Flyers Prospect Report - September

Oskar Lindblom is off to a great start in Sweden. Perhaps he'll be in a Phantoms uniform this spring. Photo: Nina Weiss/Highland Park Hockey

Flyers Prospects Just Getting Started

Written by: Tim Riday - Twitter

It’s finally October, so you know what that means.

Time to talk hockey.

The NHL, AHL and NCAA seasons are right around the corner. Preseason games are already underway and roster cuts are being made left and right.

In the Flyers’ case, big-name prospects Travis Konecny and Ivan Provorov are making management’s life difficult. Will they stay around or be sent back to junior? That remains to be seen.

Elsewhere, leagues overseas and major junior hockey seasons are well underway. So what better time to check up on the Flyers’ well-stocked farm system?

In future reports, you’ll see the heavyweight names. We’re talking about the Travis Sanheims, Sam Morins, Nicolas Aube-Kubels etc. Maybe even Konecny and Provorov, who knows?

But, for now, it’s time to check up on the kids already playing meaningful hockey. Let’s get started!

NCAA Prospects

Goaltender Matej Tomek - University of North Dakota

2015-16 Season Stats: N/A
Monthly Stats: N/A

Tomek, who did not appear in a single meaningful game for the national champs last season, is entering his sophomore year at North Dakota.

In Saturday's 5-1 exhibition win over the Manitoba Bisons, the netminder saw over 21 minutes of game action after taking over the crease in the second period. He turned aside five of the six shots fired his way.

Goaltender Merrick Madsen - Harvard Crimson

2015-16 Season Stats: 29 GP, 18-7-3, 2.00 GAA, .931 save %
Monthly Stats: N/A

After an electric sophomore campaign in which he earned a nomination for the Mike Richter Award, an All-Ivy League honorable mention and Donald Angier Trophy as the team's most improved player, Madsen is gearing up for another season as Harvard's starting goalie.

The Crimson are scheduled to take on the USNTDP U-18 squad in an exhibition match on Friday night at 7 p.m. Then they'll kick off their regular season on the road at Arizona State on Oct. 28 and 29.

Defenseman Mark Friedman - Bowling Green Falcons

2015-16 Season Stats: 42 GP, 6 G, 17 A, 40 PIMS, Plus-8, 97 SOG

Monthly Stats: N/A

Friedman got his first action of the season in a 3-2 exhibition win over Windsor on Saturday afternoon.

The junior defenseman registered a primary assist while on a 5-on-3 power play on what turned out to be Bowling Green's game-winning goal late in the second period.

Friedman and the Falcons will open their regular season later this week with a back-to-back set at Bemidji State on Oct. 7 and 8.

Defenseman David Drake - University of Connecticut

2015-16 Season Stats: 25 GP, 0 G, 5 A, 10 PIMS, Plus-1, 19 SOG

Monthly Stats: N/A

Prior to Saturday's exhibition game, Drake was named an alternate captain for the Huskies in 2016-17.

The junior defenseman has appeared in 57 games in his first two seasons at UConn, notching one goal, nine assists and 71 blocked shots.

Defenseman Terrance Amorosa - Clarkson University

2015-16 Season Stats: 27 GP, 4 G, 12 A, 14 PIMS, Plus-9, 

Monthly Stats: N/A

Amorosa was limited to just 27 games last season because of injuries but still managed to finish second in scoring among Clarkson defensemen with four goals and 12 assists.

The junior defenseman was selected by the Flyers in the fifth round of the 2013 NHL Draft.

Forward Cooper Marody - University of Michigan Wolverines

2015-16 Season Stats: 32 GP, 10 G, 14 A, 20 PIMS, 60 SOG
Monthly Stats: N/A

Marody is looking to build on a solid freshman year at the University of Michigan.

The 2015 sixth-round pick was one of the Wolverines' most productive forwards despite battling an illness and bottom-six minutes in 2015-16.

According to Bill Meltzer of HockeyBuzz, Marody has been declared academically ineligible to play during the fall semester. Marody reportedly struggled in one class after battling a nasty bout with mono last January. The soonest Marody can be reinstated is late December.

 

Forward Wade Allison - Western Michigan University

2015-16 Season Stats (with Tri-City Storm): 56 GP, 25 G, 22 A, 46 PIMS, Plus-16
Monthly Stats: N/A

Allison, a second-round pick this past summer, was all over the ice in Saturday's 4-3 exhibition loss to the University of Toronto.

