Olle LYCKSELL – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #17 Philadelphia Flyers – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Player Profiles - Derek Neumeier, Team Overview - Robert Howard — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 12:24:11 +0000

Daniel Briere had an eventful first season as a rookie General Manager with more than his share of challenges, but received positive reviews for many of the moves he has made. He inherited an organization that had been run with Chuck Fletcher as GM, and stubbornly stuck to the belief they had a competitive team coming out of the Covid seasons. Briere and President of Hockey Operations, Keith Jones began a process of rebuilding. Briere started his tenure by watching the overall 2nd ranked prospect on this list, Matvei Michkov, fall to the team at pick number seven at the 2023 NHL Draft over concerns on whether he would be coming to North America soon. Rumours that he may be coming over as as soon as next season have been growing, with suggestions that Flyers and SKA (his Russian team) are discussing that possibility. He had earlier, once again very quietly, orchestrated the addition of giant goaltender Ivan Fedotov from Russia, surprising many.

He then moved defenseman Ivan Provorov for a first-round pick in 2023, adding talented Oliver Bonk at 22nd overall and a second-round pick 2024. The next big challenge was a trade demand from top rated prospect Cutter Gauthier (fourth overall on this list) that was a leftover from the previous regime. In accommodating his request, management did an excellent job of keeping it quiet and getting the best possible return in defenseman Jamie Drysdale from Anaheim along with a second-round pick in 2025. At the end of the day and wheeling and dealing, he has four picks in the first two rounds of both the 2024 and 2025 drafts. After surprisingly calling for a rebuild, under the previous regime, John Tortorella received a full buy-in from the team for a surprising first half of the season from a disciplined unit. That should not suggest the Flyers are done with their rebuild. They need to add some more high-end pieces before they are ready to truly begin the climb. They will utilize all of their picks.

RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Matvei Michkov	RW	19	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL)	`23(7th)	48	19	22	41	26
2	Oliver Bonk	D	19	6-2/175	London (OHL)	`23(22nd)	60	24	43	67	32
3	Emil Andrae	D	22	5-9/185	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	`20(54th)	61	5	27	32	66
					Philadelphia (NHL)	`20(54th)	4	0	0	0	0
4	Ronnie Attard	D	25	6-3/210	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	`19(72nd)	48	10	17	27	37
					Philadelphia (NHL)	`19(72nd)	12	0	2	2	6
5	Carson Bjarnason	G	18	6-3/185	Brandon (WHL)	`23(51st)	46	24	17	3.01	0.907
6	Denver Barkey	C	19	5-8/160	London (OHL)	`23(95th)	64	35	67	102	28
7	Alexei Kolosov	G	22	6-1/185	Dinamo Minsk (KHL)	`21(78th)	47	22	21	2.39	0.907
8	Samu Tuomaala	RW	21	5-10/175	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	`21(46th)	69	15	28	43	12
9	Elliot Desnoyers	LW	22	5-10/185	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	`20(135th)	63	6	16	22	23
10	Carter Sotheran	D	18	6-3/195	Portland (WHL)	`23(135th)	66	13	27	40	68
11	Helge Grans	D	21	6-2/205	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	T(LA-6/23)	56	1	7	8	24
12	Olle Lycksell	RW	24	5-11/175	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	`17(168th)	38	19	20	39	14
					Philadelphia (NHL)	`17(168th)	18	1	4	5	6
13	Ethan Samson	D	20	6-1/195	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	`21(174th)	63	3	9	12	56
14	Yegor Zavragin	G	18	6-2/185	Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk (VHL)	`23(87th)	17	13	1	1.60	0.943
15	Alex Bump	LW	20	6-0/195	Western Michigan (NCHC)	`22(133rd)	38	14	22	36	27

1. Matvei Michkov, RW, SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)

Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, and the subsequent assortment of global repercussions, have prevented North American hockey fans from watching Michkov shine at prestigious events like the World Juniors. And that's a real shame, because if his high scoring totals in the KHL are any indication, he could have put on quite a show. He has a razor-sharp ability to dissect opposing defenders one-on-one or carve his way through larger crowds of traffic, and is one of the best pure finishers in the world for his age group. There is a certain incisiveness to his mindset that sets him apart from others. Will he be a true superstar in the NHL? That will depend on whether he can become fast enough to create more separation on the smaller North American ice surfaces, because there are times right now where he gets bottled up too easily.

