Linus Hogberg – McKeen's Hockey

Philadelphia Flyers 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 12:59:25 +0000

When Chuck Fletcher took over from Ron Hextall as General Manager of the Flyers last December, he was taking over a franchise that had amassed an impressive array of talent at all positions. Former GM Ron Hextall had a keen scouting eye. Further, he had been in the habit of stockpiling draft picks. In his five drafts at the helm of the Flyers, the team only once had fewer than eight picks, and that was in his first draft.

The Flyers had picked players from almost every part of the hockey playing world, too (oddly, Hextall never selected a player from the Finnish ranks). Even when the team strayed from a consensus-type pick, more often than not, the player exceeded public expectations and turned himself into a valuable asset for Philadelphia. On the other hand, as with every team, there were some drafting misses. Beyond the sixth and seventh rounders who rarely pan out for anyone, you could look at someone like Slovakian netminder Matej Tomek, drafted late in the third round in 2015 out of the NAHL. Tomek was actually the second goalie taken by the Flyers in that round. Tomek dealt with injuries and got in only two games in two seasons at North Dakota and then five games as a junior at Nebraska-Omaha after transferring. While Philadelphia still has his rights, Tomek has returned home for this season to play with HK Dukla Trencin.

2016 second rounder Pascal Laberge has also been injury riddled since he was drafted, and only managed to play in 15 games with Lehigh Valley last year, his first “full” season as a pro. But when Tomek is leavened with Carter Hart, and Laberge with Oskar Lindblom, not to mention the deep system in place now, Flyers’ fans can sleep soundly, knowing their previous GM had the big picture in mind.

There is one glaring exception though, a player we saw as a potential mid-second rounder who Hextall called out in the middle third of the first round. A player who showed skill in a vacuum but had never really performed against top level competition for his age group. That exception goes by the name of Jay O’Brien.

These days, even youngsters from the State of Hockey try to spend the first month or two of their draft years in the USHL before going back home to play for their high school. They get the best of both worlds, challenging themselves against high end college-bound competition for a stretch, and then going home to spend a few more months with their friends, like “normal” teenagers.

O’Brien paid lip service to that idea He played in five games for the Youngstown Phantoms in the two years leading up to his draft, as well as seven games with the UNSTDP program. IN those 12 games, O’Brien garnered three points. He destroyed the New England prep school competition with Thayer Academy. Despite is lack of high-level success, Hextall bet on the tools.

So far, no good. O’Brien struggled mightily as a freshman with Providence, failing to earn top six minutes. His skill set earned him a ticket to the WJC, but he failed to record a single point in seven games. He dealt with injuries in the second half of his season and left school in a huff. O'Brien dealt with failure by running from it. We are gambling on his tools by having him in our top 20, but to stay there for another year, he will have to earn it.

-Ryan Wagman

Philadelphia Flyers forward Morgan Frost (68) (Photo by John McCreary/Icon Sportswire)

1 Joel Farabee, LW (14^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 1) I might as well start with the negative. I would not have advised Farabee to turn pro after only one season at Boston University, as he is still slight and would have a harder time gaining muscle mass under the pro schedule than he would as a weekend warrior on campus. The upside is he could probably play in the top six for the Flyers right away and has the two-way game to mature into a rare Selke candidate from the wing within a few short years. Despite his lack of mass, he is strong. His offensive tools are high end. He was close to a point per game player as a freshman on a mediocre team and performed well as an 18-year-old in the WJC. A cerebral player, Farabee is a possession monster who can control the pace of the game better than many centers. He is an impact player even when he doesn’t score, but there is no reason why he shouldn’t score at a top six level in the NHL. - RW

2 Cam York, D (14^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) One of the top puck handling defensemen of the 2019 draft class, York was earmarked relatively early as a hot commodity when he jumped to play with the USNTDP U18 team in his U17 year and was a key player immediately. He is a very good skater, although his agility and edgework surpass his pure speed as differentiators. He sees the ice like a pro, allowing him to always make the right decisions about when to hold the line, or when to circle back. He is preternaturally calm and will take a hit to make a play. Despite lacking much size, he has the strength to hold the blueline with brute force, if needed. His shot is good enough to play the point on the power play, although he is stronger as a creator of chances for others. York profiles as a first pairing defender in the NHL. - RW