The freshman notched Western Michigan's first goal of the evening in the first period on the power play nearly seven minutes into the game.

He finished with six shots on target and also picked up two minor penalties.

Forward Tanner Laczynski - Ohio State University

2015-16 Season Stats (with Chicago Steel/Lincoln Stars): 52 GP, 24 G, 39 A, 38 PIMS, Plus-10
Monthly Stats: N/A

Laczynski's first appearance for Ohio State was a memorable one.

Sure, it was just a preseason tilt. But the 19-year-old made sure to stand out.

Laczynski recorded three assists, one shot and plus-5 rating in Sunday's 9-2 blowout of Wilfrid Laurier. Not a bad start at all.

CHL Prospects

Goaltender Carter Hart - Everett Silvertips (WHL)

2015-16 Season Stats: 63 GP, 35-23-1, 2.14 GAA, .918 save %

Monthly Stats: 2GP, 1-0-1, 1.94 GAA, .932 save %

Hart, the most recent recipient of an entry-level contract, was a busy man after being sent back to Everett.

The first netminder taken in the 2016 NHL Draft, Hart was spectacular in his season debut on Friday night. He made 31 saves on 32 shots to help the Silvertips to a 3-1 win over Portland.

Everett went right back to Hart in Sunday's tilt against Tri-City.

Forward Samuel Dove-McFalls - Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)

2015-16 Season Stats: 29 GP, 5 G, 7 A, 41 PIMS, Minus-4, 69 SOG
Monthly Stats: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 4 PIMS, EVEN, 2 SOG

Dove-McFalls, who appeared in just 29 games last season because of a serious knee injury, played his first two games of 2016-17 for Saint John this past weekend.

The 6-foot-1 center didn't record a point but was instrumental defensively in helping the Sea Dogs to 3-2 and 5-0 victories over Cape Breton and Moncton, respectively.

Forward Pascal Laberge - Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)

2015-16 Season Stats: 56 GP, 23 G, 45 A, 64 PIMS, Minus-3, 184 SOG
Monthly Stats: 2 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PIMS, Minus-1, 6 SOG

Laberge and the Tigres were blanked on Friday night by Quebec, 4-0, but came back strong on Saturday.

The Flyers' second-round pick earned his first goal of the season and Victoriaville took down Val-d'Or, 7-5, for its third win in four games to start the season.

Forward Carsen Twarynski - Calgary Hitmen (WHL)

2015-16 Season Stats: 67 GP, 20 G, 25 A, 42 PIMS, Plus-21,
Monthly Stats: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 7 PIMS, Minus-1

Twarynski found his way onto the box score in Calgary's season opener, it just wasn't exactly where the Hitmen needed his name at the end of the night.

Late in the first period, Twarynski was whistled for boarding and subsequently dropped the gloves with Kord Pankewicz of Lethbridge.

There wasn't much else to report. The Hitmen threw 34 shots on net but fell 4-0 in the opener.

Forward Connor Bunnaman - Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

2015-16 Season Stats: 68 GP, 16 G, 22 A, 14 PIMS, Plus-18, 132 SOG
Monthly Stats: 2 GP, 3 G, 1 A, 2 PIMS, Plus-1, 9 SOG

Kitchener swept both of its contests this weekend largely in part due to the contributions of Bunnaman.

The six-foot, 213-pounder tallied his first marker in the Rangers' season-opening 6-3 win over North Bay on Friday.

Bunnaman then broke out for two goals and an assist in Sunday's 9-3 thrashing of Sudbury.

Forward Anthony Salinitri - Sarnia Sting (OHL)

2015-16 Season Stats: 62 GP, 17 G, 13 A, 29 PIMS, Minus-5, 118 SOG
Monthly Stats: 3 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 2 PIMS, Even, 6 SOG

Salinitri, who is expected to be given more offensive responsibility this season, is off to a strong start for Sarnia.

The 2016 sixth-round pick earned two assists in his season debut, a 7-4 victory over Ottawa on Friday night. He was held off the scoresheet in a 7-4 loss on Saturday but rebounded with his first goal of the season in Sunday's 4-3 defeat at the hands of Sault Ste. Marie.

