PHILADELPHIA, Pa – If the Philadelphia Flyers had one major weakness, not only on their current NHL roster but throughout their organization heading into this year’s NHL Entry Draft, it was the last of scoring talent at the wing position, mostly on the left wing. The Flyers still have not drafted a winger in the first round regardless if it is on the left or 
right side, since 2007 when the Flyers drafted second overall and took James Van Riemsdyk.
This year, the Flyers spent their second overall pick on Nolan Patrick. Potentially he could play on wing due to his size, but that is not in the Flyers plans anytime soon. The Flyers highest scoring LW this season was Michael Raffl with eight goals. Needless to say, the Flyers have some work to do to get the left wing situation up to snuff.
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.
Oskar Lindblom LW – When Lindblom was originally drafted in the 5th round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, the knock on him was his skating. No one is knocking him for his skating these days. Lindblom has been playing against men in recent years and the overall quality of his play had made him the type of prospect that should make the Flyers roster come October. The worst-case scenario is that he will start in the AHL and become the first call-up.
He played in eight games last season for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and had 2 goals and 5 assists. This year he had 22 goals in 52 games playing in the Swedish Elite League.
Nicolas Aube-Kubel RW – Taken in the second round in the same draft as Lindblom, Aube-Kubel was a true goal scorer in the Quebec Major Juniors scoring 38 goals in back-to-back seasons. So far he is having trouble getting his scoring touch back. Last season for the Phantoms, he only had 9 goals in 71 games. Look for Aube-Kubel to be back in the AHL next season before anyone panics about his lack of scoring, the former second round draft pick in 2014 will be shown plenty of patience. Hopefully patience will pay off for him.
Carsen Twarynski LW – Has been a pleasant surprise. A third round pick in 2016, Twarynski had 20 goals in 67 games for the Calgary Hitmen in 2016 and 17 for two different teams combined in 2017. He also played very well for Team USA in the World Junior Championships. Expect Twarynski to stay in WHL one more season before hitting the AHL.
Radel Fazleev LW – Taken in the sixth round in the same draft as Aube-Kubel and Lindblom, Fazleev was a teammate of Twarynski’s in Calgary and the Flyers defensive prospect Travis Sanheim. Fazleev led the Calgary Hitmen in 2016 in points with 19 goals and 52 assists. Not bad for such a late round find. He struggled to get his scoring touch with the Phantoms and will return to the team next season he is not as much of a dark horse and one might think.
In the recent prospect camp, Fazleev played extremely well, especially when he was paired with Fellow Russian German Rubtsov, and with the influx of Russian players, he is more likely to join the big club than you realize.
Honorable Mention: Issac Ratcliffe, Mathew Strome, and Noah Cates – All three players were taken in this year’s draft. The Flyers moved up in the second round to take Ratcliffe 35th overall. His size and skill are his biggest assets, and I do mean big. Strome already has two brothers in the NHL and when he also gets his skating in order look for Strome to become a vital part of the Flyers lineup in the future. Cates was taken in the fifth round but his talent will be studied for some time, like Lindblom he could become another late round sleeper.
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