Philadelphia Flyers | CollegeHockeyPlayers

11Dec

Adam Morrison(31) South Carolina Stingrays

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Boston Bruins‘ 3rd year goaltender Adam Morrison(31) is off to his best start on reassignment with South Carolina Stingrays, where he’s spent most of his pro career.

In 8 ECHL games he has 5 wins and 3 losses with a 2.11 GAA, a .922 SV% and one shutout.

An injury that required surgery sidelined him for all but two games last season.

He was originally a Philadelphia Flyers‘ 3rd round pick in the 2009 draft (#81 overall) but signed a 3-year entry level deal as an unrestricted free agent with the Bruins in late 2012.

The 6’3″ 194 lbs. back stop is in the final year of his contract and caught in a bit of a log jam for playing time as the parent club has a pair of prospects ahead of him.

He’s only appeared in two AHL games with Providence Bruins, the first when he was initially and was between the pipes for another during the current campaign but has been recalled and served as back-up on numerous occasions.

Tough to say if the 23-year will be given a qualifying offer to stay in the prospect system but if he can put in an impressive numbers and keep his team going with a deep playoff run, it will give them something more to think about.

09Dec

Shayne Gostisbehere(14) Lehigh Valley Phantoms

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Philadelphia Flyers‘ 3rd round pick in the 2012 draft (#78 overall) mini-smart defenseman Shayne Gotisbehere(14) had pretty much going his way because of the hard work and consistently aware game he plays.

He was a late cut from training camp and started what may not actually become his rookie season on reassignment to affiliate Lehigh Valley Phantoms putting up some handsome numbers right away, 5 assists in 5 AHL games.

The generously listed 5’11” 170 lbs. blue liner also received his first NHL recall and even though he was returned with a -2 plus/minus he was part of two team wins vs Detroit and Los Angeles.

Approximately 10 days into his joining the farm team for more seasoning, he was hit into the boards awkwardly going around the net and looked to get his leg caught a bit too much behind him as he slid down.

The prognosis was a torn acl, requiring surgery and his return is listed as indefinite.

When and if he does return, possibly some time in the Spring, maybe for any potential playoff runs but both teams aren’t exactly in that running at the moment.

The 21-year old former Union College assistant captain, 2014 NCAA Champion, Hobey Baker finalist, World Junior Gold Medalist is most definitely highly touted from his three-year career at school (averaged 7 goals, 20 assists) and will be sorely missed especially on on the farm team.

Signed through 2017 on a three-year entry level deal, he should come back stronger and probably will only be looking at plane rides in his future.

20Nov

Scott Laughton(49) Philadelphia Flyers

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Philadelphia Flyers‘ 1st round pick in the 2010 draft (#20 overall) center Scott Laughton(49) has definitely been on a bit of a ride to rejoin the parent club on recall from affiliate Lehigh Valley Phantoms early in his rookie year.

He was initially summoned after the lockout thawed in 2013 from his third run in juniors but was returned to Oshawa Generals to continue tearing up the score sheet and work on his development.

He was unable to notch a point in 5 NHL games.

He went on to produce more than a point per game and then doubled those stats in 7 playoff contests.

The 6’1″ 177 lbs. forward returned to the pros after his team was knocked out of the postseason and skated 6 more games with farm team Adirondack Phantoms.

He would score his first goal and add two assists.

Continuing his crazy 2013 he was once again in Flyers‘ training camp, already under contract but with the option of being sent back due to his young age.

In a crazy turn of moves, he was set to be on the opening night roster but instead was loaned back to the OHL and he went on to put up career numbers as an assistant captain.

Having just turned 20-years old he was one of the final cuts to be reassigned to start his first official campaign and popped out the gate retaining his scoring touch.

In 13 AHL games he’s struck for 6 goals and 5 assists, good enough to earn that recall and make his sixth appearance in the show.

Used on sparingly, skating 12 shifts for 7:00 minutes of ice time in a 2-0 blanking.

With some additional time out there he should be able to contribute as he plays a speedy style with plenty enough tenacity and has a scoring touch that just needs to break though on the highest level of hockey.

19Nov

Josh Gratton(13) Manchester Monarchs

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Undrafted 12th year left wing Josh Gratton(13) spent the last four seasons playing mostly in the KHL with Barys Astana and Vityaz Podolsk. He only skated in 11 games last season.

Seeing only limited action in his last two seasons was possibly the impetus for him to return to North American pro hockey to see if at 32-years old he could earn himself a contract.

Invited to Manchester Monarchs‘ training camp, he proved himself worthy and was given a pto to start the 2014/2015 season.

13 games into the season he has one assist, a +1 rating, 36 penalty minutes and quickly accrued 6 fighting majors.

The 6’2″ 215 lbs. tough guy has skated in 247 AHL games scoring a modest 35 goals and 39 assists with an eye-popping 936 pims and dropped the gloves 102 times.

He’s also appeared in 86 NHL games for Arizona Coyotes and two stints with Philadelphia Flyers.

He won a Calder Cup Championship with Philadelphia Phantoms in the lockout year 2004/2005.

It remains to be seen whether or not he’s given an spc for this season but regardless, he’s making his presence felt.

26Oct

Scott Munroe(33) Springfield Falcons

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9th year undrafted goaltender Scott Munroe(33) returned to North American hockey for a second time after tending net for Vaxjo Lakers of the SHL last season. He also spent an earlier year overseas in the KHL with Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk.

