The Philadelphia Flyers have been lucky over the last few years, despite some sub-par seasons, to get some good play from young contributors. Sam Ersson had a good season as the unexpected starter. Bobby Brink has shown some flashes, albeit inconsistently, of what he could become. Egor Zamula looks as if he has finally stepped up his game.
There are others, however, that time may be running out. These are guys who have been given chance after chance to crack the roster but just can't seem to hold it down. For these players, this upcoming season could be their last in the Flyers' organization.
Three Flyers prospects who may be running out of time
Ronnie Attard
Attard has played in 29 games over three seasons, including 12 games this past year. It's not that he has played badly. This year, he has had his best year stats-wise. He made 14 blocks, delivered 22 hits, and intercepted five passes while coughing the puck up just twice. While not career highs, on a per-game metric, they are higher than they were in 2021-22 when he appeared in 15 games.
The thing is, he hasn't done anything to stand out. And while he is just 25 years old, he is on the outside looking in. The Flyers have a defensive corps that is set with Cam York, Travis Sanheim, Nick Seeler, Erik Johnson, and Zamula. Next, of course, we'll have to see if Rasmus Ristolainen and Jamie Drysdale are healthy. There are seven defenders. I would also argue that Adam Ginning, Emil Andrae, and Louie Belpedio are probably ahead of him on the depth chart. That's not good.
Attard is one of those guys the Flyers could include in a trade package later on. If anything, he might be a valuable depth piece. However, I think his time as a rotational part of a six-man defensive unit is probably over unless some major injuries hit or he steps his game up.
Olle Lycksell
A lot of what you can say about Attard, you can apply to Lycksell. He keeps getting called up and doesn't make the most of it, despite being one of the most prolific scorers for the Phantoms over the last few seasons. At least he finally scored his first NHL goal this year.
The Flyers forwards are getting pretty crowded. We know that spots are reserved, barring a trade, for Travis Konecny, Scott Laughton, Sean Couturier, Owen Tippett, Joel Farabee, Morgan Frost, Noah Cates, Garnet Hathaway, Ryan Poehling, Nicolas Deslauriers, and Bobby Brink. Throw Matvei Michkov in there and that is 12 guys. That is also putting Tyson Foerster in as the 13th guy, probably rotating in and out of the lineup with Brink, Cates, and Deslauriers.
Lycksell has been called up, mostly, due to injuries to the forward corps. At this point, that seems to be all he is good for. He may not be around longer.
Alexei Kolosov
I'm not going to get into the whole nonsense of him playing here. Here is a goalie with obvious talent who is young. He had a great year in the KHL and then came over and now, according to rumors, wants out.
This is the problem. Ersson has the goalie job locked down, for now, but it isn't 100% certain. Ivan Fedotov has finally come over from the KHL after long-term issues and will be given a chance to play as well, In juniors, 19-year-old Carson Bjarnason has been performing fairly well. Back in Europe, another draft pick, Yegor Zavragin, has also been showcasing his talent.
The last thing the Flyers need is someone who can't decide if he wants to play here or in Russia. If he demands to go back, the Flyers will have to let him go. This team is fully stocked with exciting, talented young netminders. If Kolosov doesn't want to be in that mix, we'll be just fine without him. Playing in Philly is an honor. If he doesn't want that honor, then don't give him that opportunity.