Can Massimo Rizzo crack the Flyers roster?

After trading in the red and gold for orange and black, Massimo Rizzo will be making his professional debut this upcoming season. With two collegiate titles in his back pocket, it's about bringing that attitude to the next league.

While Rizzo is tabbed to start in the AHL with the Phantoms, is there a chance he could crack the Flyers roster at some point? His versatility will help in that. Center depth is needed and that's a position that has played a lot more of recently. He can jump on the wing if need be as well.

Can Rizzo make the jump to the NHL this upcoming season?

While his goal-scoring needs some work at the next level, his playmaking abilities stand out. He led Denver in scoring last year, largely due to his ability. 34 of his 44 points were via assists. His goals took a large step back, finishing with 10 this season after scoring 17 during his sophomore year. Rizzo also missed 14 games due to a high ankle sprain. It knocked him out down the stretch and the beginning of the playoffs as he returned during the Frozen Four.

""I would say I'm more of an offensive guy, probably more of a playmaker than a shooter," Rizzo said during Flyers development camp earlier this month. "I like to find my teammates in different spots and be creative, kind of have fun, and enjoy myself out there.""

The injury continued to limit him during camp as he didn't take part in most group sessions or the final scrimmage. It was more of a precaution than anything but the expectation is that he will be ready to go come main training camp. That will be the next test for him in trying to show the Flyers he was worth it.

Considering he was a key target of theirs last summer, it's fair to say Philadelphia sees what he can bring. And while it appears that all spots are taken on the roster, Rizzo has a better chance than he did while in the Hurricanes system. The Flyers are in a rebuild and looking to find out which players can help take them to the next level.

Rizzo did get a chance to skate with the Phantoms last season, though he wasn't able to get into any games. But it was a good experience to be around the team while they were in the playoffs. It's an experience that can help him move forward into his first year.

""It was great for me just to be in that environment with all the staff and the players there. Especially in the playoffs when everything's ramped up. It was a really good experience for me to be around the group and kind of learn different things from different guys and pick up things.""

It's more of a long shot for Rizzo to make the jump directly to the NHL. There are clear things he needs to work on to be able to succeed at the next level. The Phantoms should be a good place for him to start, but he could be on the Flyers' radar for a mid-season call-up if need be.