2. Oliver Bonk, D, London Knights (OHL)

Bonk is like a young defenseman version of Costco: he offers everything and the quality is always good, though you'll rarely get anything that's truly top of the line. Every NHL team needs blueliners who can play in all situations, move up or down defense pairs as needed, and provide a stabilizing presence throughout without any worries or problems, and he is the epitome of that. It's no coincidence that London continues to be one of the best teams in the OHL with Bonk logging tons of minutes for them. The more you watch him, the more you appreciate the amazing nuance and fine details of his game. He'll probably join the Flyers at a young age and start out in a limited role, before steadily taking on more and more minutes until he eventually becomes one of their most trusted go-to guys.

3. Emil Andrae, D, Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL)

Andrae received a decent look up with the Flyers back in October, but from what they saw the organization’s brass decided that he wasn’t quite ready for the challenge, so they sent him down to the AHL to let the year play out for him there instead. Nevertheless, the franchise is still committed to a serious youth movement, so come next training camp he should get another heavily scrutinized trial. For a defenseman his size he plays incredibly hard, which is always a bonus in Philadelphia. He’s also well above average when it comes to driving offense from the back end, and he deserves full marks for his mental makeup. That’s a great foundation to have in place, so now the big X-factor for him becomes his skating, which will need to keep improving, and improving a lot, to counterbalance the aforementioned deficiencies in his stature.

4. Ronnie Attard, D, Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL)

Attard has always been a late bloomer, so Flyers fans need not be too concerned that he hasn’t seemed fully equipped for full-time NHL duty yet, despite being 25 years old now and getting looks with the big club intermittently across the past three seasons. And out of all the types of prospects that teams should be extra patient with, right-shooting defensemen with size and prior track records of contributing offensively should be right at the top of the list, because they have outsized value if they can find a way to put all the pieces together. All that said, the team wants healthy internal competition for most roster spots, so if Attard isn’t careful he could get left in the dust by others. He isn’t going to get handed a job no matter how appealing his upside may be.

5. Carson Bjarnason, G, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

Bjarnason's underwhelming stats this season are more of a reflection of Brandon's lackluster roster, and not the performance or long-term upside of their starting goalie. That whole team had neither a hope nor a prayer in the opening round of the playoffs, and they looked and acted like it. There were too many games throughout the year when Bjarnason was clearly not dialed in, and that's never ideal, but there were also plenty that the Wheat Kings never would have had a chance of winning without his heroics. Thinking big-picture, the Flyers are likely still content with the draft capital they spent on him, because he has everything that you'd want to see in a young goaltender, including size, refined technique, fluid mobility in the crease, and the ability to hang in there during games where he gets pelted with rubber.

6. Denver Barkey, C, London Knights (OHL)

Barkey is the type of prospect who seems like he was born to play hockey. There is such a natural ease to how he thinks and feels the game. At the same time, he's far from laid back or casual. Few can match his focus, competitive drive and desire to win, but all of those seem second nature to him as well. He might not possess as much raw skill as other top prospects have, but his production explodes this season because he knows exactly which parts of his game he can improve, and how to do so. His lack of size and strength will persist and unfortunately hinder his NHL impact to some degree, but there is little doubt that he will eventually work himself onto the Flyers in some capacity and find ways to stick around for a long time.

7. Alexei Kolosov, G, Dinamo Minsk (KHL)

The trend toward bigger puck stoppers in the NHL is well-documented by now, and the disadvantages experienced by smaller ones is undeniable, but the Flyers have to be optimistic about Kolosov because of his track record in the KHL over the past few seasons. He was the number one goalie for Minsk Dynamo for two years in a row and put forth a valiant effort during the league’s most recent playoffs, but didn't get the goal support he needed from the team in front of him. His reflexes are quite quick and he does a good job of staying in control while being active in his crease, which are essentially these days for non-giant netminders. He's already made the anticipated move to Lehigh Valley in the AHL and will be given a fair shot to win the starter's job there next season.

8. Samu Tuomaala, RW, Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL)

Tuomaala has had a bit of a rocky development since getting drafted, bouncing around a handful of different clubs in Finland and then surprisingly being snubbed for his home nation's representation at two straight World Juniors tournaments. However, his first full season in North America was an encouraging course correction, spending the entirety of it with the Phantoms and establishing himself as a productive Top 6 winger for them. He's a slippery offensive creator with the ability to make defenders miss, as well as a deceptively heavy shot for a guy his size. His limitations have stemmed from his lack of strength and top-line speed. The Flyers have shown an eagerness to test out many of their prospects in NHL action, so Tuomaala could get his first look with the big club as early as next fall if he has a notable training camp and preseason.