Prospects Playing Overseas

Goaltender Felix Sandstrom - Sweden Brynäs IF (SHL)

2015-16 Season Stats: 25 GP, 10-12-2, 2.65 GAA, .902 save %

Monthly Stats: 2 GP, 2-0-0, 2.50 GAA, .857 save %

Sandstrom hasn't exactly lit the world on fire his first two starts of 2016-17 but he's getting the job done.

Despite allowing a combined five goals on just 35 shots, the young netminder has still been to play strong enough to help Brynas win when he's between the pipes.

Goaltender Ivan Fedotov - Toros Neftekamsk (VHL)

2015-16 Season Stats: 29 GP, 2.22 GAA, .910 save %

Monthly Stats: N/A

Fedotov is expected to begin the season with Toros Neftekamsk of the VHL.

Defenseman David Bernhardt - Djurgardens IF (SHL)

2015-16 Season Stats: 45 GP, 10 G, 28 A, 30 PIMS, Plus-13

Monthly Stats: 6 GP, 4 G, 5 A, 6 PIMS, Plus-2

Bernhardt got off to an explosive start for Djurgardens' junior team, posting nine points (four goals) in his first six games.

He was called up to the SHL squad last week and played just five minutes in his season debut with the big club.

Defenseman Linus Hogberg - Vaxjo Lakers HC (SHL)

2015-16 Season Stats: 39 GP, 7 G, 18 A, 15 PIMS, Minus-7

Monthly Stats (Total between SuperElit/SHL): 8 GP, 0 G, 3 A, 0 PIMS, Minus-1

After starting with the Lakers' junior squad, Hogberg has spent the last four games with the big club. 

The young Swede recorded three assists at the lower level but has yet to find the scoresheet as an SHL player. His played under eight minutes in three of his four appearances, however.

Forward German Rubtsov - Vityaz Podolsk (KHL)

2015-16 Season Stats: 28 GP, 12 G, 14 A, 10 PIMS, Plus-12
Monthly Stats (Total between KHL/MHL): 10 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 6 PIMS, Minus-3

It's been a frustrating couple of weeks for the Flyers' 2016 first-round pick.

Rubstov averaged just 7:05 of ice time with Vityaz of the KHL in his first seven games. To make matters worse, he suffered a foot injury and was placed on IR.

Not to worry, though. He's appeared in three games for Russkie Vityzai Chekhov of the Russian junior league as a rehab assignment and is working his way back to being 100 percent.

Forward Mikhail Vorobyov - Salavat Yulaev (KHL)

2015-16 Season Stats (Total between KHL/MHL): 49 GP, 8 G, 18 A, 42 PIMS, Plus-10
Monthly Stats: 13 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 4 PIMS, Plus-1

Vorobyov, who received the rookie treatment in Russia last year, is finally getting an opportunity to show what he can do. The 19-year-old is averaging just over 10 minutes a game in the KHL for Salavat Yulaev. At times, last season, he was playing under four minutes.

Baby steps. But it's an improvement. And he's already managed to record four points (two goals) in his first 13 games in 2016.

Forward Oskar Lindblom - Sweden Brynäs IF (SHL)

2015-16 Season Stats: 48 GP, 8 G, 17 A, 14 PIMS, Plus-3, 91 SOG
Monthly Stats: 4 GP, 3 G, 3 A, 0 PIMS, Plus-3, 7 SOG

Lindblom is on fire.

Entering his second full season with Brynas, the smooth-skating forward has collected at least a point in all four of his appearances thus far.

It all started with a two-goal performance in his season debut. Lindblom also had a two-point night on Thursday when he notched a goal and an assist. Expect his minutes to continue to rise.

Forward David Kase - Piráti Chomutov (Czech)

2015-16 Season Stats (Total between Czech/Czech 2): 46 GP, 7 G, 9 A, 8 PIMS, Minus-8
Monthly Stats: 7 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 4 PIMS, Minus-1

Kase is receiving a lot more ice time, at least to start the 2016-17 campaign.

The versatile forward is benefitting from that, too. He had a two-point game last week and has been one of Chomutov's best defensive forwards.

Don't forget: This kid can flat-out fly. Don't be surprised if his offensive numbers increase.

Final Thoughts

Well, there you have it. Our first official Flyers Prospect Report of the season.

Don’t worry, we’re just getting started. Like I said above, we’ll have full updates and reports on some of the first and second-year Phantoms once they get underway.

The Flyers are building something special with their farm system, so make sure to check back in a month to see how the future is progressing.

Edited by: Tony Androckitis