3 Morgan Frost, C/LW (27^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 3) With another 100-point season under his belt, one that saw him lead the OHL in assists, Frost is ready for the next challenge in his young career. The talented playmaking center has improved his skating and strength on the puck over his OHL career and those should allow for an easy transition to pro hockey. He generates well off the rush, using a variety of different attacks which speaks volumes to his creativity with the puck. His improved strength has also allowed him to be more effective along the wall, where he can prolong possession and keep plays alive to ensure more passing lanes open up for him. As one of the top prospects in the OHL last year, Frost is a potential first or second line center for Philadelphia and should be ready to take a regular shift by 2020-21. - BO

4 Isaac Ratcliffe, LW (35^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 6) Ratcliffe is a hulking power winger with massive goal scoring potential at the next level. He has an extremely powerful shot that sees him use his size well to shield defenders before releasing the puck quickly. His skating continues to improve, especially his ability to cut and maintain possession through to the net. His defensive game and commitment level in all three zones have really improved too, as he is able to use that long reach to break up passes and disrupt flow. As he turns pro this year, the Flyers will be looking for Ratcliffe to use his size even more efficiently to dominate down low, in addition to improving his decision making with the puck; making quicker decisions with his passes and adjusting to the speed of the pro game. He could easily develop into a 30-goal scorer in the NHL within a few seasons. - BO

5 Bobby Brink, RW (34^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) He is very small and his skating can charitably be described as OK, but all Bobby Orr Brink does is score. Despite missing some time to a broken bone in his ankle sustained at the WJAC, he finished fourth in league scoring, with a point per game average higher than all but top five picks Jack Hughes and Alex Turcotte. He has a special ability to find seams and soft spots in coverage and fill those gaps as he creates scoring chances almost at will. He has a very powerful wrist shot and has great possession ability. He can be prone to conserving his energy in his own zone, but for the most part, is conscientious off the puck as well. Despite his lack of size, he does not shy away from playing the greasy areas if his internal GPS points there for chances, but he will need to add some zip in his legs to reach his ceiling as a top line scoring winger. - RW

6 Philippe Myers, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Sep. 21, 2015. Last Year: 9) Myers is a beast of a defenseman, with a big body, powerful skating, a strong shot, and great hockey sense. He is an all-around defensive package, especially after proving himself this past year Lehigh Valley. He had 33 points in 53 games, proving that he is capable of not just playing a solid defensive game, but also of contributing offensively. His passing is good, but his shot is his primary offensive weapon, and he can shoot from just about anywhere, but his slapshots from long range are his main draws as they are especially powerful. He is surprisingly fast for a player of his size, with a long stride, and his transitional skating is very good, leaving us with no doubts about his ability to keep up with the NHL pace. Next time Myers hits the ice with the Flyers he will be more than ready to prove himself as a potential top two pairing defenseman. - SC

7 German Rubtsov, C (22^nd overall, 2016. Last Year: 5) Rubtsov unfortunately suffered a severe injury in his first professional season with Lehigh Valley but is set to start back with them this season. He is a fast skating, quick shooting, high tempo player who plays with a lot of intensity and drive. He is a promising forward with much offensive potential and enough speed that he can get back on the backcheck as well. He will need to play out at least another half season in the AHL before he will be considered as a call up to the Flyers. Rubtsov has the hands, the shot and the speed to be a standout forward with Philadelphia in the future and, if he can stay healthy, his ceiling can only go up to a top six role based on his skillset alone. His ability to be a star playmaker rests in his progression this season. - SC

8 Samuel Ersson, G (143^rd overall, 2018. Last Year: Not ranked) Goalie Ersson had an amazing season in Sweden last year. He excelled advancing from a strong junior season to be the best goalie among men in Allsvenskan. He played for a low ranked team and was the unofficial MVP for that team, finishing third among league voters as well. He also had a strong showing at the WJC in the middle. His .933 save percentage in 36 regular season games was followed by .938 in 5 playoff games. Ersson is a calm goalie with strong hockey sense and good puck control. He is not big for a goalie but has okay size (6-2”). The way he reads the game makes him look calm and secure. Next season, he will play in the SHL and will have a good chance to take his game to next level there. - JH

9 Ronnie Attard, D (72^nd overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) One of the top late bloomers of the 2019 draft class, Attard jumped from five points in his first year of draft eligibility, to 15 in his second, and finally hit 64 points in his third and final year of eligibility last season. More than just a bigger player beating up on smaller and younger talents, he has a full set of tools to help him succeed at the next level and beyond. He has great size at a beefy 6-3” and is a fine skater, not just for his size, but for any size. He owns a big slapshot and is a fine, if unexceptional distributor from the point. As exciting as his offensive game might be, Attard may be even better in his own end. His reads are refined, and he has a knack for filling in passing and shooting lanes, with his big body and extra long reach. He should have a chance to play in an offensive role at Western Michigan and has top four NHL upside. - RW

