Hunter McDonald’s old-school style has the Flyers interested

Hunter McDonald is not your typical defenseman. At least not the way most at the position play the game today.

McDonald has quickly risen the ranks of the Flyers' prospect pool. It's his physical, in-your-face style that has him on the team's radar. And potentially as soon as the 2024-25 season. McDonald debuted with the Phantoms last season and is set for his first full year after two seasons at Northeastern.

With Hunter, he's an old-school defenseman, he's a throwback," Nick Schultz, Flyers assistant director of player development, said on McDonald during development camp. "When you see kids now, I think we lack the physicality around our net and playing hard in the corners, in front of the net. That just comes natural to him, that's the way he plays. He's whacking guys, he's slashing them, cross-checks. He plays hard, he makes it hard around forward coming to the front of the net, in the corners.

Despite missing 13 of the Huskies' first 14 games, McDonald finished second on the team with 52 blocks. He only went five games without blocking at least one shot. He had a season-high six blocks on two separate occasions. The season prior, he was third in the nation with 94 blocked shots. He recorded a career-high nine blocks against Boston College that season. Unfortunately, college doesn't track hits so there isn't an accurate number for him in that category. But watching him play, you can draw your conclusions.

Hunter McDonald is on the Flyers' radar

With how the game is trending, most defensemen can transition from defense to offense and help out in the scoring. And while there's no problem with that, there is still a need for those who aren't afraid to get in on the physicality as well. It's why someone like Luke Schenn is still able to have a successful career.

While he has learned to adapt to the speed of the game, he also brings that old-school style that earned him a multi-year deal with the Predators last summer. McDonald is hopeful that the game he plays can continue to take him far. It's something the Flyers also enjoy as well and have told him.

Same thing that has gotten me to this point. They're really excited about that," McDonald said at development camp. "Taking things that they want me to work on, things I've talked about. Just keep playing and that's going to help them down the line.

The things McDonald is referring to working on his hands and footwork since the game will continue to get bigger and faster at the next level. It's a common goal of most prospects looking to make the jump. Schultz believes that McDonald has a leg up on those typical old-school defensemen regarding his skating.

The difference from him maybe from the old-school d that is like that is that he can skate. He's an unbelievable skater. He can move, he can get up ice. All of that stuff we talking about - checking, angling, sticks, all of that stuff. He's such a good skater that he can do that, he can play that way, he can move pucks.

While McDonald's goal and mindset will be on making the Flyers roster, spending some time in the AHL wouldn't hurt. There's less room on the defensive side as Philadelphia has seven defensemen on the roster. It would not benefit McDonald's development to be sitting as an extra most of the time. Getting those minutes in Lehigh Valley will help better prepare him for when the call comes.

And based on how the Flyers feel about his potential, it would not be a surprise to see him find his way onto the roster at some point next season.