9. Elliot Desnoyers, LW, Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL)

Desnoyers has come a long way in his hockey career riding on hard work, will, and sheer determination. That’s not to say that he’s necessarily lacking in talent, but it’s been those other intangibles that have really set him apart and taken him further than others have gone, including being drafted, making the always-contested Canadian roster for the World Juniors, and getting to dress for NHL games. That’s a draining way to play, however, when it’s pretty much all you’ve got going, and sooner or later everyone’s engine starts to clunk out after it’s been pushed into the red zone for too long. His second season in the AHL was a significant step back from his first, which doesn’t bode well for where his career is going to go from here. It’s not too late for him, but will he be able to mix in other ways of being successful?

10. Carter Sotheran, D, Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

In his draft year Sotheran looked like a prospect who was on the cusp of taking a big step forward, and we're seeing that exact outcome loud and clear this season. He's become more impenetrable defensively, his offensive contributions have increased, and he's just really come into his own overall, and he's doing so as a go-to player on one of the best teams in the entire Canadian Hockey League. All of his progression ultimately stems from huge increases to his confidence and comfort level, which is visible with how he carries himself on the ice, especially when it comes to jumping up in the play. There is tremendous value in right-shooting blueliners with mobility, size, and the capability of impacting the play across all three zones, so the Flyers must be thrilled that they were able to add one to their prospect pool using a mere 5th-round draft pick.

PROSPECT CRITERIA: Players under 26 years of age as of 9/15/2024 who have appeared in less than 60 games (30 for goalies) and less than 25 in one season (25 for goalies).

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – PHILADELPHIA FLYERS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #10

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 14:13:14 +0000

Top 20 Philadelphia Flyers Prospects

1. Matvei Michkov

Move over Austin Powers, Matvei Michkov is the new International Man of Mystery. On talent alone, Michkov deserved to be selected inside the top five of this year’s draft. He had been hyped just as long as Bedard for the top of the 2023 class. However, the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, and the corresponding ban on Russia from the IIHF threw a huge wrench into that narrative. His contract situation in the KHL (another three seasons, at minimum) further complicate things. However, the Flyers decided that the risk was worth the reward. An elite offensive player, Michkov is one of the most creative and gifted young players outside of the NHL. Over the next three years in the KHL, the Flyers will be looking for improved consistency away from the puck, improved utilization of his teammates, and improvements made to his explosiveness as a skater. All signs would point to Philadelphia receiving an immediate impact player once he arrives, rewarding their patience, just as the Wild were rewarded with Kirill Kaprizov.

2. Cutter Gauthier

One of the more recent additions to the Philadelphia organization, Gauthier was selected fifth overall in 2022 out of the USNTDP. He was a standout player for the program, including a strong performance at the U18s. Post-draft, he has continued that success, helping Team USA to a bronze medal at the World Juniors and contributing over one point per game as a freshman with NCAA Boston College. He plays a fearless game, driving the net, jumping into puck battles, and playing so with speed. He's a high-volume shooter who could pick his shots better, but you have to appreciate the confidence. He plays in a style that should allow him to seamlessly adjust to the NHL. He has already confirmed that he will stick in Boston for his sophomore season, but it shouldn’t be long before he’s wearing the orange, black, and white.

3. Tyson Foerster

Selected 23rd overall in the 2020 Draft, Foerster has had some issues with a nagging shoulder injury but has always been able to find his game. He spent the pandemic with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, easily transitioning to the higher level. He spent more time in the OHL in 2021-22 but returned to the AHL last season, even seeing time in the NHL. In fact, he almost looked better in the NHL than he had at any other level. Foerster has one of the best shots not in the NHL and does extremely well at creating offense, both for himself and his teammates. He plays hard and shows promising attention to the defensive side of the puck as well. His skating was a worry in his draft year but has steadily improved since then. He looks NHL-ready and likely makes the jump in 2023-24 as a middle-six producer.

