The Flyers sign Noah Powell to an entry-level contract

A Flyers prospect was elevated today when they signed Arizona Sun Devils forward Noah Powell to a three-year entry-level contract.

The contract won't become official until the start of the 2026-2027 season. However, Powell is still going to report to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms for the remainder of the season via an amateur tryout contract. The Flyers drafted Powell in the 2024 NHL Draft. The organization selected Powell in the fifth round with the 148th overall draft pick.

Physically, Powell profiles like a power forward. At 6'2 205 pounds, he's got the size that is typically a box check for most NHL scouts. This was very evident in his final year in the USHL, where he was dominant as a scorer while also being physical.

The USHL is America's top junior hockey league, and is generally regarded in a similar fashion to the 3 Canadian major junior leagues (WHL, OHL, QMJHL), especially with the rise in quality in USA hockey. Powell's year in 2024 saw him star for the Dubuque Fighting Saints, producing 74 points (43 goals and 31 assists ) in 61 games along with 57 penalty minutes.

This helped him get selected by the Flyers, and a lot of Ohio State Buckeye fans thought they were getting a good player, but Powell made a midseason jump from Ohio State to the OHL's Oshawa Generals. He was more productive in the junior league and got a nice playoff run out of the deal, before jumping back into the NCAA for the 2025-2026 season.

With Arizona State this season, through 34 games, Powell hasn't quite found his scoring touch, with only 12 points (7 goals, 5 assists) to show for his efforts. He has produced a highlight or two during his time with the team, though.

In that clip, you see some of Powell's best attributes on display. He's got breakaway foot speed, size to protect the puck and win races, and scoring touch. During the draft process, Dobber Prospects described him as a "Speedy forward with a deadly release".

Hockey writer David Saad said this of Powell: "Powell has added noticeable muscle and incorporated a power-forward’s game to become one of the deadliest rush attackers the USHL has to offer. He’s also remarkably effective down low and has shown a knack for getting pucks to the middle, hell or high water."

Powell, from that description, is exactly the type of player that the Flyers will need down the road. He, however, clearly still needs some work after failing to recreate his junior success at the NCAA level. With pro coaching, conditioning, and a new challenge, Powell should be inspired to put his best effort forward.

We will likely be seeing another one or two of these deals happen before the end of the season. This is the season where college prospects whose teams have fallen out of NCAA tournament contention. We will keep an eye on who will join Powell from the NCAA ranks over in Lehigh Valley.