There will be 10 defensemen -- eight drafted players and two invitees -- as well as two goaltending prospects participating in the 2021 Development Camp at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees from Aug. 28 to Sep. 1.
Development Camp Preview Part 2: Defense and Goalies
Due to NCAA rules prohibiting camp attendance that overlaps with scholastic calendars, there are no collegiate players participating in camp. That is why prospects such as forwards Bobby Brink, Noah Cates, Jay O'Brien, Gavin Hain and Bryce Brodzinski or defensemen Ronnie Attard and Jack St. Ivany will be in attendance. Over in Europe, the leagues are playing preseason games and clubs are in training camp. Hence, players such as Olle Lycksell, Emil Andrae and 2021 Draftee Alexei Kolosov will remain in Europe rather than traveling to the United States for the Development Camp.
Additionally, the Development Camp is open only to players on entry-level NHL contracts, recent draftees who are not yet signed to ELCs or to unaffiliated invitees. This is why Lehigh Valley Phantoms goaltender, Felix Sandström, who is now on his second NHL contract, is not attending Development Camp but will be part of the team's September training camp.
Here's a look at the blueliners and goalies who will be in Development camp.
DEFENSEMEN
Linus Högberg: Originally drafted by the Flyers in the fifth round of the 2016 Entry Draft (139th overall), Högberg is entering his second pro season with the AHL's Lehigh Valley Phantoms. He will celebrate his 23rd birthday on Sept. 4.
Högberg dressed in 26 games as a rookie last season in Lehigh Valley, settling in as the season moved along. He's a capable puck-mover, although he's never been especially offensive-minded. The 2021-22 season will be an important one for him if he's to work his way into position for being a potential call-up player.
Mason Millman: With the cancelation of the 2020-21 Ontario Hockey League season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Millman's entry-level contract slid to the Phantoms. The 2019 fourth-round pick (103rd overall) dressed in 13 games for Lehigh Valley last season.
Millman, who turned 20 on July 18, is an above-average skater with good puck skills. He is capable of executing some beautiful passes and also creating a threat when he joins the play up ice. The young defenseman is still a work in progress in terms of risk management with the puck and some of his off-puck decision making. It's likely that he will spend the 2021-22 season with the Phantoms under the tutelage of new head coach Ian Laperriere and new assistant coach Jason Smith.
Ethan Samson: Selected by the Flyers in the sixth round (174th overall) of the 2021 Entry Draft, Samson plays in the Western Hockey League for the Prince George Cougars. Last season, Smith was his assistant coach and the recommendations of the former Flyers team captain (2007-08 season) and WHL-based amateur scout Mark Greig figured heavily in the organization's decision to select Samson in this year's Draft.
Samson is a toolsy player -- right-handed shot, projectable frame, mobility and two-way upside -- who is coachable and has a good work ethic. He is improving rapidly as a defender and also makes a quality first pass on breakout opportunities. There is also some upward potential in his offensive game.
Quinn Schmiemann (camp invitee): Originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the sixth round (182nd overall) of the 2019 Entry Draft, the 20-year-old Schmiemann became an unrestricted free agent this summer when he was not signed to an entry-level contract and was not selected as an NHL Draft re-entry player. At the WHL level with the Kamloops Blazers, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Schmiemann was a capable two-way defenseman who saw multi-situational usage including some power play time.
Jackson van de Leest (camp invitee): The huge-framed 20-year-old (6-foot-7, 238 pounds) likes to throw his weight around and plays a simple, straightforward game. For a time a few years ago with the WHL's Calgary Hitmen, van de Leest was paired with Flyers prospect Egor Zamula.
An impressive physical specimen who keeps himself in good condition, the question mark with van de Leest has always been whether he is sufficiently skilled with the puck and quick enough with his decision-making and execution, including his defensive footwork, to translate his game to the professional pace. Moving in a straight line, he has good mobility especially for a player his size.
Wyatte Wylie: Last season, it seemed like very few Flyers prospects escaped being bitten by the injury bug. Wylie was no exception. He took a puck to the face on a one-timer by Hershey Bears' defenseman Connor McMichael on March 14. Wylie did not miss much time after what initially looked like a frightening injury, but he had to don a full face shield upon his return.
Otherwise, Wylie showed some promise during his AHL rookie season with the Phantoms in 2020-21 The former Everett Silvertips defenseman dressed in 21 of Lehigh Valley's 32 games. His most memorable game was his AHL debut, as he scored the tying goal in the final minute of regulation (Wylie's lone goal of the season) and then assisted on the game-winner in overtime.
Cam York:The Flyers are taking a cautious approach with the development of their 2019 first-round pick, who captained Team USA to a gold medal at the 2020-21 World Junior Championships and enjoyed a fine two-year collegiate career at the University of Michigan before turning pro in the spring.
