PHILADELPHIA, Pa – The Philadelphia Flyers began the rebuild of their blueline in 2013 when they drafted Samuel Morin 11th overall in the NHL Draft. That was five years and another General Manager ago. Times have changed and so have the Flyers blueline since then. The Flyers have taken two other defensemen in the first round since and the results are starting to take shape.
Today we look at some of the top defensive prospects in the Flyers system. The criteria for making the list is that the player must have played in less than a full season worth of games at the NHL level.
Defensemen Radko Gudas (#3) and Ivan Provorov (#9) Goalie Brian Elliot (#37) of the Philadelphia Flyers along with Right Wing Patric Hornqvist (#72) and Center Sidney Crosby (#87) of the Pittsburgh Penguins look up-ice for the puck.
Travis Sanheim – It was never a question if Sanheim would make the Flyers roster but when. The first rounder taken in 2014, 17th overall, is more of an offensive threat than some of the other prospects in the system. He has shown to have an NHL shot and skates well for his size. His stats in juniors were very similar to Ivan Provorov’s, which is why the Flyers feel that eventually, with more playing time, he could become a double digit goal scorer.
Sanheim’s defensive play is still a work in progress so patience is the operative word. He should be a mainstay on the blueline once some of the veterans are moved off the roster. Our prediction is that Sanheim will stay up with the big club next season and once he is in South Philly, he will not be going back to Lehigh Valley.
Robert Hagg – Hagg was taken in the same draft year as Morin in the second round, but he was projected to go in the first. Hagg has had some trouble adjusting to the NHL level of play near the end of the season but he looks to be a mainstay coming out of training camp next season. Hagg has improved his defensive game greatly since being drafted and has shown a physical play that is much needed on a blueline with so many offensive defenseman.
Goalie Michal Neuvirth (#30) makes a save as Defenseman Brandon Manning (#23) of the Philadelphia Flyers move in.
Hagg should be a mainstay on the Flyers blueline if given the chance. That will all depend on what happens with two other people on our list.
Philippe Myers – Talk about your pleasant surprises. Myers was not drafted by the Flyers signing as a free agent. That is the bad news for Myers, in large part because the Flyers traditionally give draft picks more leeway. The good news is that the Flyers have been very patient with him and their patience is starting to pay off. Myers play and physical build is similar to Sanheim’s.
Despite having so many defensive prospects in the system, Myers appears to be in line to make the Flyers lineup next season, but if he is not you can bet that he will be the first call up from the AHL next season. A lot of what happens to Myers will depend on the fate of Morin.
Samuel Morin – Last year at this time Morin was at the top of our list. As previously mentioned, Morin has been waiting his turn and has come close to making the big club in recent years. Morin looked like he would win a job in South Philly out of training camp but Hagg beat him to the punch. Morin is seen as one of the few defensive minded defenseman the Flyers have in their entire system. He and was originally drafted to become the next Chris Pronger ever since the team lost Pronger’s presence on the blueline.
Injuries all but killed Morin’s season and now concern over his future with the team is in doubt. Morin must now convince Flyers brass that they did not make a mistake on him so the off-season will be huge for him if he will wants to make the Flyers roster.
Mark Friedman – A third round pick in 2014, Friedman has turned some heads. Most of the Flyers top prospects are starting to have an impact the Flyers roster but his future with the Flyers could be as a seventh defenseman. This was his first full season of play at the AHL level and is still a work in progress but good progress has been made nonetheless. He has never been a negative player in the plus/minus department prior to this season so his -5 rating this season is a blemish on a solid resume.
Friedman does not have great size at 5’ 10” and with the Flyers top defensive prospects, averaging over six feet tall that could become be a sticking point with Flyers brass. On any other franchise, he would get a longer look, but for now, he will have to hope.
Center Travis Konecny (#11), Center Claude Giroux (#28), Defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (#53), and Goalie Brian Elliot (#37) of the Philadelphia Flyers.
Brian Jennings covers the Philadelphia Flyers for prohockeynews.com and can be found on twitter at @Flyersfan22.
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