10 Tanner Laczynski, C (169^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 11) One of several examples on this list of Philadelphia mining the USHL for unheralded talent, Laczynski has been a key driver of Ohio State’s success of late, making the NCAA tournament three years running, after not making the dance since 2009. Only Islanders’ prospect Mason Jobst has outscored Laczynski since the latter made it to campus. He has remarkably quick hands and is a thrilling playmaker, even when facing heavy defensive pressure. His skating has also come on nicely as a collegian, to the point where he can keep up as a pro, once he moves on to the next level. He needs to show that he can handle tougher defensive assignments to ensure that he is not a top six or bust player after he completes his eligibility next spring. - RW

11 Mark Friedman, D (86^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 19) For an undersized defenseman, Friedman moves well and protects the puck from opponents. He is a good skater and a strong passer capable of making good stretch passes and backdoor passes. His hockey sense is good and the way he gets into position makes him an offensive asset. He will have to work on being more consistently engaged in defensive play and harder on the puck in his own end as it is important that his defensive play and the nature of his position come first. Friedman has the potential to be a bottom four defenseman in the NHL, but he will have to keep up with the pace and have a better showing next time round with the Flyers. His goal for this coming season with Lehigh Valley will be to simply be stronger in his own end and to work on his awareness and gap control when he doesn’t have the puck. - SC

12 Wade Allison, RW (52^nd overall, 2016. Last Year: 4) Through the mid-way point of his sophomore campaign at Western Michigan, Allison seemed on the straight and narrow path to the NHL. Then he tore his ACL. He returned to play a partial season as a junior, but his conditioning never got back to speed, and his effectiveness dropped precipitously. He is apparently back to full health now and if he gets back to where he was in the first half of 2017-18 – even to 90% of that – the Flyers will have a very intriguing power forward on their hands. At his best, he played with plus speed and the hands to keep up with his legs. He was a solid player even at his worst, so there is some leeway in his recovery before we write him off as a prospect, but clearly the healthier Allison is the more enticing player. Of course, as he is entering his senior season, he will also have the opportunity to test the free agent market after graduation, if he chooses. -RW

13 Wyatt Kalynuk, D (196^th overall, 2017. Last Year: Not ranked) Drafted in his third year of eligibility, Kalynuk has been a late round revelation in the two years since the Flyers called out his name. Even as Wisconsin’s team game has ebbed and waned in his underclassman years, Kalynuk has been a steady offense generating presence from the blueline, staving off a number of more highly touted defenders on the depth chart. He is a fantastic skater and specializes in starting the transition by carrying the puck out of his own zone. He reads the play well and has been known to find teammates far up ice with long bomb passes. Once the offensive zone has been gained, he is composed and stealthy from the blueline, walking the line and showing off a nice slap shot to keep goalies honest. Once a Flyer flyer, Kalynuk has evolved into a prime prospect, with second pairing – and second power play unit – upside. - RW

14 Samuel Morin, D (11^th overall, 2013. Last Year: 17) Morin is a massive defenseman who moves very well despite his size. He is more of a stay at home blueliner who contributes best to the offence by forcing high turnovers or ensuring a solid pass to start the breakout. He is a potential contender for a top two defensive pairing with the Flyers. He will be starting up in the NHL this season as a defensive defenseman responsible for stopping plays before they develop and keeping players to the outside. It would be nice if he can up his offensive numbers in the future but not nearly as important as staying healthy, considering injuries have limited him to a combined 24 games over the previous two seasons. It will be key for Morin to assert his aggressiveness and presence early this season and to not second guess his decisions allowing him to start gaining momentum early. - SC

15 Nicolas Aube-Kubel, RW (48^th overall, 2019. Last Year: 18) For a player who is now heading into his fourth professional season in the AHL, Aube-Kubel still only sits at about an average ranking. He is a good, simple player, with a decent skillset, capable of getting to the net and understanding the pace and play of the AHL. He plays a gritty game and at times certainly loses focus a little too much, which can lead to spending a little too much time in the penalty box. He will need to have a career year next season in order to be considered back in the race and prove himself worthy of getting a chance as a bottom six forward with the Flyers. Aube-Kubel will need to play a more structured game and bring more energy to every shift to convince the right people that he can be trusted to move up to the next level. - SC

