How Are Flyers Top Prospects Performing?

So far, the Philadelphia Flyers are playing fairly well in the 2023-24 season. They are keeping pace with the rest of the teams in the Metropolitan Division. They’ve been relatively healthy. Their veterans are playing well enough while some of their younger guys have been contributing.

While the Flyers are in a “rebuilding process”, it looks as if the future of the team is now. At the same time, there is a crop of talented youngsters waiting to fill the ranks of the orange and black over the next few years. So how are they doing?

Cutter Gauthier

If you believe the hype, you know Gauthier is the future. The 19-year-old had a good career in juniors and is performing well at the college level. In 32 games last season, he scored 16 goals. In just 11 games with Boston College this year, he’s already scored 11 goals with four assists. The Flyers are taking it slow with him so they don’t rush him and ruin his development. So far, however, so good. His future is looking really bright.

Matvei Michkov

Flyers fans are waiting for the day that Gauthier is lining up with Michkov and terrorizing opposing defenses. You may have to wait a few years for that to happen; especially with Michkov’s contract with the KHL.  After not getting much of a chance to play early on, he’s been lighting the lamp regularly. He has scored 11 goals with 13 assists for Sochi HC and was recently named to the KHL All-Star team.

Tanner Laczynski

Laczynski was one of the final cuts during training camp. He struggled at times last year with health and seemingly made into Coach John Tortorella’s dog house as he was a call up several times last year. So far, he’s found his scoring touch. He has four goals, but is second on the Phantoms with nine assists. His 13 points are tied for second on the team.

Olle Lycksell

Surprisingly, the top forward for the Flyers in Lehigh Valley is Lycksell. He leads the Phantoms with 10 goals and 14 points. He’s tied for second in goals among all AHL players while he’s only six points out from the league-lead in points. Those are pretty good numbers for him. If there is someone who gets hurt long term, you can bet he could be one of the first people considered for a call up. The thing is, Lycksell has performed really well at the AHL level. He just has yet to transfer that over to the big club.

Wade Allison

On the other side of that coin is Allison. He was also one of the final cuts at camp. It was hoped that he could turn it up in the AHL and regain his form and promise. Nope. He has just two goals with two assists in 13 games. Time is running out on this once highly touted prospect.

Elliot Desnoyers

Desnoyers was a great surprise last year. He scored 23 goals with 21 assists to be among the top scorers for the Phantoms. His success earned him a late season call up. So far, he’s off to a slow start with just two goals with five assists. Still, the Flyers are high on the 21 year old’s work ethic and drive.

Samu Tuomaala

Tuomaala leads the Phantoms in assists with 10. He scored 26 goals last year in the Finnish league. He has scored three times so far for the Phantoms, but has been feeding the other forwards with opportunities. The more comfortable he’s been, the better he’s been getting.

Cooper Marody

Marody has picked up where he left off last season. He has five goals with eight assists. He’s tied with Laczynski for second on the Phantoms in points with 13. At 26, he’s a bit older than most of the Phantoms. However, his hard work and effort has been vital in helping them last season and he’s been a mentor, of sorts, to some of the younger players.

Alex Ciernik

The 19 year old was a fourth round pick in this year’s draft. He’s in the Swedish league playing for Vasterviks IK. He’s scored four goals with six assists so far in 16 games. Cirernik is third on the team with 10 points. His two game-winning goals are tied for the team lead as well. He’s already scored more goals than he did last year and is developing nicely.

Devin Kaplan

The right wing is in is second year at Boston University. Last season, he scored 10 goals with 13 assists. His 23 points were good for ninth on the team; not bad for a freshman. He was also one of just a handful of players to play in all 40 games. So far this year, Kaplan has scored three goals with six assists and is seventh overall in points on a team that includes top prospect, Mack Celebrini.

Denver Barkey

Barkey, a third round selection this year, has been tearing up the OHL. Last year, he scored 22 goals in 61 games. So far, in just 20 games, he’s scored 13 times. His torrid pace has already gotten him to be named OHL Player of the Week. He is currently the fifth highest scorer in the OHL. This kid is going to continue to climb the ranks of best prospects if he keeps this up.

Cole Knuble

Knuble was a highly touted prospect with the USHL’s Fargo Force. The Flyers selected him in the fourth round this year, like Ciernik. He’s playing for Notre Dame and has not been scoring at the same clip at the NCAA level that he was with the USHL. In 12 games, he has one goal and one assist for the Irish.