Philadelphia's recent signing of veteran Keith Yandle to a one-year contract takes some pressure off York to immediately step into a top-six NHL blueline role with just 11 games of pro experience late last season, including three NHL games, under his belt.
When will York step into the NHL lineup on a full-time basis? That will be up to the player himself to demonstrate that he is truly NHL-ready; whether that happens in camp, mid-season, or a year from now. If he plays for the Phantoms, York is likely to receive top-pairing minutes, including extensive power play time.
The only thing York lacks is size and pro experience. He has the wheels, quick defensive stick, poise and offensive upside to eventually make for a fine all-around NHL defenseman who moves the puck efficiently and also posts a healthy number of points. But there is still a process involved in making the jump from collegiate and World Junior Championships hockey to the NHL.
There are normal adaptational adjustments ahead. For example, of the six shots that York attempted across his brief NHL stint with the Flyers last season, only one got on the net (four got blocked). He also lost some battles around the net when jockeying for stick/body positioning against bigger forwards.
Egor Zamula: Unselected in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, Zamula parlayed a tryout invitation at the Flyers rookie and NHL camps that year into an entry-level contract. This was the same path that former Flyers defenseman Phil Myers (now with the Nashville Predators) took before signing his first pro contract.
Zamula is now entering his second professional season. He turned 21 on March 30.
The Russian defenseman has outstanding physical tools, above-average poise under pressure and a competitor's mentality. His first professional season was a learning experience in terms of when he could make a play with or without the puck -- which he could do almost at will by his final junior season with the Calgary Hitmen and the Russian junior national team --and when to be a little safer.
Zamula had a bit of a streaky rookie season with the Phantoms last year. He got into a good all-around groove at times and also hit a few slumps; nothing out of the ordinary for a rookie pro defenseman. The player also received a two-game callup for his first regular season NHL action, and held his own.
The number one thing that Zamula still needs is more muscle on his frame. He is tall (6-foot-3) but quite lanky.That was one his main goals heading into the 2021 offseason; getting physically stronger to withstand the pounding at the pro level.
Brian Zanetti: The Flyers selected the Swiss defenseman in the fourth round (110th overall) of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. Last season, he was a mainstay puck-moving defenseman on the top pairing of the HC Lugano J20 team as well as playing internationally for Team Switzerland at the U18 and U20 levels including the 2021 Under-18 World Championships in Frisco, Texas.
For the 2021-22 season, Zanetti will be coming over to North America. He will join the Ontario Hockey League's Peterborough Petes.
Zanetti has above-average mobility, a quick stick and the upside to be a reliable puck mover and reliable defender. As with most 18-year-old defenseman, his game is still rather raw. However, his physical tools and work ethic are impressive.
Cooper Zech: Zech will turn 23 on Dec. 18. The Flyers signed him as a free agent this summer to a two-way contract.
An undersized puck-mover, Zech signed an AHL deal with the Providence Bruins in 2019 after just one collegiate season wat Ferris State (that year, he led his team in scoring). He started the 2020-21 season in Slovakia, playing for MHC Nitra until the belated AHL season began. When the American Hockey League was finally set to start, Zech returned to Providence. Overall, Zech has played in 78 career AHL games, posting three goals and 22 assists.
Come the start of the 2021-22 season, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms' blueline could consist of York, Zamula. Högberg, Wylie, Millman, Zech and veterans Adam Clendening and Nick Seeler.
GOALTENDERS
Samuel Ersson: Ersson is coming over to North America in 2021-22 for his first season in the American Hockey League with the Phantoms. He had a strong SHL campaign individually in 2020-21 for a struggling Brynäs IF team that had a hard time providing goal support and was prone to ill-timed defensive breakdowns.
Two seasons earlier, Ersson was a standout for Team Sweden at the 2018-19 World Junior Championships and he swept all the major individual honors (league MVP, Goalie of the Year, Rookie of the Year) available to him during a breakthrough season for Västerås at the Allsvenskan level (Sweden's top minor league).
Ersson relies heavily on his positioning and being technically sound to have success. He's perhaps not as naturally gifted as fellow Phantoms goaltender Sandström but has nonetheless enjoyed significant pre-AHL success in his young career. Ersson will turn 22 on Oct. 20.
Kirill Ustimenko:Two seasons ago, in his rookie campaign in North America, Ustimenko outplayed Sandström with the ECHL's Reading Royals. He also had a cup of coffee in the AHL with the Phantoms. Unfortunately, off-season hip surgery cost Ustimenko the entire 2020-21 season.
Ustimenko, who turned 22 on Jan. 29, is now healthy. He will compete with Sandström and Ersson for playing time with the Phantoms. The Belarusian goalie may also see some ECHL time again with Reading.
