PHILADELPHIA, Pa – At the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers, despite having very few blue chip prospects at left wing, only decided to draft one left winger. That honor went to Slovakian born Alex Ciernik with the second of the Flyers fourth round picks. Ciernik had two goals and on assist in five games at the Under 20 World Junior Championships.
The Flyers decided to move on from Issac Ratcliffe, who never seemed to get his stride the way he did in the OHL. Because the Flyers lack of draft picks on left wingers, their prospect pool has barely changed since last year’s list. Today we look at the Flyers top left wing prospects.
Cutter Gauthier – As mentioned in our article on the center prospects, Gauthier, who is a natural left winger, will be at the top of this list, as well as the list for centers as the Flyers decide where to use him. Regardless, he is their best left wing and center prospect. Gauthier waill only be at Boston College for one more season then go pro.
Noah Cates – Cates won the NCAA National Championship for Minnesota-Duluth and has proven to be a diamond in the rough. Cates is another solid find by Philadelphia in the 5th round in 2017. His stats don’t pop out at you, but his solid play does. Expect him to be in a Flyers uniform for quite a while.
Tanner Laczynski – A former 6th round pick in 2016, injuries have plagued him. Laczynski hasn’t played up to snuff since his days at Ohio State where he was one of college hockey’s best players. He is still a very good player but until he can prove he can stay healthy, don’t expect Philly to keep him past this season when he hits free agency.
Elliot Desnoyers – Desnoyers had 42 goals two seasons ago for Halifax (QMJHL) and 23 goals in 65 games for Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL). Once he cracks the Flyers lineup, it might be tough to get him out of it. PHN predicts he will make the big club out of training camps.
Alex Bump – Another 5th round gem, the Minnesota native was a prolific goal scorer at Prior Lake High School, putting up 48 goals and 83 points in 31 games during the 2021-22 season and was the Associated Press’ Minnesota Player of the Year. Bump was in the USHL with the Omaha Lancers, but bump will take his talents to the NCAA with Western Michigan.
Honorable Mention: Olle Lycksell – Lycksell was called up to the Flyers for eight games but failed to score a goal. Lycksell had 14 goals in 53 games for Lehigh Valley, but he needs to make an impact this time around. He should be a first call-up but the Flyers need to see more of him if he is to stick with the big club.
Brian Jennings covers the Philadelphia Flyers for prohockeynews.com and can be found on twitter at @Flyersfan22.
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