Barring an amazing hot streak and a complete collapse by the teams above them, the Philadelphia Flyers season will end after Game 82 yet again. While other teams are gearing up for the playoffs, the Flyers will begin to look ahead to next season.
One of the things they will have to determine is whether they believe any of their prospects are ready for the next level. Without making any other moves, the Flyers have six available contracts. That number will likely move to seven as Cal Petersen is a free agent this summer. That number could change, though, if any of Oliver Bonk, Denver Barkey, Carson Bjarnason, Jett Luchanko, and Spencer Gill turn pro next season.
All five players are slide-eligible on their entry-level contracts since they are currently assigned to junior leagues. Bjarnason and Luchanko are the likeliest to make the move. Bjarnason is in his fourth season with the Brandon Wheat Kings and should move to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms either after his season or next year.
Luchanko could fight for a spot on the Flyers roster again, but he can be sent back to juniors again next year. He may also play with the Phantoms at the end of this year depending on how the Guelph Storm finish the season. That wouldn't affect his contract status, though.
It's possible that Bonk or Barkey could make the jump as well. The Flyers seem to like Gill as he was signed to his ELC only a few months after he was drafted last year. He's three seasons into his junior career so it's not impossible that they feel he's ready for the AHL.
The Flyers will also need to decide on four players who can become free agents this summer. Teams have a certain amount of time to determine whether they will offer contracts to players they've drafted. NCAA players must be signed by August 15th after their senior year. Players taken from junior leagues are only given two years which expire at the beginning of June.
All of the Flyers prospects in need of a contract are defensemen. Three came from the junior level while one is finishing up his collegiate career.
Brian Zanetti
Zanetti was taken in the fourth round of the 2021 NHL Draft. Coming from the Swiss leagues, Zanetti made his OHL debut that season, playing with the Peterborough Petes for two seasons. He also appeared at the World Juniors for Switzerland both years. But he later returned to the NL in 2023 and has been there since. At the time, Zanetti felt that was the best path forward for him to try and earn an NHL deal.
That dream may not be panning out as Zanetti may have already realized that a contract is not coming his way as he signed a three-year deal with HC Lugano back in August, returning to his hometown team. He will finish up the season with SCL Tigers before making the move. He's signed through the 2027-28 season which will make him 25 when the contract expires.
Zanetti has never been a high producer, topping out at 29 points during his draft year. He was projected to be more of a shutdown defenseman, though was looked at as a project player by some. As with most 18-year-olds, adding more weight was a key. But four years later Zanetti sits at the same weight in which he was drafted.
Making the move to the OHL, though briefly, showed his ability to step up to the next level. And at times, he stood out against tougher competition. It was always going to be tough to project his outcome with the lack of tape on him. It's looking likely he'll be free to sign with another team.
Carter Sotheran
Sotheran was taken in the fifth round of the 2023 NHL Draft. He had just completed his first season with the Portland Winterhawks where he finished second among all rookies with 23 points. He took a massive jump forward the next season with a career-high 13 goals and 40 points, more than tripling his goal output from the prior year. Sotheran was also a strong playoff performer, adding four goals and 11 points in 14 games.
He was making an impact despite not getting a high amount of minutes or much time on special teams. The Winterhawks were a better team when Sotheran was on the ice. While he is a skilled offensive player, his best work is done on the defensive end as he is typically the first back in coverage. While plus/minus isn't a strong stat to look at, his +46 last season is a testament to his defensive work.
But the Flyers still wanted him to continue to develop and take another step forward. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. His numbers have dropped significantly, scoring just six goals and posting 33 points through 65 games. Portland has one game remaining before they take on the Prince George Cougars in the first round of the WHL playoffs next week.
With a crowded blue line and numerous defensive prospects knocking at the door, Sotheran's rather disappointing season may cost him a contract.
Matteo Mann
Mann was taken by the Flyers in the seventh round of the 2023 NHL Draft. Off the bat, it was always going to be hard for Mann to earn a contract. Seventh-round picks don't often find themselves signed by the team that drafted them. You have to go back to 2015 to find the Flyers' most recent seventh-round pick to play for them and that is Ivan Fedotov. Before that was Oliver Laurisden who appeared in 16 games for Philadelphia, 15 of them four years after he was drafted in 2009.
Sometimes a team can hit and find a diamond in the rough that late. Victor Olofsson was taken in the final round and has spent seven years in the NHL. MacKenzie Weegar was the sixth to last pick and has played in over 530 games. Ondrej Palat is an even bigger example as he debuted professionally the season after his draft.
Mann has already made his professional debut, signing a try-out contract with the Reading Royals at the end of the 2023-24 season. However, he only appeared in one game before returning to the QMJHL this season. Mann is another who doesn't have much upside on the offensive side. He's scored six goals in back-to-back seasons for St Johns. He did lead his team in goals by a defenseman both years.
The Flyers could take a flier on the 6'6" and 235-pound defenseman as he does provide physicality without putting his team down a man too often. He has 47 penalty minutes in 55 games. A majority of the Flyers defense is on the smaller side and that's likely not ideal for them. It doesn't mean Mann is the one as Hunter McDonald is waiting in the AHL. But it could keep Mann on their radar.
Ty Murchison
Murchison was drafted in the fifth round of the 2021 NHL Draft. He is the only player listed that went the NCAA route as he has played in four seasons for Arizona State. Murchison recently was named the NCHC Defensive Defenseman of the Year. That alone lets you know where his strengths lie.
He led the conference in blocks with 98, 30 more than the next closest player. He set a new program record for blocks in a season. He set a season-high with eight blocks in one of his last collegiate games. Murchison cut down significantly on the penalty minutes, going from 93 in his sophomore season to 48 in his senior year. However, he did have 20 more minutes than his next closest teammate.
With the way the NHL has trended and the number of defensemen that can produce on both ends of the ice, it's not easy for those who can't play that side of the puck to make a huge impact. Murchison had nine goals in four seasons, and none this year. He had four points this season.
He has good size and can close out plays with his range. At the time of his draft, the Flyers did feel he had the attributes to have a future with the team. It's uncertain if they still hold this belief.
If the Flyers let all four players get to this point without a contract, it likely means they aren't sold on their potential. Three of the above players would need to be signed before free agency begins. Philadelphia also has six players on the NHL roster who will hit free-agent status.
They don't affect things as their contracts are already accounted for, but most are expected to remain with the team which won't free up a spot. There are 10 players in either the AHL or ECHL who are up for a new deal and it's likely they won't all be signed.
Sotheran is the only player who has a bit more time to show the Flyers he deserves a contract. While Zanetti is currently in the midst of a playoff round, the SCL Tigers are one game away from elimination. Mann has one game remaining in the season, while Murchison's career is officially over.
It would not be a surprise if all four players are left without a contract in a few months.