The last time I wrote about the Flyers was after the Expansion Draft. Today, I wanted to talk and go over all of the Flyers news that has happened since then. Such things will include: The Entry Draft and recent signings by the Flyers.
The NHL Entry Draft happened in June and the Flyers were the holders of the 2nd overall pick. With some rumors going around that the Flyers would trade that pick for a scoring winger, the eventually held onto the pick. With the pick they drafted Nolan Patrick. A power forward from the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL (Western Hockey League), many were concerned about his injury history. Many say that his injuries in the past will catch up to him and he won't be able to live up to his potential. Right now, it's to hard to tell since it's only August. I say he will prove scouts wrong and have a great rookie season.
Later on in the first round of the draft, the Flyers traded Brayden Schenn for Jori Lehtera, the 27th overall pick, and a future first round pick. With that pick, the Flyers selected Morgan Frost. I haven't looked up or researched anything about Frost yet, but scouts are saying this was a weak pick for the Flyers and wasn't worth it. As for Lehtera, I'm not a fan. There is no room for him in the lineup with all the rookies coming up in the system. This was one of the worst trades from Hextall in awhile.
A day after the draft, Hextall signed Mark Alt to a 1 year two-way contract extension. I will repeat what I said on Twitter about the deal: "I like that the Flyers are still giving him a shot. I don't see him making the roster next year but he will do good with the Phantoms. I can see him getting called up this season if a D-man goes down. He deserves more time in the NHL." That same day the Flyers announced they have made qualifying offers to RFAs: Cole Bardreau, Scott Laughton, Taylor Leier, Alex Lyon, Roman Lyubimov, Anthony Stolarz, and Mike Vecchione. I will come back to these offers in just a moment.
A couple days later, as you know Steve Mason's agent announced that he wouldn't be returning to the Flyers and that ruined my whole day. I wrote a small piece in tribute to Steve Mason, you can find that on my page. The next day, the Flyers announced that they FINALLY signed Jordan Weal to a two-year contract. I have high hopes for this kid, he is going to do great things in the NHL. That same day on Twitter I shared what I thought the Flyers Top 9 would look like next year, have a peak:
Jordan Weal - Claude Giroux - Wayne Simmonds
Travis Konecny - Sean Couturier - Jakub Voracek
Oskar Lindbolm - Valtteri Filppula- Nolan Patrick
Look at that! That is one going to be one of the best Top 9s in the league!
Soon, Free Agency hits and the Flyers sign their new starting goalie! What a surprise, the Flyers still haven't fixed their goaltending. They signed Brian Elliott to a two year contract. Now in two years, both Elliott and Neuvirth will be free agents. Then the Flyers will be right back at square one. I am really excited to see this tandem in action, but I really miss Mason already.
The Flyers announced that they have signed Vecchione, Corban Knight, and Phil Varone to two year contract extensions. Knight and Varone are AHL depth, but with Vecchione its hard to tell. He could end up in the AHL next year or he could be with the Flyers full time. The reason I say this is because Hextall still has high hopes for Scott Laughton. He was signed to the same contract as Vecchione, and they will be fighting for that 4th line spot. Leier was re-signed to a one year two-way contact. I like Leier but I feel like his time here is running out. Finally the Flyers signed Stolie, Lyon and Bardreau. I'm pretty sure Lyon and Bardreau are on two year deals and Stolie is a one year. Lyubimov, signed a contract with the KHL, but the Flyers still own his rights if he comes back to the NHL.
Now to finish things off, the Flyers made three more deals. They signed Patrick, Frost and Issac Ratcliffe to entry level contracts. I like all of these deals. I think they all have a bright future with the Flyers and they will be the ones who bring the Stanley Cup back to Philadelphia.