4. Bobby Brink

The Flyers have been patient with Brink, which has proven to be the correct path. He was selected 34th overall in 2019 from the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers, where he had been named USHL Forward of the Year. Following the draft, he made the jump to the NCAA with the University of Denver, transitioning seamlessly with a strong rookie season, and was named to the NCHC All-Rookie Team. After a down sophomore campaign, Brink exploded in 2021-22, leading the entire NCAA in points (57) and was named the NCHC Forward and Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. He moved up to the AHL last season, continuing his upward development slope. He’s a very strong skater , who does well at getting off the wall and into the middle of the ice. He’s not far off from a middle-six role in the NHL.

5. Oliver Bonk

Bonk, the son of former Ottawa Senator standout Radek, has a game predicated on his strong positioning, anticipation, and awareness. One would probably expect nothing less from someone who grew up around the game. One of the smartest defenders available in the 2023 draft, he is a disruptive force in the defensive end. Additionally, what makes Bonk such a defensive asset is his ability to kickstart the transition game. As mentioned, his IQ is the strongest component of his game, and this is evident when he has the puck on his stick in the defensive zone. From an offensive perspective, there may be some limitations to his game. He is not a dynamic skater, either in terms of his linear quickness or his agility. He will jump up in the play and he does a great job of getting pucks through to the net, both skills based off his high intelligence level. However, he is not incredibly creative, and that lack of quickness hurts him as a carrier. There is a fairly safe road to Bonk becoming a dependable, longtime second pairing defender at the NHL level. The London Knight’s track record at developing blueliners is another factor in his favor.

6. Emil Andrae

One of the most exciting defensive prospects out there, Andrae is the picture of the modern defender. He thrives jumping up into the rush and leading the transition, using his light footwork to navigate through the opposition. Drafted 54th overall in 2020, he joined SHL HV71 during a rough season which saw the team relegated. He followed with an excellent season in the HockeyAllsvenskan, helping the team jump right back to the SHL and earning the Best Junior award, leading all rookies in points. He also starred on the Swedish WJC team, leading all defenders in goals and being named to the tournament All-Star Team. He’s a strong playmaker with excellent vision and has been improving his decision-making over the past few seasons. His size may be a concern, but he has the skill of a top four defender. He made the jump to North America at the end of last season and will look to build off a strong, yet brief cameo.

7. Helge Grans

Grans still has a lot of work left to do before he'll be ready to hack it at the NHL level. His play thus far in the AHL hasn't lived up to expectations, but the long-term upside that he possesses is undeniable. He checks off a lot of boxes that you want to see in a defenseman: athleticism, size, reach, mobility, and puck movement. Heck, he even shoots right-handed. Unfortunately, he still struggles to blend all these tools together. There are fair questions about his hockey sense and processing speed, and for a blueliner with his profile, you'd like to see more sandpaper and a stronger willingness to work hard to win positioning and pucks. Grans could be the type of prospect who blows up in his mid 20s, or he might never become much more than he is right now.

8. Carson Bjarnason

It was a tale of two seasons for Bjarnson in 2022-23, with a storybook start to his campaign but then a horror finish, as injuries derailed him during the back end of the regular season and again at the IIHF U18s. The good news for him now is that his long-term projection is still very promising. He is an impeccably well-rounded netminder, with plenty of natural net coverage, stoic mental composure, refined technique and stance, and clean movements in his crease. When he is at the top of his game, he can single-handedly steal wins for his team while making it look easy and routine. He has the right combination of traits to eventually become an NHL number one, and he'll get two more years’ worth of reps as a starter in the WHL to help prepare himself, while gaining valuable and transferable experience in that kind of role. Like almost all teenage goalies, he is still very much a project, with consistency concerns and the need to cut down on the number of weak goals he allows, but his foundation is solid.

9. Elliott Desnoyers

A later round pick selected 135th overall in 2020, Desnoyers moved to the Halifax Mooseheads from the Moncton Wildcats in 2020-21, suiting up as an alternate captain. He took a big step forward on the ice while also taking on more of a leadership role in 2021-22, wearing the ‘C’. He made the jump to the Phantoms last season and continued to show improvement as one of the more productive players on the team. He seems able to be plugged in anywhere in the lineup and succeed, playing a hard-fought game with an underrated amount of skill. Desnoyers plays a smart game, rarely making a mistake. He’s well on his way to becoming a solid bottom six contributor who could move up in the lineup in the appropriate situation. It is already safe to call him a draft success considering where he was selected and how he has since progressed.

