Flyers sign ‘skilled, workhorse' winger Linus Sandin to entry-level contract

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The Flyers project to have a ton of competition within their group of forwards in 2020-21.

They added to the competition Wednesday by signing Linus Sandin to a one-year entry-level contract. Thanks to the NHL's one-year extension Tuesday of the player transfer agreements with the IIHF member federations/leagues, the Flyers and Sandin could make the deal official. Sandin turns 24 years old in May; both sides decided on more of a prove-it one-year contract rather than a two-year deal.

Sandin, a winger who played in the Swedish Elite League during 2019-20, finished tied for third among the SHL with 19 goals and scored 36 points through 51 games for HV71.

"We are happy to have Linus under contract for next season," Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher said in a statement released by the team. "Our scouting staff has done an excellent job identifying him as a player who can come into camp and compete for a spot on our team right away. He works extremely hard and we expect him to add size, skill and tenacity to our forward group."

Where might Sandin — who is considered to have bottom-six NHL potential — fit with the Flyers in 2020-21? Time will tell as much can change between now and next season.

The Flyers will have six forwards set for free agency in the offseason — Tyler Pitlick (unrestricted), Derek Grant (unrestricted), Nate Thompson (unrestricted), Nicolas Aube-Kubel (restricted), Nolan Patrick (restricted) and Oskar Lindblom (restricted). The team will also have Wade Allison and Tanner Laczynski in the picture, among others such as Morgan Frost, German Rubtsov, Connor Bunnaman, Carsen Twarynski and Andy Andreoff competing for spots.

"Of course we are really happy for Linus and his whole family about to reach a milestone in his career," Sandin's European agent Michael Rosell said Wednesday to NBC Sports Philadelphia. "With that said, we’ve known Linus long enough to understand that the effort has just begun and now it’s time to take his game to the next level.

"He’s a smart kid with a nose for the net, a skilled winger that complements the linemates very well. Strong on the puck and a smart decision-maker, a workhorse."

The Flyers scout and watch the SHL a lot. During 2019-20, the club had five prospects compete in the SHL — Olle Lycksell, Linus Hogberg, Adam Ginning, David Bernhardt and Samuel Ersson.

Lindblom and Robert Hagg are also SHL products. Lindblom went from being a 2014 fifth-round pick to winning 2016-17 SHL Forward of the Year with 47 points (22 goals, 25 assists) in 52 games for Brynäs IF as a 20-year-old. Hagg shares the same hometown of Uppsala as Sandin, who is the brother of Rasmus Sandin, a 2018 first-round pick of the Maple Leafs.

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