Before this week begins, it's time for our weekly check-in on the Flyers' prospects playing in the AHL, overseas and at the junior and college levels.
With teammate Tom Dougherty working the Olympics this month for NBC, I'll be chipping in with our Future Flyers Report the next few weeks.
So let's get into it:
Travis Sanheim, D, 21, 6-4/199, Lehigh Valley (AHL)
As expected, since being sent down to the Phantoms, Sanheim has shown that offensive potential everyone loves about his game. Through eight contests with Lehigh Valley, the 2014 first-round pick has eight points, featuring seven assists.
This was a big week as Sanheim went off for six points (one goal, five assists) in three straight wins for the Phantoms.
With the Flyers turning to Brandon Manning as their sixth defenseman, Sanheim had become a healthy scratch for nine of his last 10 games in orange and black. General manager Ron Hextall's philosophy is developing prospects through playing, so Sanheim on Jan. 22 was shipped to the AHL, where he's doing just that.
The Flyers obviously want to see him grow in his all-around game and defensive responsibilities. Sanheim is a smart kid and understands that. His game is ready for the NHL, but right now, the Flyers aren't ready to play him every night.
NHL
"Overall, just trying to play well in all areas," Sanheim said Friday, via InsideAHLHockey.com. "I've been playing quite a bit, so all the situations, just trying to make sure that I'm improving in those areas. I think I've seen some improvements throughout my game."
Carter Hart, G, 19, 6-1/177, Everett (WHL)
It seems like Hart setting a record or claiming an award has become the norm.
The 2016 second-round pick pitched a 23-save shutout in the Silvertips' 5-0 win over Vancouver Saturday. The victory was significant on multiple fronts because it marked Hart's 26th career shutout, tying the Western Hockey League record, and his 107th career win, matching Everett's all-time record.
Hart leads the WHL in goals-against average at 1.53 (next closest is Cole Kehler at 2.77) and save percentage at .952 (next closest is Patrick Dea at .914).
Matthew Strome, LW, 19, 6-3/201, Hamilton (OHL)
Strome went off for a four-point game Sunday in the Bulldogs' 5-2 win over Morgan Frost-led Sault Ste. Marie. Strome potted his 30th goal of the season and tallied three assists.
Knocked for his skating struggles, Strome certainly looked OK here on these two helpers.
A fourth-round pick this summer, Strome has 56 points (30 goals, 26 assists) in 52 games this season.
Quick hits
• Although he was surprisingly held off the score sheet and finished a minus-3 Sunday, Frost scored two goals Thursday in the Greyhounds' 4-3 win over Niagara, giving him 32 on the season. He still leads the OHL with 88 points and a plus-51 rating.
• Speaking of 30-goal seasons, Isaac Ratcliffe picked up his 30th on an overtime winner to lift Guelph past Saginaw, 4-3, Friday.
The 6-foot-6 winger added his 31st Sunday in a 3-2 OT loss to London.
• Nicolas Aube-Kubel had a three-point week for the Phantoms during their three-game winning streak. The 21-year-old winger scored his 14th goal of the season in Friday's 5-1 win over Hershey and recorded two assists in Wednesday's 4-3 decision over Charlotte. The 2014 second-round pick has 32 points in 50 games after putting up 18 in 71 last season.
• Philippe Myers missed one of Lehigh Valley's three games this week, while Samuel Morin (undisclosed injury), who was getting in work at Flyers Skate Zone last Monday, has not played since Jan. 20.
• After going scoreless in five straight games, Mikhail Vorobyev had a goal and an assist in the Phantoms' 5-3 win over Rochester Saturday, while Oskar Lindblom had an assist, his only point during the week.
• German Rubtsov, the Flyers' 2016 first-round pick, has missed five straight games with an undisclosed injury. The 19-year-old has 23 points (nine goals, 14 assists) in 24 games since being traded to Acadie-Bathurst Titan.
• David Kase had three points (two goals, one assist) and a slick shootout winner in a 5-4 Mora IK win Sunday over Färjestad BK.
• Sixth-round pick Anthony Salinitri is riding a five-game point streak in which he has six goals and an assist.
• Big Ten products Cooper Marody and Tanner Laczynski have kept a steady pace. Marody, tied for second in the Big Ten with 23 assists, registered a two-point game (one goal, one assist) in Michigan's 3-2 win Saturday over Michigan State, while Laczynski leads the conference with 25 helpers for Ohio State.