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Philadelphia Flyers: Top 8 prospects worth getting excited about

By Colton Pankiw

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 19: Morgan Frost #48 of the Philadelphia Flyers looks on prior to the game against the Buffalo Sabres at the Wells Fargo Center on December 19, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 19: Morgan Frost #48 of the Philadelphia Flyers looks on prior to the game against the Buffalo Sabres at the Wells Fargo Center on December 19, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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Tanner Laczynski (9)
Tanner Laczynski #9 of the Ohio State Buckeyes. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /

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.

Noah Cates (21)
Noah Cates #21 of the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) /

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.

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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.

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