It’s time for our weekly check-in on the Flyers’ prospects playing in the AHL, overseas and at the junior and college levels.
• After missing three games because of an ankle injury, Cam York has started to show his dynamic ability from the blue line at Michigan.
The Flyers' 2019 first-round pick scored his first collegiate goal in the Wolverines' 2-1 loss last Saturday night to No. 13 Ohio State. York, a modern defenseman with terrific mobility and advanced puck-moving skills, put his offensive game on display with a nifty wraparound shot.
During his draft year, York put up 65 points (14 goals, 51 assists) over 63 games, a USNTDP single-season record for a defenseman. Through five games with Michigan, York has four points (one goal, three assists) and a plus-4 rating. It'll be interesting to see how long he stays in Ann Arbor.
"I think if you asked him, he would want to turn pro tomorrow," Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr said in June. "He's going to a good program at Michigan, we'll take it year by year. I don't see him as a four-year guy, let's put it that way."
• With the uncertainty surrounding Nolan Patrick's status as the 21-year-old center recovers from a migraine disorder, the spotlight shines even brighter on Morgan Frost.
The Flyers very well may need Frost at some point in 2019-20. His play will dictate his chances, too, and the 20-year-old facilitator is on a seven-game point streak with AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley. Over that stretch, Frost has four goals and five assists. The 2017 first-round pick leads the Phantoms in scoring and is also pretty good in the shootout (we all know why that's noteworthy).
"His talent level speaks for itself," Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher said last week. "In terms of pace and puck management, playing without the puck, zone awareness and coverage, right now there are areas he needs to get better at it. He’s made some progress, so we’ll continue to allow him to develop down there.
“But certainly at some point, he’s a smart, talented hockey player — he’s going to get better at it. When he does, it will make him a better candidate to come up here.’’
NHL
Quick hits
• Ohio State head coach Steve Rohlik said Tanner Laczynski would handle the puck "as much as anybody" on the Buckeyes and we're seeing exactly that for the senior forward.
The 2016 sixth-round pick has eight assists in eight games after picking up a pair during Ohio State's two-game sweep of Michigan last weekend.
• Egor Zamula cooled down as he went scoreless last week. The 19-year-old defenseman is off to a splendid start with 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) and a plus-16 mark in 14 games for the WHL's Calgary Hitmen.
"He has a tremendous package of size, skill and skating, and as he matures and gets stronger, he's going to be a pretty impressive player," Fletcher said in September.
• Speaking of WHL blueliners, Wyatte Wylie had a four-assist weekend for the Everett Silvertips. The 2018 fifth-round pick has 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) in 15 games and is a plus-50 since 2017-18.
• Bobby Brink, the Flyers' 2019 second-round pick, is tied for second in the country among freshmen goal-scorers with four tallies, behind only Wisconsin's Cole Caufield (eight). Brink has put up seven points over eight games with Denver.
• Jay O'Brien, a 2018 first-round pick, is delivering the expected production in the BCHL, with 29 points (11 goals, 18 assists) through 20 games for the Penticton Vees.
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