PHILADELPHIA, Pa – At the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers continued their quest to increase the prospect pool of high-end talent, especially in the scoring department among left wingers. Despite drafting Cutter Gauthier 5th overall, the idea appears to be to eventually move him to center. The reliable James Van Riemsdyk is currently on the last year of his contract and Joel Farabee is as solid as it comes but Philly need to add scoring talent at left wing.
Could the Flyers already have what they are looking for in their system, or could the Flyers be look at the upcoming draft. It is not a good year for left wingers but according to TSN analyst Craig Button, Eduard Sale is the second rated prospect heading into the draft just behind Connor Bedard. The left-wing prospect in 2023 scored 42 goals in 39 games last year for Brno (CZE).
Colby Barlow also had 30 goals in 57 games for Owen Sound (WHL) but can play either wing. He is rated 7th overall. If the Flyers have another year like last season, it wouldn’t be out of the question that the Flyers make call for a scoring left winger in June.
Today we look at the Flyers top left-wing prospects. In recent years, we had to combine reviewing the left and right-wingers due to the lack of quality prospects, but things have changed under the Ron Hextall regime.
Issac Ratcliffe – The Flyers moved up in the second round in 2017 to take Ratcliffe (35th overall). He has struggled to get back to his 50-goal season in the OHL for the Guelph Storm. His size and skill are his biggest assets. He is only 23 years old, but this is a big season for him in the AHL if he was to make the big club.
Tanner Laczynski – A former 6th round pick in 2016, has been a true find since playing at Ohio State where he was one of college hockey’s best players. A real find and is a player to watch out for. He made the Flyers out of training camp. He could stay up the Flyers all season.
Noah Cates – Cates won the NCAA National Championship for Minnesota-Duluth. He is another solid find by Philadelphia in the 5th round in 2017. His stats don’t pop out at you but his solid play does. Expect him to be in a Flyers uniform for quite a while.
Elliot Desnoyers – Desnoyers had 42 goals last season for Halifax (QMJHL) and already has two goals in two games for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL). Once he cracks the Flyers lineup, it might be tough to get him out of it. Expect him to be another life, long Flyer if he develops in into the goal scorer he appears to be.
Alex Bump – Another 5th round gem, the Minnesota native was a prolific goal scorer at Prior Lake High School, putting up 48 goals and 83 points in 31 games during 2021-22 and was the Associated Press’ Minnesota Player of the Year. Bump is currently in the USHL with the Omaha Lancers.
Honorable Mention: Olle Lycksell – Recently Lycksell was called up to the Flyers because of the injury to Owen Tippett. Despite turning heads in training camp, he still needs another year or two of development in the AHL.
Brian Jennings covers the Philadelphia Flyers for prohockeynews.com and can be found on twitter at @Flyersfan22.
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