is Cam York, who they took with the 14th pick of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old defenseman was drafted after posting point per game numbers in the USHL for the U.S. National U-18 Team, and moved on to the University of Michigan the following season. York began the college season as an 18-year-old and by all accounts fit right in. By the time the season came to an end, he had 16 points in 30 games. He also suited up for Team USA at the 2020 World Juniors, but was held pointless in five games.
This 2020-21 season has seen York suit up for 14 games thus far with Michigan, posting 10 points. He was able to compete again for Team USA at this year’s World Juniors, and played a huge part in them winning the Gold Medal with six points in seven games. He has star-studded potential and will be a huge part of the Philadelphia Flyers blueline sooner than later.
1. Morgan Frost
Considering how much talk has surrounded Morgan Frost over the years, it can be hard to remember that he is still just 21-years-old. The Philadelphia Flyers were able to select the high scoring OHL forward with the 27th overall pick at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and, much like Tyson Foerster, Frost has the chance to become a steal. At the time he was drafted, Frost was coming off of a 20 goal, 62-point season with the Soo Greyhounds, which were solid totals but only a glimpse into just how good he truly is.
Related Story. Top 8 LA Kings Prospects. light
The following two seasons with the Greyhounds saw Frost really go off, scoring 27 goals and 221 points in a combined 125 games. While he was a surprising cut from Team Canada at the 2018 World Juniors, he was able to play in the 2019 tournament and continued to impress offensively with eight points in five games.
Next. Inside The Box: Why the Canadiens can win the Stanley Cup. dark
The 2019-20 season marked his first as a professional, where his offense continued. In 41 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL he put up 29 points in 41 games, finishing just one point back of the team lead in scoring despite playing much fewer games than most of his teammates. He also suited up for 20 games with the Flyers, where he scored two goals and seven points. It shouldn’t be long until he becomes an offensive force in the NHL for the Philadelphia Flyers.