10. Ronnie Attard

One of the older prospects not yet in the NHL, it’s been a long road for Attard. However, it seems like that road and the patience of Flyers’ brass with him has paid off. Selected 72nd overall in 2019 after a huge season with the USHL Tri-City Storm where he was named USHL Player and Defenseman of the Year, as well as USA Hockey Junior Player of the Year. He then jumped to the NCAA’s Western Michigan University where the success continued, being named a two-time NCHC Best Offensive Defenseman within his three years there. Last season, he continued his rise, joining the Phantoms and fitting right in. He’s an aggressive, offensive defender that performs very well in transition. He has all the tools to be a reliable bottom-four defender at the next level and isn’t far off from making it.

11. Egor Zamula

This is a huge year for Zamula as he is no longer exempt from waivers. The puck moving defender has a real solid shot of finally becoming a permanent fixture on the Flyers’ blueline this season, but his defensive game still needs to show growth.

12. Ethan Samson

A two-way defender out of the WHL, Samson has developed incredibly well since being drafted. He holds the offensive blueline extremely well and makes opposing players earn touches in the defensive end. It will be interesting to see how he adjusts to the pro level this year.

13. Alexei Kolosov

An outstanding athlete, Kolosov was already a starter in the KHL as a 21-year-old last year, playing for hometown Minsk. He could move up the prospect rankings pretty quickly if he plays well with Lehigh Valley this year.

14. Alexis Gendron

Among the Q’s leading goal scorers last year, Gendron is deadly in open space. His speed can be deadly, but there are still concerns about his lack of size. He is likely returning to the Q for an overage year and is a contender to lead the league in scoring.

15. Olle Lycksell

While the Flyers’ depth chart looks pretty crowded right now, Lycksell has to be one of the favourites to be called up in a case of a long-term injury. He is a very creative playmaker and he was great after finally crossing the pond to play in the AHL last year.

16. Devin Kaplan

Kaplan plays such a mature, pro ready game already as a young prospect. He had a solid freshman year at Boston University, but there is a need for him to continue to become a more dynamic skater. Kaplan is a potentially elite bottom six player and penalty killer.

17. Samuel Ersson

Thrust into NHL action last year, Ersson held his own and managed to win six games for the Flyers as a rookie. The soon to be 24-year-old finds himself as part of a crowded crease, but he has NHL upside.

18. Denver Barkey

A tenacious worker, Barkey does so many things well and that’s why the Flyers used a third-round selection on him this year. He is a serious 2023-24 breakout candidate with the London Knights.

19. Samu Tuomaala

After a disastrous 2021-22 season, Tuomaala appears to have gotten himself back on track with a strong season in the Finnish second league. He still has the speed. He still has the big shot. But there are still questions about his hockey sense.

20. Zayde Wisdom

Possibly still feeling the after-effects of a wonky shoulder, Wisdom’s development has stalled in a big way. He was so good in that Covid shortened AHL season and he has yet to come close to matching that. Let’s see if he can get back on track this year as an AHL regular.

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #14 Philadelphia Flyers

Josh Bell — Sun, 21 May 2023 12:53:44 +0000

The Cliff Fletcher era (since 2018) ended following another difficult season, with the GM stubbornly insisting the Flyers were close to contending and resisting any retooling. Even coach John Tortorella surprisingly called for a rebuild mid-season. Now, the franchise will be given the chance with newly named President of Hockey Operations Keith Jones, and new GM Danny Briere. The early signaling suggests they will be looking at investing in prospects for the next few years, and offseason talk has turned to who will move to attain future assets. Briere has a reputation for embracing analytics, and how that affects decision-making remains to be seen with Jones being more traditional in approach.

Philadelphia owns nine picks in the upcoming draft and four first rounders over the next three years. Look for them to add to that stockpile significantly in the coming months. They have the seventh overall pick in this year’s draft, which should net a quality prospect in a deep draft. They added Cutter Gauthier fifth overall last year. A confident player, who plays a fearless game, seems to fit the classic Flyers identity. He should be in the line-up very soon. They also have two NHL-ready prospects in Tyson Foerster and Bobby Brink, so a youth injection next season seems inevitable. This should be a very transformed roster in a year’s time, with no veteran untouchables, with the possible exception of goalie Carter Hart. How deep the new regime will want to go remains to be seen. Whether to the foundations like Chicago, or something more in the middle. Stay tuned.

