IMO, got some very nice potential NHL talent. A little early still but all signs point to GO!
Your thoughts???
GLOV,
The Flyers have vastly improved their farm system. As the article you linked noted, the transformation actually started under former GM Holmgren, and has continued under GM Hextall.
Raffycorn's comments about Provorov are along the lines of what I've heard. He's their top prospect, and also the prospect that is considered closest to being ready for the big show.
The Flyers are in a strange situation, in that they expect that within 3 years their entire defense will be replaced by guys they have drafted. Many of them were drafted at a young age, so the Flyers are waiting for them to fill out, get stronger, and develop their skills. Morin is considered to have a higher ceiling than Provorov, assuming he advances as anticipated. Shayne Gostisbehere, Travis Sanheim, Mark Alt, Robert Hagg, and Mark Friedman are the defenders that seem to be the top prospects behind Morin and Provorov.
The Fly Guys don't have as much elite depth on the front line, but they have several very good prospects. Scot Laughton, a center, is considered their top offensive prospect. Travis Konecny, Nick Cousins, and David Kase (to a lesser extent) seem to the centers that have the best chances of making the team in future years.
At right wing, Nicolas Aube-Kubel is their top prospect.They have a few others guys at right wing that have a chance, though none are considered as good a prospect at the defenders and centers listed above.
They seem to be thinnest in the prospect department at left wing. Taylor Leier is their top prospect, though Oskar Lindblom, Radel Fazleev, Samuel Dove-McFalls, and Danick Mantel (to a lesser extent) are also thought to have a chance at making the show.
Goalies are the hardest to project. I believe their top prospect is Anthony Stolarz, though they have 3 other guys that are considered to have a decent chance at developing into a NHL goalies.
The Fly Guys have been hamstrung in recent years by the salary cap. They haven't had a lot of maneuverability in their efforts to modify their roster. Most of their moves have been efforts to improve the team AND gain salary flexibility. Hextall seems to realize that if they are patient, and allow the prospects to develop, that they'll definitely gain salary flexibility, and with a combination of youngsters and good veterans they might become Cup contenders once again.
