PHILADELPHIA, Pa – Heading into this year’s NHL Entry Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers had two major needs: Defensemen and right-wingers. In last year’s draft the Flyers did not draft a right wing and only drafted one the year before (Maksim Sushko in the fourth round) and only once in 2016 (Wade Allison in the third round). The current roster already has Travis Konecny and Jakub Voracek, both scored over 20 goals last season and the Flyers added Kevin Hayes who is listed as a right wing on the Flyers website but is supposed to play center next season.
In the pipeline, Sushko and Allison are near the top of the list of right wing prospects in the Flyers system. Of the seven players Philadelphia selected in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, three were RW’s; three were on D, and one goalie. Today we look at the Flyers top right wing prospects in the Flyers system.
Nicolas Aube-Kubel – Taken in the second round of the 2014 draft, Aube-Kubel was a true goal scorer in the Quebec Major Juniors scoring 38 goals in back-to-back seasons. With the exception of the 2016-17 season, Aube-Kubel has scored 10 or more goals in every season he has played in regardless if it was in the QMJHL or at the AHL level. So far, Aube-Kubel has not looked like a 30+ goal scorer.
Aube-Kubel could finally crack the Flyers roster as a fourth line right-winger. He is the only RW prospect in the system that is even close to cracking the Flyers roster and he might get his chance this fall.
Wade Allison – Allison was the third of three second round picks in 2016 for the Flyers and is the perfect power forward the Flyers need. Injuries have been a huge part of his story lately. His most recent was an ACL tear in one of his knees.
The feeling around the Flyers is that if it were not for his injuries in college he would most likely be on their third line. Before his injury, Alison was considered a Hobey Baker award candidate with the Western Michigan Broncos. He will get his chance next season, his senior season. If he can stay healthy, a roster spot in 2019-20 might not be out of the question.
Maksim Sushko – A solid pick by the Flyers in 2017 in the 4th round, Sushko has played three seasons for the Owen Sound Attack (OHL) where he scored 67 goals, 18 goals twice and 31 goals once. When he goes pro, Sushko has shown to be a very skilled player not only in the OHL but also during his stints during the Flyers rookie camps. If he can continue to progress Sushko could end up being a mainstay in the Flyers lineup for years to come.
Bobby Brink – 5’ 8”, 165, Sioux City (USHL). The Flyers moved up in the second round (34th overall) in this year’s NHL draft Brink after passing on several top prospects in the first round. Flyers brass was very excited to see him slide into the second round. Brink scored 35 goals and 68 points in 43 games in the USHL.
The Minnesota native will attend the University of Denver in the fall. He could end up spending only one year at Denver before turning pro. When he does make the Flyers roster, a first or second line spot is waiting for him in the Flyers lineup for years to come.
Egor Serdyuk – Two more 2019 prospects make our list, one of them is Serdyuk, a 6th round pick(165th overall out of Victoriaville (QMJHL), the Russian born native led all QMJHL rookies with 65 points and had 25 goals. He also had six points in 11 QMJHL playoff games. In 2017-18, Serdyuk had eight goals and five assists in 30 games in Russia’s MHL.
Serdyuk could turn out to be a dark horse to make the Flyers roster one day if he continues on his current progression.
Honorable Mention: Bryce Brodzinski – Brodzinski was passed over in the 2018 draft, but Brodzinski despite having 36 goals and 55 assists 29 games for Blaine High School and was named USA Today’s All-USA Boys Hockey Player of the Year as well as winning the coveted Mr. Hockey award as the best senior player in Minnesota.
In the USHL, Brodzinski had 7 goals and 10 assists in 19 games. Central Scouting ranked him 89th among North American skaters. Brodzinski is headed to the University of Minnesota. Expect him to play 2-4 years at Minnesota.
Brian Jennings covers the Philadelphia Flyers for prohockeynews.com and can be found on twitter at @Flyersfan22.
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