Four years ago, in the 2012 NHL Draft, the Flyers struck gold with a college prospect who is now a Calder nominee.
The college ranks have produced some talented NHL stars, and as our series on 2016 Draft prospects continues, we look at the best of the college class that could strike the Flyers interest.
Today, we look at Connecticut center Tage Thompson.
Even though he is ranked as a first-round prospect, Thompson has a lot of potential and upside, but is also a work in progress.
Thompson is a big 6'5" center, among the tallest in college hockey, and weighs in at 185 pounds. As a freshman, he scored 13 goals and added 18 assists for 31 points in 34 games with the Huskies. There are few in the draft that can match his size.
For his great size and offensive ability, Thompson needs to grow in his play away from the puck and add to his physical play.
But, as a freshman, there's room for growth in those areas, and he's only expected to add to his size in the years to come. Even with just one season of college hockey under his belt, he's already emerged as one of the NCAA's top freshman scoring threats and has good speed given his size.
His offensive skills are based off of smart play with the puck and his goal scoring comes from a quick release that can be a nightmare for opposing netminders.
"Project but the upside is huge," ISS Director of Scouting Dennis MacInnis writes in the 2016 NHL Draft Guide. "Needs to learn to use his size more to his advantage on a consistent basis. Needs to improve 5-on-5 play. His offensive potential makes him a player worth the investment."
"Tall, lanky kid. Has a presence on the ice and is a leader on the team as an 18-year-old," writes ISS scout Andy Bezeau. "Uses his body well to shield the puck. Showed a willingness to block shots and get to the dirty areas. I really like this player."
"Great sized center that has started filling into his frame," writes ISS scout Brent Keating. "Long, powerful stride. I would like to see him use his size to his advantage more frequently."
You can watch highlights of Thompson from last season below.
Kevin Durso is managing editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.
