The NHL offseason is taking a big breath. As anticipation and speculation build surrounding the start of the upcoming season, teams have largely built their rosters that they believe to be strong enough to take them to a Stanley Cup. For the Philadephia Flyers, it's been an interesting few months and while there are still some questions to answer, there is a lot to get excited about.
Developing young talent has been this franchise's bread and butter for quite some time now and as a result, there is a bevy of youthful names looking to take a significant leap next season.
Joel Farabee, 20, W
The 14th overall pick back in 2018, Farabee was called up to the Flyers on October 20th after watching they watched him start his first professional season with the Phantoms in an explosive fashion, scoring a goal in each of his first three games.
He kept that momentum up at the NHL level, scoring his first NHL point just 3 days after making his debut, and his first goal one week later. In 52 games for the Flyers, Farabee amassed 8 goals and 13 assists, with a +6 rating. The rookie traveled with the team to the Bubble in Toronto, scoring 3 goals and adding on 3 assists in 12 games, while averaging 14:09 of ice time.
Farabee became a key component of the Flyers offense last year and there's a strong chance he could even break the second line as a left winger depending on Lindblom's availability and progress. If Lindblom is ready to surge back into the lineup, then a role on the third line at RW alongside Frost and Hayes would make sense.
However you slice it, Farabee should be set to see an uptick in production and will log regular minutes on the second and third lines.
Nolan Patrick, 22
Perhaps the biggest wildcard of all, the former second overall pick ensured his short-term future is in Philadelphia by accepting his qualifying offer. After missing the entirety of last season due to a migraine disorder,he returned to practice prior to the season's abrupt suspension and has since partaken in several scrimmages.
If he's on his way back to playing regular Hockey, the upside is tremendous. We all know how dangerous Patrick can be. He's played in 145 games as a Flyer and in that time has amassed 26 goals, 35 assists, combining for 61 total points. This largely gets overlooked because of the time missed, but it's important to remember his age and the delicacy of the situation.
Should Patrick play a role in the upcoming season, he'll likely rotate onto the fourth line, replacing either Morgan Frost or Scott Laughton when they need a night off. This would work nicely in the long-term given that it eases him back into action and gives the team an opportunity to see if they do have a long-term option. If things don't work out and Patrick needs more time, Laughton is the perfect backup plan for that fourth line.
If Patrick does take to the Ice and make an instant impact that he can sustain, then those tricky contract negotiations will open once more.
Morgan Frost, 21
Frost should make the team pretty comfortably coming out of camp. His game might not be as polished as a vet like Scott Laughtno, but his upside is what makes him so intriguing and a spot on the third line seems likely providing that the team don't send him down to the Phantoms to begin with.
After making his NHL debut last year and playing in 18 games before being sent back down. In 20 total games for the Flyers, he scored 2 goals and notched 5 assists - a stark contrast to his 29 points across 41 games for the Phantoms.
Any ice-time will be of huge benefit to Frost, who arguably has a skillset a little less developed than Patrick, but the flashes of creative flair were simply too hot to ignore. If Frost starts the season on the main roster, cycling with Patrick and Laughton makes sense until AV finds the best combination. Should he log more than 18 appearances and avoid being sent down, then that is a huge developmental stride.
However, even if he is, it's not the end of the world and will obviously be a better-suited environment where he can log more minutes and refine his game. Frost will be a name to keep a lose eye on next season.
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Nic Aube-Kubel, 24
NAK is coming off of a strong end to his second season in the NHL and one that was rewarded with a two-year contract. Of the 15 points he recorded in 36 games, 10 of those came in the team's final 15 matchups before the big pause. His spike in form played a huge part in pushing the Flyers to the top of the pile.
Easily one of the more physical players on the team, he scored 3 points in 13 playoff games, but actually led the team in hits in the bubble with 52. He also led in this metric when looking at all Flyers who played in 20+ games.
We can expect NAK to pick right up where he left off last year as a depth right winger who could well work his way up to the third line if Farabee tails off or seems to hit teething problems.
A vital piece of the Flyers' offensive depth puzzle, NAK could be primed to take the biggest jump of the names listed here due to making such significant progress after his NHL call-up last season.
Oskar Lindblom, 24
The whole world is waiting to rejoice. Oskar Lindblom is so close to making his full NHL return after finishing cancer treatments at Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center. Lindblom was having a great season for the Flyers, notching 11 goals and 7 assists in 30 games before he was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma.
After beating the rare form of cancer, Oskar was among the 31 players to make the playoff roster. Not only did he make the roster, but in a vital game 6 OT win, AV turned in the direction of the Swede with both Couturier and Farabee down. Oskar Lindblom played in 17:30, recorded 3 shots, two hits, and blocked a shot. What’s stunning is that Lindblom was even more ahead of schedule than even we thought!
Training Camp is going to be a very different ball-game, especially amidst COVID concerns. However, the extended break may only benefit Lindblom in the long-run, who could be ready to step back into his role on the second line. Flyers fans were jubilated to see the inspiring young man beat Cancer, and after inking a new three-year-deal and being named a Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy Finalist, his fairytale story looks like it's showing no signs stopping anytime soon.
Carter Hart, 22
It's almost hard to envision the wonderkid taking an even bigger leap than he already has, but that's par for the course at this point.
Hart was a different beast at the Wells Fargo Center last year, going 20-3-2, allowing 1.63 goals per game and amassing a .945 save percentage. While his road record was a little cooler, he still posted posted the league’s eighth-best GAA and recorded 24 wins. When he got to the postseason, many wondered if he was mentally ready for the challenge.
He smashed it.
In 14 total games, Hart rallied to a 9-5 record, picking up a pair of shutouts in the process. He ranked 3rd among goalies who played in 10+ games in save percentage (.926%) and 5th in GAA (2.23). There were some regrettable moments, but some absolutely sensational performances that truly kept the Flyers alive, kicking and screaming.
Hart was exceptional last year. How high is the ceiling next season? As high as it possibly can be. He's already proven he's the real deal, and the ascension may only continue.
Photo Credit: Alex Mcintyre