Cutter Gauthier of USA celebrates during the friendly under-20 ice hockey game between Sweden and USA on December 21, 2022 in Moncton.
Photo: Simon Hastegård / BILDBYRÅN

Cutter Gauthier

One of the more recent additions to the Philadelphia Flyers, Cutter Gauthier was selected fifth overall in the 2022 NHL Draft from the USNTDP. He was a standout player in the program, including a strong performance at the Under-18s. Post-draft, he’s continued that success forward, helping Team USA to a bronze medal at the World Juniors and playing over a point per game as a freshman with Boston College in the NCAA. He plays a fearless game, driving the net, jumping into puck battles, and he does so with speed. He's a high-volume shooter that could pick his shots better, but you have to appreciate the confidence. He plays a game that seems like it will adjust to the NHL seamlessly. He’s already confirmed that he’s sticking in Boston for his sophomore season, but it shouldn’t be long before he’s wearing the orange, black, and white.

2. Bobby Brink

The Flyers have been patient with Bobby Brink, and that’s proven to be the correct path. Selected 34th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft from the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers, where he was named USHL Forward of the Year. Following the draft, he made the jump to the NCAA and the University of Denver, fitting right in with a strong rookie season, and was named to the NCHC All-Rookie Team. He continued that for another season and then exploded in 2021-22, leading the entire NCAA in points (57) and was named the NCHC Forward and Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. He’s moved up to the AHL this season, continuing his upward development slope. He’s a very strong skater, who does well at getting off the wall and into the middle of the ice. He’s not far off from a middle-six role in the NHL.

3. Tyson Foerster

Selected 23rd overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, Tyson Foerster has had some issues with a nagging shoulder injury but has always been able to find his game. He spent the pandemic with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, easily transitioning to the next level. He did spend some more time in the OHL in 2021-22 but is back in the AHL this season and has even seen time in the NHL, almost looking better in the NHL than any other level. He has one of the best shots not in the NHL and does extremely well at creating offense, either for himself or his teammates. He plays hard and shows promising attention to the defensive side of the puck as well. His skating was a worry in his draft year but has been steadily improving. He looks NHL-ready and likely makes the jump in 2023-24 as a middle-six producer.

4. Emil Andrae

One of the most exciting defensive prospects out there, Emil Andrae is the picture of the modern defender. He thrives jumping up into the rush and leading transition, using his light footwork to navigate the opposition. Drafted 54th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, Andrae joined HV71 in the SHL during a rough year where they were relegated. He had an excellent season in the HockeyAllsvenskan, helping the team jump back to the SHL and earning the Best Junior award, leading all rookies in points. He also starred on the Swedish World Junior team, leading all defenders in goals and being named to the All-Star Team. He’s a strong playmaker with excellent vision and has been improving his decision-making over the past few seasons. His size may lead to concern, but he has the skill of a top-four defender. He’s already made the jump to North America, where he’s already beginning to excel.

5. Elliot Desnoyers

A later draft pick at 135th overall in 2020, Elliot Desnoyers moved to the Halifax Mooseheads from the Moncton Wildcats in 2020-21 as the alternate captain. He took a big step forward before taking another big step as the captain in 2021-22. He made the jump to the Phantoms this season and has continued to improve as one of the more productive players on the team. He’s a player that seems to be able to be plugged in anywhere in the lineup and succeed, playing a hard-fought game with an underrated amount of skill. He plays a smart game, rarely making a mistake. He’s well on his way to becoming a solid bottom-six contributor that could move up in the lineup in the appropriate situation. Already with his development, it’s safe to call him a success considering where he was drafted and how he’s progressed.

6. Ronnie Attard

One of the older prospects not yet in the NHL, it’s been a long road for Ronnie Attard. However, it seems like that road and the patience of Flyers’ brass with him has paid off. The Flyers selected him 72nd overall in the 2019 NHL Draft after a huge season in the USHL with the Tri-City Storm where he was named USHL Player and Defenseman of the Year, and USA Hockey Junior Player of the Year. He then jumped to the NCAA’s Western Michigan University where the success continued, being named a two-time NCHC Best Offensive Defenseman within his three years there. This season, he’s continued his rise, joining the Phantoms and seeming to fit right in. He’s an aggressive, offensive defender that does very well in transition. He has all the tools to be a reliable bottom-four defender at the next level and isn’t far off.

