Connect with us

Flyers Prospects

Flyers’ Roster Cuts Expose New Organizational Weakness

Published

on

Philadelphia Flyers news
(Photo: AP)

The Philadelphia Flyers had a number of young defense prospects pushing for an NHL roster spot out of training camp.



By the end of final roster cuts, which came on Friday, none of them were left standing.

For a rebuilding team that is returning the exact same defense core from the 2023-24 season, that is cause for some concern, even with the numbers game playing a large part in the final outcome.

And, in fairness, that also says a lot about 2024 first-round pick Jett Luchanko, who made the Flyers outright just six weeks after turning 18 years old. But it would have been just as simple to send Luchanko back to the OHL to develop with the Guelph Storm for another year,

Ultimately, the lack of progression at the other end of the ice made the decision a little bit easier.

Swedish defenseman Emil Andrae was probably the closest in terms of making the NHL roster this season, but the seven defensemen ahead of him and a lack of North American experience factored against him.

Essentially, after just one full season in the AHL with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the Flyers would prefer Andrae to play regular minutes for another season, rather than play 13 or 14 minutes a night every once in a while.

The same is true of physical specimen Hunter McDonald, who dominated his opponents along the walls but frequently struggled with his defensive assignments and passing.

Another physical defenseman, Adam Ginning, will turn 25 in the middle of the season. He, too, struggled immensely when asked to move the puck, and heading into his third season, with over 100 AHL games under his belt, the clock is ticking.

Perhaps most notably, 2023 first-round pick Oliver Bonk did not play his best hockey in this past training camp and preseason, and though the Flyers are hoping that Jamie Drysdale is good enough to make him a second-pairing player, there are no guarantees in the NHL.

In short, the Flyers do not have many defense prospects who project well at the NHL level going forward, let alone being part of a Stanley Cup-caliber group that the front office aspires to build.

If the 2024 training camp and preseason have taught us anything, it’s that the Flyers must continue to draft defensemen with a more translatable suite of tools for the pro game.

17 Comments
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

17 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Tony Manero

Seeler is a career #6-7 dman,.he had his best year at thirty as a pending UFA.and Walker helped his game alot. Guaranteed he reverts back to his real self. Drysdale is small, injury prone,.weak defensively and three years behind in his development. He is not close to a second pair dman. I’ll bet our second pair is demoted to third pair by late November. I’ll also bet Drysdale is traded as soon as Bonk is ready. We lost that Gauthier trade by a mile.

Scott Rosset

Dumbest thing Philadelphia ever did was letting Gost get away, still can’t believe that bonehead move.

Romus

Ghost had one plus skill ….power play specialist….he was atrocious in 5-on-5 down low always being shoved off the puck by stronger forwards. In his 7 years in Philly he had two good years 2015/16 and 2017/18….and was a minus 31 for his total career in Philly. His total career plus/minus is a minus 75….now going on his 4th team after Philly.

Last edited 3 months ago by Romus
Tony Manero

Drysdale is the new Ghost, expect he has no shot and doesn’t score but he’s equally bad defensively.

Romus

I am hoping one of either York or Drysdale turn into a poor man’s version of Av’s Cale Makar. Drysdale when drafted was the 6th player taken…..so scouts were very high on him….only Sanderson of the Sens was drafted before him at one pick earlier. Also hope he stays healthy…he has gained weight and muscle from what I have heard. Someone said 18 lbs….not sure about that.

Mikey Likey

Methinks you are forgetting just how truly awful he was most of the time and are likely fondly recalling his spark when he first got called up.

Overall he was below average. He sometimes looked better than he actually was bc he WAS better than the dreck team around him. That doesn’t mean he was actually good

#1CanadianFlyersFan

Stop it now, what were the flyers to do justkeep holding out and waiting till the turnaround, if that ever came(it did) he was injury plagued for most of his time in Philly and underperforming. Yes it sucks he started to get back to himself but I can’t blame flyers.

Romus

Perhaps the key behind the Gauthier trade will be the Ducks 2nd round pick in a deep 2025 draft…..could be a top 40 pick.

#1CanadianFlyersFan

I disagree i think Seeler still plays well for us for next 2 seasons then trade. Not sure if you seen but Drysdale just put 20 pounds on in off-season, so I’m hoping he’s really putting a big effort in to him developing. I agree he’s a bit behind too, but I believe flyers are gonna be big part in him getting stronger and playing smarter. If he stays healthy and has a good year ,he won’t be traded but if not then it’s a huge loss for Flyers in the William ,JD trade

GMan

Bonk has not impressed much. Seems like they should have picked Gabe Perrault instead. Unfortunately, he’s a Ranger.

Gordon Glantz

They could have and should have drafted Zeev Buium 12th overall. They then could have used some draft capital to move back into the middle of the round to take Luchanko. Five years from now, when Buium is a top-four defenseman who can quarterback a top power play unit, remember what I’m saying!

GMan

Guess you didn’t know that Buium had the same agent as Gauthier. There was a better chance of a blizzard in hell than the Flyers drafting him.

#1CanadianFlyersFan

Could have, but don’t know if it could of happened or not. Maybe there waiting till 25 draft, since we have many picks. Another thing , I hear that alot of teams talk in 1st round cause of trades etc so most teams know who other teams are picking. So for all we know Jett was gonna be taken by someone else earlier. We just don’t know. I’m not angry at it. And zeev is small, we need to get more size, not drafting more and more small d men

Woody

I often wonder why some of you aren’t GM’s on actual teams.

Romus

We are not GMs, but we play them in real life.

Romus

Latest on big Swedish center Jack Berglund.
Started season with Fargestad-J20 team. a level below the SHL…in 8 games , he had 7 goals and 5 asists-12 points.
Promoted to Fargestad’s SHL club recently…..the Swedish elite league…..so far 4 games played and one assist.
Competition is stronger and players are older…it will be interesting to see how he does. Still 18-years old until next April and growing….6’3″ and 209 lbs.

Get PhHN in Your Inbox

Enter your email address to get all of our posts sent directly to your inbox.

Flyers Cap Info