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 is the lack of scoring talent at the wing position, mostly on the left wing. The Flyers still have not drafted a winger in the first round 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 13 goals. Claude Giroux moved to left wing at the beginning of the season but he is not a true left-winger. Needless to say, the Flyers have some work to do to get the left wing situation up to snuff.
Center Nolan Patrick (#19) of the Philadelphia Flyers
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 was playing against men in recent years in Sweden and the overall quality of his play had made him the type of prospect that should make the Flyers roster come October.
Carsen Twarynski LW – Has been a pleasant surprise. A third round pick in 2016, Twarynski had 45 goals in 68 games for the Kelowna Rockets this season played very well for Team USA in the World Junior Championships in 2017. Expect Twarynski to start the season in the AHL and is a potential starter for Philly in 2019.
Radel Fazleev LW – Taken in the sixth round in the same draft as Lindblom, Fazleev was a teammate of Twarynski’s in Calgary in 2016 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 but he has struggled to get his scoring touch with the Phantoms.
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 coming, he is more likely to join the big club down the road than you realize.
Issac Ratcliffe – The Flyers moved up in the second round in 2017 to take Ratcliffe (35th overall). His size and skill are his biggest assets, and I do mean big. He scored 28 goals in 2016 and had 41 this year for Guelph. He is a huge part of the Flyers future in more than one way.
Mathew Strome – Strome, taken in the same round as Ratcliffe last season, he already has two brothers in the NHL and when gets his skating in order look for Strome to become a vital part of the Flyers lineup.
Honorable Mention: Tanner Laczynski – Laczynski, also a 6th round pick in 2016, has been a true find playing at Ohio State and was one of college hockey’s best players. A real find and is a player to watch out for.
Brian Jennings covers the Philadelphia Flyers for prohockeynews.com and can be found on twitter at @Flyersfan22.
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