7. Egor Zamula

After going undrafted, the Flyers signed Egor Zamula to an entry-level deal in 2018, just after his first season in North America in the WHL. He spent two more seasons with the Calgary Hitmen as a point-per-game defender. In 2020-21, he jumped to the next level and ever since has seemed on the cusp of being an NHLer. He’s seen some time with the Flyers in each season but just hasn’t made the permanent jump yet. The Russian is a two-way defender that moves very well. He can jump up into the rush or the offensive zone when he needs to but he’s just as comfortable sitting back and defending. He relies more on his active stick rather than his physical game, which shouldn’t be a problem in his translation to the NHL. He seems ready to make the jump and could be a middle-pairing asset.

8. Ethan Samson

Another late selection by the Flyers, he was drafted 174th overall in 2021 from the WHL’s Prince George Cougars. He’s been steadily improving his game after being drafted and just capped off a point-per-game season in what should be his final year in the Dub. He’s a very well-rounded prospect although he doesn’t have that one asset that will carry him to the NHL. He’s likely a two-way defender when all is said and done. He has some skill in his game, but only utilizes it in bursts. He’s shown that he can produce, thanks to a big shot and some accurate passing. He defends well, not afraid to mix things up physically. Given the averageness of his game, the NHL isn’t a guarantee, and it does seem more likely that he carves out an AHL spot for himself. He could be a call-up option as well though and lock down a depth defender role.

9. Alexis Gendron

Selected near the end of the 2022 NHL Draft, the Flyers waited until the 220th selection to call Alexis Gendron’s name. He’s had a steady progression through his three seasons in the QMJHL, seeing his production jump forward significantly each season. He has no fear in his game despite his 5-foot-9 frame, often getting into the high-danger areas and finding his way into puck battles. He has an intriguing amount of creativity on the ice and has shown that he can put the puck in the net or dish it out. He’s a bit more reactive instead of proactive, and his ceiling is quite limited. His development has been promising and he’s still young, but at this point, it seems likely that he peaks as an AHLer. Even if that is the case, that’s a good return on a seventh-round flyer.

10. Olle Lycksell

Drafted way back in the 2017 NHL Draft, 168th overall, Olle Lycksell is another prospect in the system where patience has paid off. Drafted out the J20 SuperElit, he split the following season between the J20 SuperElit and SHL before spending the next three seasons as a regularly productive forward in the SHL. This season, he’s made the move overseas to the AHL, even seeing some time in the NHL. He’s been one of the most productive forwards for the Phantoms, exceeding expectations for a sixth-round pick. The centreman has good hands, a great level of creativity, and a very accurate snapshot. It was once thought to be a stretch for him to reach the NHL, but it now looks like just a matter of time. He looks like he could be a reliable secondary scoring option in the bottom six.

2017 NHL Draft Grades: Metropolitan Division – Philadelphia Flyers

Ryan Wagman — Sun, 02 Jul 2017 13:08:57 +0000

Shortly after 1:00pm CST, on Saturday, June 24, 2017, the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins selected William Reilly, a defenseman from RPI as the 217^th player selected, bringing the 2017 Entry Draft to an end. With a few days of hindsight between me and the bowels of the United Center, the urge to spew out hot takes flushed away, it is time to analyze the strategies and selections employed by the league’s 31 teams.

The analysis will focus on the first five rounds, as it is clear to most long-time observers that the final two rounds are often taken up with long-shots, favours to regional scouts, among other reasons. I will, of course, call out some astute late picks, but will not judge a team for the names called in the final hour. The apocryphal story of Pekka Rinne, drafted as an eighth round after-thought in 2004 based mostly on his play in game warm-ups. Few other scouts would have seen him at all, and he has had a very good career, which is not yet over. For the most part, though, those picks have little statistical likelihood of having NHL careers and teams should not be judged there.

Each draft class will be graded using the 20-80 scale that we use in our player specific scouting reports throughout the site. In this context, a 50 is essentially an average grade in light of the picks the team had on draft day. A 20 would mean the draft is an unmitigated disaster while an 80 would be the best draft class of all time. As those things can only be truly seen in retrospect, most classes will trend towards 50 at this point, so pay attention to those we see as outliers.

Finally, all grades are incomplete. Actual winners and losers in this draft class will not be known until 2023 at the earliest, after those who will have “made it” will have played out their entry-level contracts. What I am looking at here is whether, knowing what we know now, the drafting team got good value.

