Flyers Prospects Weekly: And so it begins…

Keeping up with prospects can be challenging. With so many players throughout various leagues, it is hard to grasp how they are progressing. Luckily, we have you covered. “Flyers Prospects Weekly” is a new column dedicated to providing you with all of the valuable information you need to know about Flyers’ prospects.

Yes, we will undoubtedly discuss numbers. However, numbers deceive even the most insightful individuals. Each week, our goal will be to present the reader with information through a realistic lens, keeping the future and NHL-likelihood at the forefront.

Without further ado, let’s get started.

Flyers Prospects Weekly: Volume One

Elliot Desnoyers

One of the more hot topics among Flyers prospects last season, Desnoyers made a strong impression during Flyers training camp and the preseason. Eventually getting loaned back to Halifax, Desnoyers looks poised for a quality campaign with the Mooseheads. Not only expected to produce and get his team into the QMJHL playoffs but there is also an excellent chance Halifax awards Desnoyers with the captaincy.

Now Desnoyers expected point production in the “Q” may deceive some. No matter how many points he racks up this year, it is unlikely that will translate to the NHL. If he one day makes the Flyers, look for him to inhabit a bottom-six role. This season, it is imperative for Desnoyer to continue to build on his two-way game, which is already note-worthy.

Connor McClennon

Just three games into the WHL regular season, McClennon is already making waves with the talented Ice. After a weekend series where Winnipeg completely dominated Brandon, McClennon added two goals and an assist to his name. He recorded another assist on Wednesday, giving him four points in three games. Yes, producing at a high rate is always encouraging. However, there are a few things to keep in mind with McClennon. First, we are only two games into the year. McClennon is certainly a goal-scorer. Goal-scorers, by nature, are streaky. Do not expect this level of production to remain throughout the season’s entirety. Second, Winnipeg looks to be one of the crown jewels in the WHL this season. McClennon will play a role in that success, but he will, in turn, benefit from having quality players around him. Lastly, scoring is not everything, especially in terms of player development and projecting a player’s ceiling. There is a reason McClennon fell to round six in 2020. He has a lot to work on elsewhere.

Alexei Kolosov

It is far from a secret now, but Alexei Kolosov is off to a great start in the KHL. At just 19-years-old, the fact that he is working with a 2.20 GAA and .927 SV% through ten games is nothing short of astounding. Of course, we all know how unpredictable goaltenders are. Projecting where they will end up is a complete fool’s errand. For now, it is merely comforting to know that the Flyers possess another promising young netminder with the potential of one day cracking the NHL roster.

Emil Andrae

Andrae’s stat line will not wow even the most “orange-colored goggles” Flyers fan. Still, Andrae is off to a fantastic start in the HockeyAllsvenskan because he improved in almost every aspect, and his coaches noticed.

Andrae’s usage has increased substantially this season, both five-on-five and special teams. His average ice-time is hovering around 20 minutes this year after averaging about 15 minutes last season. Andrae’s time on the powerplay has increased almost a full minute compared to the previous season, while he also sees an increased role on the penalty kill. Additionally, he is shooting the puck more frequently, engaging in more puck battles (and winning them), and even laying out more hits.

Of course, you want to see progression in a prospect’s development year-to-year. Although the season remains young, Andrae improved his overall game compared to last season. It will be interesting to see how long it takes for him to get promoted to the SHL club. Hopefully, from a strictly Flyers coverage lens, it is sooner rather than later.

Ivan Fedotov

To be clear, I am one of the biggest skeptics when it comes to predicting whether Fedotov will one day play in North America. Quite frankly, I believe it isn’t very likely. Still, it would be unfair not to acknowledge his KHL success at this juncture. To think that Fedotov would translate into the level of netminder he is becoming would not be the popular opinion when drafted round seven back in 2015. For a Russian netminder, he might be in the midst of living his dream.

John Gove is the Head of Prospects and Draft Coverage for HW Hockey. Follow John on Twitter.

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