16 Jay O’Brien, C (19^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 8) The tools that convinced the Flyers to use a first-round pick on O’Brien are still there. He is a slick skater, capable of high-end puck play, including crisp passes and a nice wrist shot that he keeps low, generating rebounds. He also works well in the corners, belying his as yet immature frame. Once in a while, he can execute an instinctive bit of brilliance that can leave onlookers nodding their heads, as if to say, “I get it.” But those moments were few and far between as a freshman with Providence, as well as in his role as the extra forward for the American WJC team. Injuries played a role, but so, too, did his inability to think the game at the pace required. Most of his past successes have come against lesser competition. Unfortunately, O’Brien responded to the poor year by leaving school. He will spend a pivotal season with Penticton of the BCHL before returning to school, this time at Boston University. - RW

17 Jack St. Ivany, D (112^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 16) Passed over in his first year of draft eligibility, St. Ivany found a new level in a return engagement with Sioux Falls and earned the call in his second go-round. He then began his collegiate career at Yale earlier than originally expected, where his strong skater and his drive for self-improvement helped him play a regular role on a rebuilding system, leading team blueliners in scoring along the way. His performance also earned him a surprise engagement with the American WJC squad, playing as the extra defender. His offensive game sticks out more than his defensive duties as in addition to the wheels, he has a nice snapshot and moves the puck well from the point, generally not forcing plays. If he continues to trend upward, St. Ivany has the look of a future third pairing defender at the highest level. - RW

18 Noah Cates, LW (137^th overall, 2017. Last Year: Not ranked) An exceptionally raw high school point producer when the Flyers used a fifth-round pick on him two years ago, Cates’ game has evolved and grown substantially in the time passed. First came a year with Omaha of the USHL in which he was fine but lacked pop. When he moved on last year to Minnesota-Duluth, his game added new dimensions. His offensive game now relies mostly on effort and grit. He gets to the net, can flash nice acceleration and a good shot release. He is effective when he plays a simple game, with strength on his stick and perseverance. He has also taken his physical game to a new level, in line with his mature frame. He tries to make life difficult for opponents, and at the collegiate level at least, he succeeds. Cates projects as a bottom six winger, with enough offense in his game to also be a fan favorite. - RW

19 Adam Ginning, D (50^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 7) Ginning is an aggressive defensive defenseman with good skating and okay puck handling. He plays with poise and shows leadership abilities, competing well. He played a full season in the SHL last season in his first post-draft campaign. He is big (6-4”) and uses his size as a weapon along the boards and in front of the net. To have his game translate at the NHL level, he will need to be more consistent with his decision-making and not force the play, which has sometimes been the case for him. He was the sixth defenseman in Linkoping in terms of usage and saw a lot of PK-time as an SHL rookie. He didn’t have strong underlying numbers and was not yet strong enough in his game to push the play up the ice for his team, even if he defended well. For next season he will stay with the same team but with a bigger role. - JH

20 Linus Hogberg, D (139^th overall, 2016. Last Year: Not ranked) Hogberg is a modern type of defensive defenseman. He has decent size (6-1”) and mobility. He can use his reach and skating to shut down plays. He makes a good breakout pass and has good control with the puck on his stick. His offensive abilities aren’t strong enough to be an offensive contributor, but he has a smart third pairing potential and, in that role, he has a legit NHL ceiling. His underlying numbers in the SHL have been strong and he helps his team shut down plays and move the puck up the ice. 21-year-old Hogberg still hasn’t gotten a bigger role in SHL and was only fifth among blueliners in ice-time with Vaxjo and will play there for another year. He should at least be a top three defenseman and see more PK time as well before he can go over to North America as a legit option for the Flyers’ bottom pair. - JH

Scouting Reports: Sweden – Rasmus Asplund (Buffalo) and Linus Hogberg (Philadelphia)

Jimmy Hamrin — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 11:00:02 +0000

Jimmy Hamrin provides reports from Sweden on NHL prospects Rasmus Asplund, who recently attend the Buffalo Sabres development camp. He also reports on Philadelphia Prospect Linus Hogberg, whom he describes as "a player that could turn out to be a new type of modern defensive defenseman". Find out what he means by that below.

A note on the 20-80 scale used below. We look at five attributes (skating, shooting, puck skills, hockey IQ and physicality) for skaters and six for goalies (athleticism/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, technique/style, rebound control and puck handling). Each individual attribute is graded along the 20-80 scales, which includes half-grades. The idea is that a projection of 50 in a given attribute meant that our observer believed that the player could get to roughly NHL average at that attribute at maturity.

