Three prospects the Flyers ought to have on their radar in commerce talks

The Philadelphia Flyers, sure, the skilled hockey crew Philadelphia Flyers, presently maintain a six sport shedding streak (once more). Amid numerous commerce rumors, management press conferences, and fan frustration, that is actually one of many lowest factors the franchise has seen since their devastatingly horrible 2006-07 marketing campaign. Unlike earlier years, the place the Flyers have been merely mediocre, now they’re straight up unhealthy.

However, the place mindsets maybe differ is that there’s a path from “unhealthy” that’s extra simply viewable than “mediocre”. As a lot because the likes of Dave Scott would have you ever imagine the Flyers aren’t going to be tearing some facet of the crew aside (reasonably, going for a equally if no more aggressive re-tool to final offseason), what we may see can be extra just like a re-build than not, spearheaded by the “core gamers” named by administration, and the actual fact the Flyers are even entertaining a Claude Giroux commerce. Though, this in fact is little question elevated by the actual fact that is the final yr on Giroux’s contract.

There additionally exists the place the Flyers will face within the draft lottery, which appears to be like more and more probably day in and time out to be a better choose than the Flyers have had in recent times (if we neglect the #2 general choose in 2017. Please allow us to neglect). However, one thing fascinating to notice is that every one the whereas, with the Giroux commerce talks circling, the Flyers have made it clear to the remainder of the league that they wish to purchase close to NHL prepared prospects, if not gamers who may instantly go well with up within the orange and black.

The following quote appeared in Elliotte Friedman’s most up-to-date “32 Thoughts” piece:

“Philadelphia deployed operatives to look at each the Avalanche and the AHL Colorado Eagles final week. That indicators Philadelphia’s precedence isn’t essentially a first-round draft choose, however a prospect who is able to compete on the NHL degree. It suits with what GM Chuck Fletcher and Comcast Spectacor Chairman and CEO Dave Scott stated final month: the Flyers wish to be proper again within the thick of issues subsequent season.”

Whether or not we imagine the Flyers can be “proper again within the thick of issues” by 2022-23 is up for debate, however clearly the Flyers worth having the ability to choose a prospect themselves as soon as they’ve been capable of extra precisely place their improvement (over the concept of drafting a participant with a lottery ticket).

This is to not recommend that the Flyers received’t purchase picks in any future trades, nor that they’d commerce present picks for prospects in a swap, nevertheless, contemplating a Giroux commerce received’t be the solely transfer the Flyers make, there are many underneath the radar prospects who may advantage the Flyers trying to make a transfer for them…

Antonio Stranges – LW/C (London Knights)

Picked by – Dallas (2020 4th spherical, 123 general)

Now, I’m conscious that this participant is extremely divisive. Just by studying the primary line of his Elite Prospects web page overview, it’s evident:

“Captivation, frustration, and awe: three feelings that London Knights ahead Antonio Stranges conjures up, generally on the identical shift.”

Scouting studies will level to Stranges’ lack of taking part in any semblance of protection. However, his skill within the offensive zone is close to second to none. He is the present reigning OHL participant of the week, and the loopy performs he is ready to make along with his skating skill and stick dealing with will make you gasp.

His stride is barely awkward, however this man is a subsequent degree explosive skater with among the most insane edge work abilities I’ve ever seen (with superb palms besides).

It’s as if a hockey content material creator like Pavel Barber turned an NHL prospect.

Jonatan Berggren – LW/RW (Grand Rapids Griffins)

Picked by – Detroit (2018 2nd spherical, 33 general)

Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Images

The Red Wings as a complete are a reasonably underrated crew who’re nearer to being good than lots of people suppose. Steve Yzerman has finished a incredible job in turning across the destiny of their franchise, and it doesn’t assist them this yr that they’ve had a good few accidents.

They have a really younger core headed by the likes of Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond, and their current veteran gamers like Dylan Larkin and Tyler Bertuzzi are 25 and 26 respectively. They may very well be a candidate to commerce for a distinction maker, and if their commerce parter occurs to be the Flyers, they need to ask for Berggren in return.

In 2020-21, Berggren was a close to point-per-game participant within the SHL of his native Sweden, and presently sits at 35 level in 43 AHL video games with Grand Rapids at simply 21 years outdated. He’s hovered round first to second line potential in keeping with Dobber Prospect’s PNHLe scores system, and appears like he can be an ideal high six ahead.

Berggren isn’t the most important participant on this planet, however he greater than makes up for it along with his skating pace, and tenacity. Berggren is a scoring ahead who likes to get to the web, and scores most of his targets proper in entrance of the crease. He additionally isn’t afraid to retrieve pucks within the nook, and appears like he may very well be a extra cellular and protracted model of James van Riemsdyk.

Tarmo Reunanen – D (Hartford Wolfpack)

Picked by – New York Rangers (2016 4th spherical, 98 general)

Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

If the Flyers make a transfer with a division rival, the Rangers may very well be a superb commerce accomplice if Philadelphia are searching for a prospect on the blue line (because the Rangers have a sure Norris Trophy winner together with an in any other case stable protection core).

Tarmo Reunanen is a bit older than the opposite prospects right here at 23 years outdated, and he made his Rangers debut final season, notching an help in 4 video games (humorous sufficient that time got here in opposition to the Flyers). Reunanen is an offensively-minded defenseman who doesn’t go away a spot in his personal zone, which the Flyers would really like given their reluctance to maintain Shayne Gostisbehere.

According to the Hockey Writers’ scouting report on Reunanen, “it’s all however apparent he may maintain his personal on this planet’s finest league”. However, with the Rangers’ group arrange the way in which it’s, will there be room for him? That query looms, and maybe the Flyers may find yourself being the place Reunanen makes his full season NHL debut.