PHILADELPHIA – Another hockey season has come and gone but it also means another season of reevaluating the latest group of Philadelphia Flyers prospects. We have some newcomers to our list and some new ones now that the 2024 NHL Draft is over. Usually we make a top-five list of each position with one or two Honorable Mentions.
Today we take a look at the top defensemen in the Flyers farm system for 2024. Egor Zamula has graduated off our list.
Ronnia Attard – There are mixed feels about Attard now that other top prospects are in the mix. Attard was their second-best defenseman in their system choice. An offensive minded defenseman that the Flyers need and could be a regular member of the Flyers for years to come. He is a right handed power play specialist that the Flyers need and he has good size (6’ 3”) and with size being back in vogue Attard just might become a regular at 25 years old or the Flyers will most likely trade him as part of a package.
Adam Ginning – Flyers really like his progression. Ginning also has a 6’ 3” frame and would be a solid addition to the blueline once the Flyers decide what to do with Rasmus Ristolainen. The former second rounder could be paired with fellow Swedish defenseman Emil Andrea once they both make the parent club. It looks like that dream will eventually become a reality sooner than later.
Emil Andrea – Andrea is only 5’ 9” inches tall and that is the problem with Andrea in a nutshell. Size was a factor in not drafting Zeev Buium. The Flyers are hoping they didn’t pass up on a future superstar. A second-round pick in 2020, the Flyers see him as another player in the same mold as former Flyer Kimmo Timonen. Expect Andrea to see time with the parent club, but in what capacity is what the real question is.
Oliver Bonk – Taken in the first round in last year’s draft, Bonk looks like the steal of the draft. The Flyers were hoping teammate Sam Dickinson would have fallen to them at 12 but San Jose took him at 10. Flyer fans had the pair dancing in their heads, but They are more than happy with the blueliners coming up in their system. Bonk will be no worse than a second pairing defenseman for the Flyers.
Hunter McDonald – Another solid kid with size (6’ 4”), McDonald was the Hockey East Best Defensive Defenseman for the 2022-23 season). He is considered a throwback defensive defenseman, something the Flyers are in desperate need of despite needing speed on the blueline. McDonald could be a mainstay for the Flyers for a very long period of time.
Honorable Mentions – Spencer Gill – Gill was the second of two second round picks in 2024(59th overall.) Gill had 12 goals and 34 assists for Rimouski in the QMJHL. The righthanded defenseman looks like someone that could control the Flyers blueline for years to come.
Brian Jennings covers the Philadelphia Flyers for prohockeynews.com and can be found on twitter at @Flyersfan22.
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