We will watch several players as the Flyers open camp, certainly more than 10, but here are our top 10.
Flyers announce 2024 Training Camp Rosters and Schedules beginning Thursday, September 19.
10) Santeri Sulku (#80), LW
PREDICTION: Darkhorse
Sulku, pronounced (SOL-ku-EW), is a 20-year-old left winger standing 6’3″, 216 lbs. and was the Flyers’ 7th Round (197th pick in 2022) and hails from Helsinki, Finland.
Sulku already possesses an above-average NHL winger body. He will likely be a long shot to make this team out of camp, but he’s an intriguing prospect who caught my eye at development camp.
According to an analysis of NHL players’ average weights, the average NHL left winger is 200 lbs. Sulku is among the top 30% of the heaviest players in the league, at above 210 lbs.
Sulku, according to the analysis, therefore, already possesses an NHL-ready body, which is typically the primary issue young prospects face when they need to add muscle to combat the rigors of the NHL. What has stood out at the development camp is the speed and heaviness of Sulku’s shot, which has been noticeable. We will keep an eye on him more so in the future, but if Sulku can demonstrate decent skating, defensive responsibility, and hockey IQ, it wouldn’t be long before we’d start to hear more about this young prospect.
9) Massimo Rizzo (#62), C
PREDICTION: Darkhorse; Mid-season call-up.
Check out our article on Rizzo from a few weeks ago: Seven Former 7th-Round Picks Highlight Flyers Rizzo’s Future Potential.
Rizzo is likely another future guy, but one who could win a job out of camp. Rizzo, at 5″11 188, is on the smaller size but was a two-time Hobey Baker award nominee at Denver over the past two seasons. As a 7th Rounder, the pathway to the NHL is not guaranteed and is generally difficult, especially if undersized.
To put his size in context a bit, last year, the 10 lightest players in the NHL were under 170 lbs., only one of which was a center. The average center is 197 lbs.
As Jake Robertson concluded in his analysis of the average height/weight in the NHL last year:
“This diversity underscores the fact that success in the NHL isn’t solely dictated by size or weight; rather, it’s the unique combination of skill, agility, strategy, and physical attributes that each player brings to the ice.”
Rizzo certainly brings agility and skill. For added camp intrigue, Rizzo and Bobby Brink (see #7) were teammates on a National Championship team together and are close friends.
For his part, Rizzo said that he and Brink are close and that Brink has been taking him under his wing.
“Me and Bob are close,” Rizzo said.
“So he has been great with kind of taking me in and introducing me, showing me what to do around here and how things work.”
It will be good to have a friend in camp, and hopefully, that will allow Rizzo to play freely at camp, but that alone will not be enough to make this team.
It would be awesome for the Flyers if the friends could find some early camp chemistry.
8) Egor Zamula (#5), D
LOCK TO MAKE TEAM
Check out the preview of the expected Top 7 Flyers Defensemen going into camp.
Zamula is coming off a 66-game campaign with the Flyers tallying 5 goals and 21 points and a +3 +/- in 16 minutes of average ice time.
He played 92 games for the Orange and Black in the 2020-21 season. The Flyers rewarded their RFA with a new two-year contract this summer.
If Zamula can handle another 4-5 minutes of ice time per night and add a bit more offensive production, the Flyers would be a much stronger team overall, and it would relieve the pressure of the #1 pair and the goaltenders.
7) Bobby Brink (#10), RW
LOCK TO MAKE TEAM
Check out our Top 6 Forwards heading into camp, where we go into more detail.
Brink was given a two-year extension this offseason at $3MM per season. Last year, Brink played 57 games for the Flyers, totaling 11 goals and 12 assists.
The Flyers will look for Brink to take his game to the next level. Last year, Brink was twelfth on the team in scoring (23 points), trailing the likes of Tyson Foerster (32 points), Ryan Poehling (28 points), and former Flyer Cam Atkinson (28 points). Those three played roughly 70+ games compared to Brink’s shortened 57 games, but the point remains: Brink needs to take his name to the next level for this Flyers team to take a jump. Adding a talented winger in Michkov will hopefully bring Brink more favorable on-ice matchups this season.
6) Jamie Drysdale (#9), D
LOCK TO MAKE TEAM
Drysdale, acquired mid-season last year, prepares for his first Flyers training camp under Tortorella.
The former #6 overall pick by the Ducks in 2020 played in 24 games with the Flyers last year, where he posted 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points, a -18 plus/minus, and an average ice time of 18:48.
Unfortunately, that’s not a stellar stat line for a #1 pick and the expected top-4 defenseman on your squad. However, before joining the Flyers, Drysdale had a goal and 4 assists in 10 games with the Ducks.
As I said earlier this summer, I expect Drysdale’s ice time and comfort level to pick up this year, and the production should follow.
5) Sam Ersson (#33) & Ivan Fedotov (#82): G
LOCKS TO MAKE TEAM
That’s not fair, JR. You named two players!
