5 Flyers Prospects to Watch at Training Camp

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

Training camp marks the beginning of the hockey season with both established veterans and roster hopefuls taking the ice, all with the same goal of being in the lineup for the season opener.

For the Flyers, the conversation seemingly grows every year with more and more prospects nearing the NHL level. That is no different this season, as training camp will feature a number of prospects vying for the chance to make the NHL roster.

Here are five prospects to watch throughout training camp.

Morgan Frost – Frost has an outside chance of making the Flyers roster if he has an outstanding camp, but most likely is on his way back to juniors. That said, this is an opportunity to really get a good look at Frost in game action and against some NHL talent.

Frost had a very impressive season with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds last season and figures to be a standout at the junior level again. But that doesn’t mean making the roster is out of the question.

Two years ago, it was assumed Travis Konecny was on his way back to juniors and an impressive training camp and preseason earned him a roster spot. The same could happen for Frost if he comes into camp and performs so well, the Flyers have no choice but to keep him around.

With all of this in mind, Frost is easily the headliner of the Flyers prospect group among forwards, so he’ll be watched with a close eye.

Carter Hart – If Morgan Frost is the headliner for forward prospects, Carter Hart is far and away the headliner among goalies and arguably the entire group of prospects.

Again, Hart isn’t expected to make the Flyers roster, and as a goalie without any professional experience, even an impressive preseason doesn’t mean much for his chances. The Flyers have the personnel to start the season with Hart in the minors and will look to get him experience first and foremost.

Hart didn’t get much action in the preseason a year ago, so this may be a bigger chance for him to step into the crease for some game action to at least give the Flyers management a chance to evaluate where he is as he turns pro.

Phil Myers – Many of the Flyers defensive prospects have already made their way to the NHL at one point or another — with Travis Sanheim and Robert Hagg joining the likes of Ivan Provorov and Shayne Gostisbehere. Phil Myers is the next in line.

The big, right-handed defenseman had a very solid season in the AHL last year, and figures to be a player for a roster spot at some point in the 2018-19 season. The big question is whether or not he is able to make the roster to start the season, but the Flyers could certainly use a defenseman with is all-around ability in all zones.

The catch with Myers is that the Flyers are not going to put him on the NHL roster to be a part-time player. There is no doubt that if Myers is with the Phantoms, he’s their top defenseman, so he can play top-pair minutes in the minors if he’s not going to play regularly in the NHL.

Still, he’s very close to being ready to make the transition. A year ago, he looked overmatched and needed more time to develop. He has the size to be in the NHL, it’s just about how he uses it matched up against NHL talent.

Nicolas Aube-Kubel – Aube-Kubel is one of the Flyers more veteran minor-leaguers, having spent the last three seasons with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The time may be coming where a spot for him on the NHL roster opens up.

The Flyers are still looking to round out the roster with fourth-line forwards, and if Aube-Kubel fits the role better than some of the veterans that the Flyers currently have on the roster, it may force the Flyers hand in including him in the lineup.

Mike Vecchione – The Flyers were able to sign the Union product as an undrafted free agent and got him into the lineup for a pair of games at the end of the 2016-17 season. Vecchione spent all of 2017-18 with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, having a solid year with 17 goals and 40 points in 65 games.

Vecchione also fits the mold of a fourth-line player and should get a look as a more experienced prospect. He will provide good competition for the current fourth-line players and guys like Aube-Kubel, who are vying for the final roster spots among forwards.