Flyers Prospect Rundown: 2018 Draft Picks

The 2018 Draft was the last draft with Ron Hextall at the helm of the Flyers. While there are certainly some swing and misses, there’s still hope that a few players pan out.

Joel Farabee (Round 1-14)

Since being drafted in the summer of 2018 Joel Farabee has been viewed as part of the Flyers future. In his first pro season Farabee played five games in Lehigh where he’d record 4 points in 5 games, earning himself a call-up to the Flyers.

Farabee had the typical rookie season as far as offense as he would produce 21 points in 52 games and score three goals in the playoffs that season.

What stands out more than his offense is his grit and his willingness to play the two-way game at a high level.

In the summer of 2022 Farabee sustained an injury while preparing for the season which required surgery. This came after Farabee missed close to 20 games in 2021-22 with a shoulder injury.

Oddly enough, 2022-23 was the first season Farabee played in all 82 games, surprising everyone when he returned for game 1.

Joel Farabee is under contract until 2027-28 and the Flyers desperately need him to break out soon. Preferably next season when he could be playing on the Flyers top line with Sean Couturier and Travis Konecny.

Adam Ginning (Round 2-50)

Adam Ginning is a big 6-3, 205 lb defenseman from Linkoping, Sweden. He plays the left side and played in the SHL until last season when he played 68 games in Lehigh.

According to Elite Prospects:

Big defenseman who plays with a lot of authority. Very good along the boards and in front of the net. Plays physical and has potential to become a solid shutdown defenseman. Moves pretty well and has fine leadership qualities. Has some offensive upside and a good first pass.

That excerpt is from 2018 but the Flyers desperately need him to become the player described above. Ginning is under contract for one more season and will likely spend the majority of the year in Lehigh. He should get a few games up with the Flyers before the end of the the 2022-23 season.

At 23 years old the time is now for the young Swede and he seized the opportunity with the Phantoms last year as he even chipped in some offense, recording three goals and 19 points during the year.

Ginning should make a push to make the Flyers roster out of camp however it is unlikely he makes the opening night roster.

Sam Ersson (Round 5-143)

By now most Flyers fans know who Sam Ersson is. The former fifth round pick had a stellar training camp with the Flyers in 2021-22 and John Tortorella made sure to point that out.

Ersson has spent the last season or so with Lehigh and even appeared in 12 games with the Flyers last year. Ersson played well enough to have some fans wondering if he would one day usurp Carter Hart as the Flyers future starting goalie.

The 23-year-old Swede is under contract for just one more season and while future starting goalie might be a stretch, winning a backup job with the Flyers is certainly not. Ersson looked comfortable during his time up with the Flyers and as mentioned previously, John Tortorella seems to be a fan.

Ersson models his game after Carey Price and he plays the position with the same ease and grace as the former Montreal net-minder.

At the moment the Flyers have three goalies on their roster in Carter Hart, Cal Peterson, and Felix Sandstrom, which makes it likely Ersson plays out the year in Lehigh barring injuries.

2018 Draft Picks no longer with the organization

Jay O’Brien (1-19)
– Flyers did not offer O’Brien a contract, effectively making him a Free Agent.

John St. Ivany (4-112)
– Signed two-year deal with Pittsburgh. Played 63 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2021-22.

Wyatte Wylie (5-127)
– Not re-signed by Flyers

Gavin Hain (6-174)
– Finished 5th season at University of North Dakota, not under contract with Flyers

Marcus Westfalt
– Playing in the SHL, not under contract with Flyers

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