Flyers Sign German Rubtsov, Linus Sandin To Contracts
On Monday afternoon, the Philadelphia Flyers signed forward German Rubtsov and forward Linus Sandin each to one-year, two-way contracts with an average annual value of $750,000 each, according to Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher. Both players were scheduled to become restricted free agents this offseason and are now under contract for the upcoming 2021-22 season.
GERMAN RUBTSOV
Rubtsov, a native of Chekhov, Russia, was a first round draft selection of the Flyers back in the 2016 NHL Draft under former general manager Ron Hextall’s regime. Rubtsov spent this past season on loan with HK Sochi of the Kontinental Hockey League, where he recorded three goals and eight assists for 11 points in 45 games in Russia’s top league.
Rubtsov spent time in the Junior Hockey League (MHL) in Russia from 2015 to 2017 between the Team Russia U18 squad and Russkie Vityazi Chekhov, and even made his KHL debut with Vityaz Podolsk in 2016-17, where he recorded no points and six penalty minutes in 15 games.
Rubtsov made the jump to North America the same season and played for the Chicoutimi Sagueneens of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, appearing in 16 games for the club and registering 22 points.
Rubtsov spent the 2017-18 season between Chicoutimi and the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, and he scored 15 goals and 28 assists for 43 points in 49 games between the two teams. He also posted five goals and five assists for 10 points in 19 playoff games as the Titan clinched the President’s Cup as QMJHL champions, before going on to win the Canadian Hockey League’s Memorial Cup, the top prize in all of major junior hockey.
Rubtsov began his North American professional career with the American Hockey League’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the 2018-19 season, appearing in just 14 games for the Flyers’ top minor-league affiliate. Rubtsov netted six goals and four assists for 10 points in that span before having his season cut short due to a shoulder injury that required surgery.
Rubtsov’s 2019-20 saw him play in 42 games for the Phantoms, recording just two goals and 11 assists for 13 points. He did also make his NHL debut and played in four games for the Flyers, registering 0 points in his brief stint with the big club.
LINUS SANDIN
Sandin signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the Flyers in April of 2020, and spent his first season in North America this past year with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Sandin scored six goals and four assists for 10 points in 26 games with the Phantoms. He began the 2020-21 season in the Swedish Hockey League on loan with HV71 and posted four goals and six assists for another 10 points in 20 games.
The 25 year-old Uppsala, Sweden native and older brother of Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Rasmus Sandin spent the majority of his youth and junior career playing through the ranks of MODO Hockey’s clubs. He made his SHL debut with Rögle BK for the 2017-18 season and racked up seven points in 42 games in his rookie year with the team.
Sandin netted a career high 19 goals and 17 assists for 36 points in 51 games in 2019-20 before the season was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Chuck Fletcher and the Flyers would sign Sandin just over a month after the SHL formally cancelled their playoffs.
Sandin also participated in the Flyers’ very brief training camp and played in the team’s Orange and White intrasquad scrimmage before he was sent down to the Phantons before the season started.