A few weeks back, I wrote that Goaltending this season was the Great Big Hope.
Goaltending will be one of the biggest factors for this team this year. Yes, I know that generally comes with the goaltending position (SPOILER: former goalie here).
However, the Flyers are at an inflection point for the position this year. Ersson had a good year in a tough spot, but the Flyers wore him down in March and April last year with no other solid goaltending options in a playoff push.
That all changed when Ivan Fedotov unexpectedly joined the team in April. Fedotov only appeared in 3 games last year down the stretch, relieving a tired Ersson and posting a 0-1-1 record, and surrendered 10 goals for a 4.95 GAA and paltry .811 percentage. Fedotov’s NHL stats are ugly but way too small of a sample size.
The excitement for Ersson stems from the 6’7″ Fedotov’s career KHL numbers: 61-55-8 record, .921 save percentage, and 2.22 GAA.
Shortly after the season, the Flyers signed Ivan Fedotov to a 2-year, $6.5 million contract. Meanwhile, Ersson is in the final year of his deal.
This year’s question on the net will be whether Ersson will keep the #1 job or Fedotov will take over, having another year left under contract.
4) Matvei Michkov (#39), RW
LOCK TO MAKE TEAM
If you’re just now paying attention to the Flyers after a long summer, there is good news.
The 2023 first-round pick (#7 overall) unexpectedly joined the Flyers over the summer, and a key piece of the rebuild is here and ready to go—LIKE RIGHT NOW!!!
In case you are wondering, Michkov is probably #1 on the minds of the Flyers fans this offseason and has the potential to be #1 most important player this upcoming season. But JR, you have him #4 on this list. We expect Michkov to be a world-class player from the jump, and early indications have not disappointed us. The few players I ranked as more interesting on this list can further unlock Michkov’s abilities and, thereby, the team with improved play.
What more can be said of Michkov that hasn’t already been said this offseason? Well, we will let Michkov’s highlights do the talking until he can create some more. ENJOY!
3) Joel Farabee (#89), LW
LOCK TO MAKE TEAM
Earlier this month, The Hockey News of Farabee said:
“Farabee created a good amount of chatter as a trade candidate. However, as we now inch closer to the start of training camp, the 6-foot winger remains a Flyer – at least for now.”
Farabee was third on the Flyers with 50 points in 82 games last year. According to last year’s stats, Farabee had the third-best shooting percentage among forwards (12.1%), behind Konecny (13.5%) and Bobby Brink (13.6%).
Farabee enters year 3 of a 6-year contract at $5MM per year; however, on a team that has several scoring-capable wingers (Konecny, Brink, Tippett), now adding Michkov. Unfortunately, Farabee might feel a numbers crunch. He could be an asset that gets moved to fill another void, such as a #1 center—more on that next.
At only 24, on a reasonable contract, and with a proven ability to produce, the Flyers should hold on and continue his development. However, later this year, for a team and fanbase that is eager to get back to the playoffs, the Flyers might have to give up something to get something needed in return.
2) Sean Couturier
LOCK TO MAKE TEAM
This team is desperate for a #1 Center. At least, that’s what all the league chatter says the Flyers need, especially with Michkov now in tow. A few years ago, the Flyers’ prior plan was for Couturier to be that guy.
Between 2017 and 2020, Couturier was the guy the Flyers need today. He averaged 0.91 points and 21 minutes TOI per game and won the Selke Trophy as the league’s #1 defensive forward (2019). Last year, Couturier averaged 0.51 points per game with an average TOI of 17:49 as he tried to regain his form following injuries.
I debated whether Sean Couturier’s regaining his form or Morgan Frost’s continued development would be more impactful this year. I landed on #1 because I am hopeful that Frost (24) is on the upswing due to age, as opposed to Couturier (31) trying to regain his form.
Flyers fans will root for Couturier’s play to be unburdened by past injuries, for him to feel good, and for him to be ready to go.
1) Morgan Frost
LOCK TO MAKE TEAM
Frosty ranked 5th in total points on the Flyers last year, putting up 13 G and 28 Assists for 41 points, only slightly ahead of Scott Laughton (39) and Sean Couturier (38) among centers last year.
Frost should have every opportunity to grab the #1 Center spot if he chooses. He already outscored Laughton and Couturier last year, and he was a +4 last year compared to Laughton (-9) and Couturier (-10) in the +/- category last year.
Numerous players could complement Frost’s game with him at center.
Size can be added to the wings (Farabee, Tippett) and grit along the boards (Cates, Delauriers, Hathaway). A speed line of Brink, Frost, and Michkov could be dynamic but perhaps a defensive liability.
The point is that, like his campmate from his first camp (Farabee), this is Morgan Frost’s make-or-break year. We’ll be looking to see how he looks and who he lines up with as his wingers at camp.
PHOTO: Kyle Ross/Imagn Images
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