Sanheim, Fazleev & Aube-Kubel Join Phantoms on ATO's

Travis Sanheim is the next highly regarded Flyers' prospect joining Lehigh Valley. Photo: Nina Weiss/The Home News

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms have seen the likes of several youngsters join their team in recent weeks, including defenseman Reece Willcox and forwards Steven Swavely and Oskar Lindblom.

The next trio of Philadelphia Flyers' prospects that are on their way to the Philadelphia Flyers' AHL affiliate is none other than defenseman Travis Sanheim and forward Radel Fazleev, whose Calgary Hitmen were eliminated in the first round of the WHL playoffs Saturday night, and forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel whose Val d'Or Foreurs were eliminated from the QMJHL playoffs Sunday night.

It's a youth movement for Lehigh Valley, as they are eliminated from the postseason and have just two weeks - six games - left on their regular season schedule. There's no better time than to get these three prospects their first taste of pro hockey. All three - Sanheim, Fazleev and Aube-Kubel, will be eligible to turn pro and play in the AHL with the Phantoms on a full-time basis in the fall.

The Phantoms' next game is Friday night on the road against rival Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. I'll have full coverage of the game live on the scene and hope to talk to the incoming prospects during the week at practice leading up to what could be their pro debuts this weekend. Stay tuned here and on Twitter (@TonyAndrock) for all the latest from Lehigh Valley.

Sanheim, the Flyers' 1st round draft choice (17th overall) in 2014, put up another fine season in the WHL with his second straight 15-goal season from the blue line, finishing with 68 points (15 goals, 53 assists) in 52 regular season games, second on the Hitmen only to another Philadelphia Flyers prospect in forward Radel Fazleev (19 goals, 52 assists).

Sanheim continued his strong play in the postseason, leading his team in playoff scoring with six points (one goal, five assists) in five postseason contests before Calgary was eliminated in Game Five last night by the Red Deer Rebels.

It's not out of the question that Sanheim will be with the Phantoms at practice this week and be ready in time to make his pro debut Friday night on the road against rival Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He's expected to travel to Lehigh Valley on Tuesday.

Fazleev, the Flyers' 6th round pick (168th overall) in 2014, finished the 2015-16 regular season with 71 points (19 goals, 52 assists) in 59 WHL games. He was held scoreless in five postseason games this spring, but it was reported he was playing through a broken finger. Immigration is slowing his arrival to Lehigh Valley, but the broken finger might prevent him from making his pro debut until the fall.

Aube-Kubel, the Flyers' 2nd round pick (48th overall) in 2014, put up his second straight 38-goal season in the QMJHL with Val d'Or before the team was surprisingly ousted in the first round - losing Game Six to Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in triple overtime on Sunday. Aube-Kubel tallied three goals in the six-game series and brings his skills to Lehigh Valley with six games left to make his pro debut before turning pro full-time in the fall.