Why a change of leagues could be huge for 2 Flyers prospects

Not all players develop in the same fashion. Some need a different opportunity or a change of scenery to put them in a better spot for their development. Whether it be because of playing time or not being the right fit, a player looking to another situation isn't always a bad thing and can often provide better results.

The Flyers have a pair of prospects doing just that: putting themselves in better situations to take the next step in their development processes.

It was rather surprising news when the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL announced that Carter Amico would be joining the team for the rest of the 2025-26 season. The defenseman had been playing at Boston University, hitting the collegiate game for the first time.

Amico had his development severely impacted heading into the 2025 NHL Draft when he suffered a devastating knee injury that cost him almost the entire 2024-25 season. The Flyers took a chance on him with one of their three second round picks and could benefit from his stock falling due to the injury.

Stepping up to the college game, Amico found it hard to find playing time. He was averaging under seven minutes of ice time a game in a bottom-pair role. For a player who needed to get his confidence back after the injury, that wasn't going to help him. Unsurprisingly, he had no points in 18 games for the Terriers.

Amico himself admitted that the step to the collegiate game was tougher than he expected. Trying to make your mark as a freshman after only playing 17 total games in the prior season already isn't an easy feat. Being able to admit that things weren't working couldn't have been easy, but it should help Amico get things back on track.

The Lumberjacks are fourth in the Eastern Conference, and Amico should have a better chance at registering more minutes before heading back to Boston next season.

Overseas, Max Westergard had more than proven that he was too good for the U20 Nationell in Sweden. Before being taken in the fifth round by the Flyers, he posted 19 goals and 50 points in 41 games for Frölunda's Under-20 team. It earned him a promotion to the SHL, but a limited opportunity saw him with no points in four games.

He continued to shine on the international level, posting two goals and six points in five games for Finland at the U18 World Juniors. Back with the U20 team this season, Westergard has continued to show that a new challenge is needed. In 12 games, he has four goals and 21 points. Another promotion to the SHL was earned, but he once again was barely getting any ice time in his 15 games.

Translated, Westergard was loaned to IF Björklöven of the HockeyAllsvenskan, the second-tier league in the SHL. It's a similar situation to the NHL versus the AHL. This will give Westergard a much better opportunity to showcase himself in a league that will provide him with more challenges than his prior situation.

Westergard will be joining a Björklöven team that is having a tremendous season. They are atop the league with 85 points in 32 games, seven points ahead of the second-place team. Not only is he in a better place for his overall development, but Westergard will also be playing on a team that looks poised to make a playoff run by season's end.

He could be recalled back to Frölunda at any time, but the expectation is that he will spend the remainder of the season with his new team.

It's a much better situation for both Amico and Westergard to be in. Both are still a ways off from making an impact in the organization. But these moves should help each of them reach another level.