The Philadelphia Flyers announced on Monday morning their first three cuts of training camp. Defenseman Ethan Samson, forward Jon-Randall Avon, and forward Connor McClennon have all been sent back to their respective junior teams. The players that were cut aren’t huge surprises given the amount of competition they faced to even have a chance at making the Flyers.
Samson, a sixth-round draft pick of the Flyers this year, was sent back to the Western Hockey League’s Prince George Cougars. Samson racked up one goal and 11 assists for 12 points along with 10 penalty minutes in 22 games along the Cougars blueline last season in his draft year. In his rookie year with Prince George, he scored two goals and five assists for seven points in 62 games along with 26 penalty minutes.
Avon, who just recently signed his entry-level contract, was sent back to the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League. Avon was originally a team invite to Development Camp and Rookie Camp, and was especially impressive in the four day Rookie Camp and earned himself his first NHL deal as an undrafted free agent. Avon scored four goals and seven assists for 11 points in 56 games with the Petes in the shortened 2019-20 season, and did not play anywhere last year due to the OHL season being shut down. He’ll have a chance to further his game with Peterborough now as they’ll return to the ice this year.
McClennon was a 2020 sixth-round selection by Philadelphia and will spend the 2021-22 season with the WHL’s Winnipeg Ice. McClennon made his WHL debut with the Ice in 2017-18, and played his first full season in 2018-19, scoring 14 goals and 15 assists for 29 points in 46 games for the Ice. He racked up 21 goals and 28 assists for 49 points in 42 games in his draft year in 2019-20, and is coming off a 33-point 2020-21 season in just 24 games for Winnipeg. McClennon has also served as alternate captain for the Ice in the last two seasons.
With today’s cuts, the Flyers’ training camp roster stands at 55 listed players, and more cuts are to follow in the near future as they narrow down their team for the 2021-22 NHL season.