The NHL Network released a top 50 prospects list on Friday with the Metro Division filling out most of the top 10.
Can anyone remember the last time the Philadelphia Flyers had two prospects ranked inside the top 10 of any list? The NHL Network has both Matvei Michkov and Cutter Gauthier ranked in the top of their top 50 prospects list. Flyers fans should be excited.
No not like most were when Hextall’s prospect pool was being pumped to no end for whatever reason.
This time it’s legit. The Flyers finally have high-end talent in the prospect pool. Let’s get to the list.
The Top 50 Prospects in the NHL, revealed.
Let’s hear it 🧐 do you agree? pic.twitter.com/nAHLhOlXMM
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) August 11, 2023
4. Matvei Michkov
For some reason Michkov is only fourth on the list. Maybe I am completely biased at this point but Michkov should be second. Adam Fantilli and Leo Carlsson will go on to be very good NHL players but in my opinion neither will have the career Michkov will.
Michkov is signed with SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League through 2025-26 and unless something changes won’t be with the Flyers until 2026-27. That does not mean Flyers fans can’t be excited now, though. They should be.
TSN draft analyst Craig Button compared Michkov to soccer star Lionel Messi, calling him an “elite striker.”
“When Lionel Messi gets into the scoring area, he’s dangerous, and you better know where he is,” Button said. “Matvei as a hockey player is very similar. He’s probing. He’s looking to exploit opportunities. But when they come, he’s, like, lightning quick.”
Quick with his mind. Quick with his hands. There’s the puck, and boom, it’s in the net.
“That, to me, is a striker,” Button said. “I think the hardest thing to do in the National Hockey League is score goals, and he does that. I would argue that he’s the second-best goal-scorer in this draft after Connor Bedard.”
Michkov’s second goal of the game and it’s a nasty one 🤢 pic.twitter.com/ZfFMRKptjN
— Nasty Knuckles (@NastyKnuckles) August 10, 2023
Could you imagine NOT being excited for hockey’s Messi? He’s ours Flyers fans. Be excited all you want.
9. Cutter Gauthier
Gauthier was picked fifth overall by the Flyers in 2022. The pick was deemed a bit of a reach at the time as it was pretty well known the Flyers were taking “their guy” at pick five. All Gauthier has done since is prove the Flyers right.
At Boston College last season Gauthier lead the Eagles in scoring with 37 points in 32 games. That point total should only increase during his sophomore season as help is on the way in the form of Will Smith, Ryan Leonard, and Gabe Perreault.
#Flyers 2022 1st round pick (5th overall), Cutter Gauthier, scored twice for Boston College on Friday night, giving him 5 goals in 7 games on the season. @BCEagles
— James Iacovone (@JimIkeHW) November 14, 2022
Between two summer tournaments with the USA U20 team and the USA team at the World Cup, Gauthier recorded 19 points in 17 games, scoring 11 times.
As mentioned previously, Gauthier will return to BC for his sophomore season but the expectation is that he will sign with the Flyers immediately following the conclusion of Boston College’s season.
49. Tyson Foerster
Foerster was the 23rd overall pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft and bounced around in 2021-22 between the AHL and OHL. Last season Foerster showed what kind of player he can be with more stability. He ripped home 20 goals with the Phantoms in 2022-23, finishing second in goals to only to Elliott Desnoyers.
Upon being called up to the Flyers late last year, Foerster continued to impress. He scored high-light reel goals and amassed seven points in just eight games.
TYSON FOERSTER FIRST NHL GOAL
— Nasty Knuckles (@NastyKnuckles) March 18, 2023
Remember how much fun he was? While we’re excited for Michkov and Gauthier (rightfully so), let’s not forget about Foerster.
With the competition on the Flyers roster heading into camp, Foerster will be fighting for a spot. If I was to guess, I would assume Foerster begins the year with Lehigh and finds his way onto the Flyers roster more towards the middle/end of the year. If there’s an injury Foerster will be one of the first call-ups.
JIM IACOVONE IS A PROUD FLYERS MEDIA MEMBER AND FOUNDER OF HW HOCKEY
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