RD	#	CS	MCK	PLAYER	P	AGE	HT/WT	TEAM
1	2	1-N	1	Nolan PATRICK	C	18	6-2/200	Brandon (WHL)
1	27	31-N	41	Morgan FROST	C	18	5-11/170	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)
2	35	15-N	18	Isaac RATCLIFFE	LW	18	6-5/200	Guelph (OHL)
3	80	5-EG	hm	Kirill USTIMENKO	G	18	6-3/190	JHC Dynamo SPb (MHL)
4	106	33-N	56	Matthew STROME	LW	18	6-4/210	Hamilton (OHL)
4	107	72-N	111	Maksim SUSHKO	RW	18	6-0/185	Owen Sound (OHL)
5	137	121-N	hm	Noah CATES	LW	18	6-1/170	Stillwater (USHS-MN)
6	168	NR		Olle LYCKSELL	RW	18	5-10/165	Linkopings (Swe Jr)
7	196	NR		Wyatt KALYNUK	D	20	6-0/165	Bloomington (USHL)

RD	#	PLAYER	P	TEAM	GP (W)	G (L)	A (T)	PTS (GA)	PIM (Sv%)
1	2	Nolan PATRICK	C	Brandon (WHL)	33	20	26	46	36
1	27	Morgan FROST	C	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	67	20	42	62	36
2	35	Isaac RATCLIFFE	LW	Guelph (OHL)	67	28	26	54	65
3	80	Kirill USTIMENKO	G	JHC Dynamo SPb (MHL)	17	5	3	1.74	0.938
4	106	Matthew STROME	LW	Hamilton (OHL)	66	34	28	62	62
4	107	Maksim SUSHKO	RW	Owen Sound (OHL)	54	18	14	32	24
5	137	Noah CATES	LW	Stillwater (USHS-MN)	25	20	45	65	10
5	137			Omaha (USHL)	11	2	5	7	6
6	168	Olle LYCKSELL	RW	Linkopings (Swe Jr)	29	4	5	9	2
6	168			Linkopings (Swe Jr 18)	10	10	11	21	27
7	196	Wyatt KALYNUK	D	Bloomington (USHL)	60	6	25	31	82

Philadelphia Flyers – Draft Grade: 55

Nolan Patrick of the Brandon Wheat Kings. Photo by Tim Smith/Brandon Sun

In a draft without talent the likes of Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid, Patrick Laine or Jack Eichel, but with two high end players at the top of the class with little to separate them in overall value, the team owning the second pick of the draft had the easiest job around. Take the guy who wasn’t picked first. And that is exactly what the Flyers did. After New Jersey selected Nico Hischier at the top, Philadelphia rejected all trade overtures and drafted Nolan Patrick second overall.

Morgan Frost of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Assuming health – Patrick battled a few injuries last year and was reported to have undergone surgery in the recent past – Patrick should step right into a middle six forward role with Philadelphia, effectively replacing Brayden Schenn, dealt to St. Louis later on day one. When healthy, Patrick earns plus grades everywhere. As clear as that first pick was, the use the Flyers made of the pick received from St. Louis for Schenn was much more curious.

Morgan Frost is an excellent skater and talented playmaker, but he plays a very individualistic game with the puck and is very prone to high risk plays. He has enough hockey IQ to improve there, but his selection in the first round was a surprise. The Flyers’ Day Two was pretty strong, with a number of higher upside picks including Isaac Ratcliffe, who has everything you want to see in a power forward, Matthew Strome, who would have been a first rounder with even average skating abililty (he is currently a long ways from average), and Noah Cates, who was unstoppable offensively in high school and maintained impressive production in a late-season cameo with Omaha of the USHL.

Isaac Ratcliffe of the Guelph Storm. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Best value: Isaac Ratcliffe, LW, Guelph (2/35): Ratcliffe was viewed by many as a possible first rounder. He has ideal size and shows some proclivity for a power forward game. His point totals were not impressive, but he played for one of, if not the worst, team in the OHL. Had the Flyers selected him instead of Frost in the first round, no one would have batted an eye.

Biggest head-scratcher: Morgan Frost, C, Sault Ste. Marie (1/27): With all due credit to his speed and all-situations utility, Frost in the first round was a shocker. While he does not look like a traditional third line forward, that may be his ultimate destination. I highly suspect he would have been available with the pick they ultimately used to select Ratcliffe.