PHILADELPHIA, Pa – There are certain realities in life: Death, taxes, and the Philadelphia Flyers drafting a center. In the past two seasons alone, the Flyers drafted two centers with their first two picks in 2017 and 2016. Last year it was Nolan Patrick and Morgan Frost, the season before it was German Rubtsov and Pascal Leberge.
The Flyers have always had a down-the-middle approach to building their team. Today we turn our attention to the top center prospects in the Flyers organization. Our rule of thumb usually is to list players who have less than a full seasons worth of games under his belt, which is why the first person on our list is on our top spot for 2018.
Nolan Patrick – The second overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft was the easy choice at the 2017 draft. Patrick got off to a slow start to his season but came through for the Flyers as the season went along. He plays as if he was born to have the Flyers crest on his chest. Next season he will drop off our list, which is a good thing in this case.
Center Nolan Patrick (#19) of the Philadelphia Flyers the to redirects the puck against Goalie Matt Murray (#30) of the Pittsburgh Penguins
Morgan Frost – The Flyers other first round pick last year had a great season in the OHL and looks like the kind of player the Flyers will fast-track to the NHL, but don’t expect him in the lineup next season. He has everything going for him except room on the current Flyers roster. He still needs to fill into an NHL body which is another reason he will not be in a Flyers uniform this season but a 2019 roster spot is almost a sure thing.
German Rubtsov – The Flyers first round pick in 2016 did not have the kind of season that he was expected to have but he was moved to left wing in juniors and that could be a major reason for his lack of production. It is unknown if Rubtsov will stay at wing or not but the early guess is he will eventually be moved back to center but when is the real question. Expect to see him back in juniors one more season or be in the AHL.
He is a quality prospect and might be in the AHL next season but the Flyers off-season will help determine that considering that they third and fourth line help who can play on the penalty-killing unit.
Mikhail Vorobyov – A fourth round pick in 2015, Vorobyov has Flyers brass drooling at his potential. He is not a goal scorer but could find himself on the Flyers third or fourth line eventually. He has the potential to be on the second line with the right players around him.
Connor Bunnaman – Bunnaman as drafted in 2016 in the fourth round and played for the Kitchener Rangers in the OHL. His is a solid scorer and has improved is overall game. Expect Bunnaman to start next season in the AHL but could start his career at the ECHL level before being bumped up to the A if the Lehigh Valley Roster becomes too crowded down the middle of the ice.
Tanner Laczynski – Usually sixth round picks done get noticed in the Flyers organization but those days are gone in the Ron Hextall regime. The Ohio State Buckeyes also played at the World Juniors playing for Team USA. He had 17 goals in 41 games for Ohio State this season. Expect Laczynski to be at OSU for one more season but we would not be surprised if he goes pro a little sooner. When he does, he will go straight to the AHL.
Honorable Mention: Pascal Leberge – The first of two second round picks in 2016, Leberge had a bounce back year after having a concussion and the Flyers think very highly of him. The Flyers are expecting big things from Leberge so be on the lookout for him in a Flyers uniform in two more years.
Brian Jennings covers the Philadelphia Flyers for prohockeynews.com and can be found on twitter at @Flyersfan22.
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