Rasmus Asplund	2016 Draft (33rd - Buffalo Sabres)
Position: C, Shoots L	H/W: 5-11", 185 lbs
Stats to date (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS)	Farjestad, SHL (10-3-3-6-4)

BUFFALO, NY - JULY 11: Buffalo Sabres Center Rasmus Asplund (65) skates to bench during the French Connection Tournament at the Buffalo Sabres Development Camp on July 11, 2017, at HarborCenter in Buffalo, NY. (Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire)

Skating: High speed player that always seems to be in motion. Has great wheels and accelerates really well and can be effective all over the ice with his skating. His top speed is very good. He is more of a strong north-to-south skater than a strong zig-zagging player but the agility is good as well. If there is any flaw in his skating it is maybe that his balance is not strong enough to be able to hold off bigger opponents at most times, and he needs to beat them with quickness rather than strength. Grade: 60

Shot: Not a big goal scorer. He has a quick snap shot that can be dangerous inside the slot. Asplund is not a power shooter that can score goals from outside the circles. The strength in his shot is that he most often shoots with a quick release and can shoot the puck in high traffic areas. Grade: 50

Skills: Asplund has good stick handling, not overly flashy but has quick and effective hands. He has good puck control and is a good playmaker. He can also control the puck well at high speed. He could get stronger in his abilities to cover and protect the puck and he does not have many surprising moves. Grade: 55

Smarts: First of all, Asplund is a hard worker that plays well in all three zones. He sees the ice well and creates scoring chances by getting into the right spots or by finding teammates in open spaces. He can be used effectively in every situation. With his speed and smartness, he can be a great penalty killer as well as a down low circle player on a power play. Can play both center or as a winger. Has been used as a center so far this season and has started the season well. Grade: 55

Physicality: He is a small forward that although he works hard in his checking, blocking and screening is not a strong or effective player physically. He will not leave his teens until December so he still has time to get stronger. The biggest issue for him making the NHL is that he would not be able to handle the tighter and faster game there. In the NHL his skating and puck skills do not stand out as much so he needs to be able to win puck battles on the inside of the defense and be better able to cover and protect the puck. Grade: 40

Summary: A speedy hard-working two-way center/winger with offensive skills. He can make the NHL in various roles. He lacks the edge in the offensive game to become a steady top line player but in a 2-4 line an NHL team like Buffalo sure can find a role for him to fill if he pans out as expected. The speed that he has will always be useful in the modern NHL even if it is just as an effective penalty killer. He lacks in strength and before he will be ready to step in to the NHL he needs to be able to have a more powerful impact on the game. He is not a dominant force in the SHL and his performances are still a bit uneven but early on he has shown some progress in his overall game this season. I do not know his plans but if he moves to North America next season he would need to start in the AHL. Keep in mind this season is still very young though and fast development happens in young talented players.

Overall Future Projection (OFP) = 53.5

Linus Hogberg	2016 Draft (139th - Philadelphia Flyers)
Position: D, Shoots L	H/W: 6-1", 185 lbs
Stats to date (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS)	Vaxjo, SHL (8-0-1-1-0)

Skating: Hogberg is a mobile defenseman who is especially strong with his backwards skating. He has good acceleration and quick foot speed. He can travel with the puck well up the ice. His technique is not flawless but still effective. His skating is a bit upright and lacks some lower body balance that way. He still has good control on his skates and can move fast without using too much energy and can keep his head up. Grade: 55

Shot: At junior level he is a good goal scorer for a defenseman. At senior level he has not been and has not really been put in that role. His shots from the blueline are good, both his wrist shot and slap shot, but neither are big threats. Not your power play point man. Grade: 50

Skills: He has a good first pass and good puck control. He can play his way out of stressful situations well. He rarely makes mistakes with the puck. He is also good at winning puck battles with his stick. He uses his stick well in defensive situations. Offensively he has not shown the stand out skills to be an offensive threat. Grade: 50

Smarts: Hogberg is responsible and smart defensively. He plays the part of a 6^th/7^th defenseman in the SHL very well and can probably see a chance to move up the lineup soon. He reads the opponents’ attack well and is really good at shutting them down with good skating and stick work. His gap control is most often good. Grade: 55

Physicality: He has okay size and works hard. He is not particularly strong but will probably fill out his body more and become stronger. Hogberg is not a player that hits hard but he is strong enough to win board battles, battles in front of the net and to hold off opponents when skating with the puck. Does not shy away from the dirty work or from blocking shots. Grade: 50