Although he put up pretty excellent numbers in Sweden (2.05 GAA, .913 SV% in 36 games) he was cut loose.

He decided to come back to this side of the pond signing a one-year, two-way deal with Springfield Falcons.

To start the new season the now 32-year old was for the first time in his pro career dispatched to ECHL affiliate Kalamazoo Wings, where he appeared in one game, getting the win.

The 6’2″ 194 lbs. backstop was immediately recalled and started his first AHL game in about a year and a half, winning his second straight of 2014/2015 in two different leagues.

His last stint was his second go-round with Adirondack (Philadelphia) Phantoms.

He’s had three NHL contracts and was invited to Columbus Blue Jackets’ training camp but never played an official big league game.

When he finally decides to hang up the skates, he’d be a great goaltending coach for a team.

See related: 8/28-12

23Sep

Tyler Brown(18) Greenville Road Warriors

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After his three year entry level contract was up, Philadelphia Flyers‘ undrafted center Tyler Brown(18) became an unrestricted free agent as he wasn’t qualified with an offer.

With his fourth season was approaching the 6’2″ 198 lbs. forward signed a one-year deal for 2014/2015 to skate for Greenville Road Warriors of the ECHL.

He was never really able to connect on a regular basis in his three campaigns with minor league affiliate Adirondack Phantoms putting up only 14 goals and 18 assists in 182 AHL games.

Totals from his final year of junior hockey with OHL Plymouth Whalers were almost double what he was able to put up as a pro and likely earned him his big league deal.

The still young 24-year old could blow up again as a scoring threat in the lower league and will probably be on the radar for a recall as he has the experience.

He’s been invited to Hartford Wolf Pack training camp.

03May

Kent Huskins(29) Utica Comets

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13-year veteran defenseman Kent Huskins(29) signed an AHL contract to join Utica Comets a month into the 2013/2014 season.

Possibly looking for a new NHL suitor after splitting less than 20 games the previous year with Detroit Red Wings then Philadelphia Flyers, it’s possible he saw a possible opening in the parent club to influence his decision to sign a minor league deal.

He appeared in 65 games with the expansion central New York club adding another 10 points to his league totals (473-33-101-134). He also owns a +33 rating.

The big 6’4″ 205 lbs. blue liner has also skated in 318 contests in the show putting up just 13 goals and 55 assists, but his stay-at-home style and strong defense of his own zone gives him a highly accountable +46 plus/minus.

It took him 5 years of trolling with farm teams before he received his first opportunity to play at the highest level but from there he spent six straight seasons on top.

Not bad for a player that was originally a Chicago Blackhawks‘ 6th round pick in the 1998 draft (#156 overall).

The almost 35-year old could either stay put or try his hand elsewhere but is probably happy earning a decent payday playing pro hockey.

He won a Stanley Cup Championship in 2007 as a member of Anaheim Ducks.

31Mar

Danny Syvret(25)

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Hartford Wolf Pack 9th year veteran defenseman Danny Syvret(25) is quickly approaching his third straight 40-point AHL season (9 goals, 30 assists).

He was traded in the second season of his two-year deal with Philadelphia Flyers, his third contract with the team, to New York Rangers and reassigned to their farm club in Connecticut, where he’s played 67 contests in 2013/2014.

The stocky-looking 5’11” 205 lbs. d-man has skated in 59 NHL games, putting up a modest 3 goals and 4 assists but hasn’t paid a visit to the show since late 2011.

He’s considered a top-two pairing blue liner in the minors but given a full campaign may play a fairly strong role as a bottom six, seventh guy in the lineup more than watching from the sidelines.

07Feb

Brandon Alderson(19) Adirondack Phantoms

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Philadelphia Flyers‘ undrafted rookie right wing Brandon Alderson(19) is the type of player that could sneak a call up to the NHL and make it stick for a long career.

At 6’4″ 200 lbs. he comes to the table with power forward size that should keep growing with age.

The 22-year old has never exactly put up amazing numbers, although he was a point-per-game guy in his fourth season of junior hockey in the OHL with Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

Pretty much strictly a fourth line player for minor league affiliate Adirondack Phantoms, he’s been able to connect for 6 goals and 4 assists in 41 AHL games.

He’s a big guy that can create space on the ice, who with a little offensive coaching could become a sleeper success.

Signed to a three-year entry level deal through 2016, he has some time to develop.

27Dec

Petr Straka (24)

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Czech Republic-born rookie right wing Petr Straka(24) was originally a Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 2nd round pick in the 2010 draft (#55 overall) but went unsigned until Philadelphia Flyers stepped in with a 3-year entry level deal for the 2009/2010 QMJHL Rookie Of The Year.

In four seasons of junior hockey he was a point-per-game producer (97-111-208 in 212 contests).

He attended a pair of Blue Jackets‘ training camps but they remained under-impressed allowing him to explore other options.

The seemingly smaller than he measures, 6’ 195 lbs. forward starts his first pro season with minor league affiliate Adirondack Phantoms, where in 28 AHL games he has put up 5 goals and 10 assists with a +1 rating on a team that’s just below the playoff bubble.

At just 21-years old, he looks to be a player that has all the promise to explode on the score sheet but for now he’s maybe playing his game a bit under the NHL radar.