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Flyers Prospect Notes: No Action for Two Former First-Rounders

By Colin Newby

LOWELL, MA - MARCH 6: Jay O'Brien #18 of the Boston University Terriers skates against the Massachusetts Lowell River Hawks during NCAA men's hockey at the Tsongas Center on March 6, 2021 in Lowell, Massachusetts. The game ended in a 3-3 tie with the Terriers also winning an extra point in a shootout. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)
LOWELL, MA - MARCH 6: Jay O'Brien #18 of the Boston University Terriers skates against the Massachusetts Lowell River Hawks during NCAA men's hockey at the Tsongas Center on March 6, 2021 in Lowell, Massachusetts. The game ended in a 3-3 tie with the Terriers also winning an extra point in a shootout. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) /
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Former Philadelphia Flyers general manager Ron Hextall drafted notable current players like Ivan Provorov, Carter Hart, and Joel Farabee during his tenure in Philadelphia. His persistent emphasis on drafting and patience in player development helped the organization’s prospect pool overall, but it also came with its fair share of disappointments.

Hextall selected center German Rubtsov with the 22nd pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft and Jay O’Brien two years later with the 19th overall selection.

The Flyers will hold their Prospect Development Camp later this month, and neither of the two former first-round draft choices will be in attendance.

Former Flyers First-Rounder German Rubtsov

Rubtsov signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Flyers this offseason. The contract indicated the presence of some remaining faith within the organization that he still has a future in the NHL.

The 6-foot-0 Russian center spent parts of the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in his first professional experience in North America. He recorded 23 points in 56 games but failed to make a lasting impression as a top prospect within the organization.

His only NHL stint in November 2019 lasted just four games. He failed to establish a strong presence in under seven minutes of ice time per game. He recorded just one shot on goal.

Rubtsov was loaned to HK Sochi of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) for the 2020-21 season. At age 23, an NHL future seems unlikely. This year will be his final chance to make an impression and avoid the proverbial first-round bust label.

Jay O’Brien’s Uncertain Future with the Flyers

Five picks after selecting Joel Farabee 14th overall in 2018, the Flyers chose to stay with their trend of American born players by selecting O’Brien.

The move immediately struck some as a bit of a reach for a first-round choice. O’Brien has not disproved that perception over the past three seasons.

Injury issues prevented him from building momentum during the 2018-19 season at Providence College. His decision to play in the British Columbia Hockey League in 2019-20 was a head-scratching choice for a first-round pick.

O’Brien gained momentum during his first season at Boston University in 2020-21. He recorded 16 points in 16 games and showed flashes of potential. At just 21 years old, his future still holds opportunity.

However, he remains unsigned by the organization, which allows no definitive timeline to be set for contributions at the professional level. The organization should not bank on contributions from him at the NHL level.

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