Summary: Linus Hogberg is an interesting prospect in my mind because he is a player that could turn out to be a new type of modern defensive defenseman. At junior and in his draft year he was more of a two-way defenseman with offensive potential but has developed more as an effective defensive defenseman since then. He skates really well backwards while good stick work and gap control makes him strong in a modern shutdown role. He has had a good start to the season. He was one of Sweden’s most solid players during the summer showcase circuit and seems more comfortable in the SHL. He has a big chance to make the Swedish WJC-team and to take a bigger role in Vaxjo as this season progresses. He is a couple of seasons from making the NHL yet if he ever does. The Flyers have lots of talent in their defensive pipeline but if Hogberg makes it I can see him in that 4-6^th defenseman role and being very effective for his team.

Overall Future Projection (OFP) = 52.75

NHL Draft Review and Grades: Philadelphia Flyers

Grant McCagg — Mon, 04 Jul 2016 18:09:39 +0000

June 24, 2016: German Rubtsov dons his Flyers cap after he was selected by Philadelphia as the 22nd pick in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft at First Niagara Center in Buffalo, NY (Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire.)

The Flyers have taken advantage of having a plethora of top 90 picks in the past two drafts and done a solid job in restocking the prospect cupboard. German Rubtsov is a two-way center who plays with intelligence in all three zones…when he’s dialed in he’s highly competitive and strong on the backcheck...but one shouldn’t underestimate his offensive skills either. He has the upside to be a number two center…at worst he’ll compete for a third-line position in the future. Laberge was highly regarded by the Flyers and considered a solid first-round talent. He brings a pro shot, vision and puck skills…expect his goal totals to rise now that his wrist injury is fully healed, and once he learns to play a more competitive 200-foot game he’ll be a solid pro.

RND	PICK	RNK	PLAYER	POS	CTY	HT/WT	TEAM
1	22	22	German Rubtsov	C	RUS	6-2/180	Team Russia U18 (Rus)
2	36	30	Pascal Laberge	RW	CAN	6-1/175	Victoriaville (QMJHL)
2	48	42	Carter Hart	G	CAN	6-0/180	Everett (WHL)
2	52	36	Wade Allison	RW	CAN	6-2/205	Tri-City (USHL)
3	82	76	Carsen Twarynski	LW	CAN	6-2/200	Calgary (WHL)
4	109	87	Connor Bunnaman	LW	CAN	6-1/210	Kitchener (OHL)
5	139	NR	Linus Hogberg	D	SWE	6-1/185	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe)
6	169	NR	Tanner Laczynski	C	USA	6-1/200	Lincoln (USHL)
6	172	NR	Anthony Salinitri	C	CAN	5-10/170	Sarnia (OHL)
7	199	NR	David Bernhardt	D	SWE	6-3/190	Djurgardens (Swe)

Carter Hart at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, NY on Saturday June 25, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

Pascal Laberge at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, NY on Saturday June 25, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

Carter Hart had a terrific WHL season that saw him rewarded as the CHL Goalie of the Year...a rare feat for a draft eligible goalie. He has the skills and competitiveness to battle for the number one goalie position some day. Wade Allison was our favourite pick in the 50’s…he was simply a beast in the second half of the regular season and USHL playoffs, and has top-two winger upside….surprising that he didn’t go in the top 50.

Carsen Twarynski is one of the most competitive players in the draft…there will be no issues with his work ethic. A strong north-south skater...he’ll need to keep working on his agility and first step. He also has some puck skills and a decent shot.

Connor Bunnaman of the Kitchener Rangers was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, NY on Saturday June 25, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

Connor Bunnaman is another forward prospect with size who also needs to keep working on his feet, but he plays a smart game and has some offensive upside along with a competitive edge. Tanner Lacynski bounced back from the disappointment of not being drafted to have a terrific USHL season. He is a crafty center with solid playmaking ability. Hogberg isn’t a dynamic offensive guy but he defends and moves the puck well. Uses his stick and smarts more than his brawn, and is good with the puck. Salinitri is a little on the small side, but he’s quick and has some skill..if he plays he will have to be a point producer and not a bottom line player. Bernhardt has size, can move the puck and displays some puck skills. He’s aggressive and has a good shot, but the main concern would be with his hockey sense.

Carsen Twarynski at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, NY on Saturday June 25, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

Grade- A: After stocking up on defencemen and a couple of undersized wingers with high picks in recent years, the Flyers picked up several forwards with a nice combination of size and skill, as well as the top goalie on many draft lists. The team has an impressive mix in its prospects crop.