PhHN Daily, Prospect Edition: Flyers Eyeing B1G Center, NCHC Awards, & More

Flyers Eyeing a Top Unsigned NCAA Prospect?

According to Elliotte Friedman’s Written 32 Thoughts, the Flyers may be eyeing Michigan State Spartans’ center Karsen Dorwart.

From though No. 25:

“Several teams suspect Philadelphia lusts after him (Dorwart) like an Angelo’s cheesesteak.”

Karsen Dorwart is one of the top unsigned NCAA prospects who will be available at the conclusion of the Spartans’ season. According to the MSU roster, the Michigan State Center stands at 6’1″, 195 pounds, which is the prototypical size.

He is tough. He plays physically at both ends, wins puck battles, and can score. However, the NCAA game is much different from the NHL game. Whether he can translate both levels of play from NCAA to NHL is questionable, but there is plenty of potential.

Dorwart attended Detroit Red Wings Development Camp back in 2023 and almost attended Toronto’s last year. There is definitely interest in him, so if the Flyers truly want him, they likely won’t be alone.

After this season, he still has one year of NCAA eligibility remaining, so if the offer he is looking for does not come up, nothing is stopping him from returning to school for one last season.

This year, Dorwart was second on his team in scoring to Isaac Howard, a Tampa Bay Lightning prospect.

Dorwart’s Stats

Freshman Year: 10 goals, 17 assists, 27 points in 38 games played.

Sophomore Year: 15 goals, 19 assists, 34 points in 38 games played.

Junior Year (This season): 11 goals, 16 assists, 27 points in 33 games and counting.

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Bump Wins NCHC Forward of the Year

Western Michigan left-winger and Flyers prospect Alex Bump was named the NCHC Forward of the Year.

Bump was two points under being a point-per-game player in his freshman campaign. In his current sophomore season, Bump has 20 goals and 23 assists in 36 games and counting. Bump and the WMU Broncos are a lock to make it to the NCAA Tournament.

He won the award over Jack Devine (Denver, FLA Unsigned) and Artem Shlaine (ASU, NJD Unsigned). Bump was also up for NCHC Player of the Year but lost that to Zeev Buium (Denver, MIN).

The Western Michigan forward has clearly made strides as the Flyers’ best NCAA prospect. He’ll have a real shot at making the team for next season if he does not join the Flyers after his NCAA season is over.

Bump was not the only Flyers prospect to pick up an NCHC award. Ty Murchison (ASU) was named the NCHC Defensive Defenseman of the Year.

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Jett Luchanko’s Breakaway Clapper

Flyers’ 2024 first-round pick, Jett Luchanko, has had a fantastic season back in the OHL this season. Last night, Guelph’s captain ripped a HUGE slapshot on the breakaway, adding yet another highlight score for the Flyers prospect.

Luchanko has 20 goals and 33 assists for 53 points in 44 games for Guelph Storm this season.

The Flyers sent him back to juniors with the intent of him learning to be “the guy.” He is having a “the guy” type of season. Guelph helped bolster his top line by adding Lev Katzin, who had 15 goals and 32 assists for 47 points in 42 points. The two have played very well together this season. Katzin is eligible for the 2025 draft and will likely fall somewhere between rounds 3-5, and is expected to attend Penn State next fall.

Guelph’s season ends on March 23rd, and Luchanko will become eligible to rejoin the Flyers at the conclusion of their season. It’s worth keeping in mind that Luchanko can play in five NHL games before he burns a year of his ELC.

The Flyers sent Luchanko down to preserve a year of his contract and let him have a chance to be “the guy,” so I doubt they will allow him to burn a year off his ELC. That said, with 10 games remaining for the Flyers after Geulphs season ends, Luchanko could play in half without losing a year.

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