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Philadelphia Flyers: Now is the time to call up some prospects

By Benjamin Gabrych

LAVAL, QC - NOVEMBER 30: Look on Lehigh Valley Phantoms defenceman Philippe Myers (5) during the Lehigh Valley Phantoms versus the Laval Rocket game on November 30, 2018, at Place Bell in Laval, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LAVAL, QC - NOVEMBER 30: Look on Lehigh Valley Phantoms defenceman Philippe Myers (5) during the Lehigh Valley Phantoms versus the Laval Rocket game on November 30, 2018, at Place Bell in Laval, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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With the 2018-19 season not going as planned for the Philadelphia Flyers, it’s time for General Manager Chuck Fletcher to call-up some prospects and get a jump start on their developments.

After suffering their fifth straight loss at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes, it’s safe to assume that, barring some sort of miracle, the Philadelphia Flyers will not be making the playoffs this year. They’re 14 points out of the second wild card spot, sit dead last in the Metropolitan division, and are tied with the Ottawa Senators and Los Angeles Kings for last in the entire league.

With the season all but lost, Fletcher now must see what he has in some of the prospects currently playing for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The veterans on this Flyers team clearly aren’t helping and I see no harm in bringing in some young talent to bring a little energy to the club. Now, I’m not at all saying he should call-up every player performing well in the AHL, but there are definitely a couple worth taking a look at.

If I could choose just one prospect for Fletcher to send up to Philadelphia, it’d be defenseman Philippe Myers. I mentioned in this article how Myers would see NHL time this season, and he’s done nothing but make my case with his play for Lehigh Valley so far in the year.

Myers has netted 22 points (Six Goals, 16 Assists) in 32 games with the Phantoms thus far. That sits second on the team and ties eighth in the entire AHL in points among defensemen. He’s done almost all of his scoring damage at even-strength, as he only has three points on the power-play. That’s perfect for the Flyers because they have plenty of defensemen who can run the man advantage and need more offensive contribution from their blue-liners while play is even.

Another player I’d like to see get a true shot with the Flyers is someone we already saw up with the roster earlier in the season. Nicolas Aube-Kubel didn’t really get a fair chance when he was with the team back in November. Former Head Coach Dave Hakstol never put him on the ice for more than ten minutes in a game and went as far as playing him less than five minutes in three of the nine games he played in.

Aube-Kubel has looked very solid for the Phantoms since his return to the team and warrants another call-up from Philadelphia in my opinion. The 2014 second round pick has 16 points (Nine Goals, Seven Assists) in 24 games which sits seventh on Lehigh Valley in scoring. He’s consistently improved his offensive numbers through each of his three seasons in the AHL and was very solid in terms of puck-possession with the Flyers. For these reasons, I have to think that the point production in the NHL will come along eventually as he gets used to the pace of play.

Next. Flyers IIHF World Junior Championships Update. dark

Fletcher will have some big decisions to make in terms of roster moves as the Trade Deadline gets closer and closer. Calling up prospects should be a no-brainer move for him, though. Veterans like Dale Weise and Andrew MacDonald are doing nothing to improve the team, and I’d rather see some young talent make a few rookie mistakes than watch a player who likely has no future in  Philadelphia as a hockey player make those same blunders.

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