The Flyers announced today the signing of both Jason Akeson of the Kitchener Rangers, and Tyler Brown of the Plymouth Whalers. Both are on entry-level deals and will be with Adirondack of the American Hockey League next season.
Jason Akeson currently leads the Ontario Hockey League with 103 points in 59 games with Kitchener.
Known primarily as a playmaking winger, Akeson went undrafted in 2008 after only playing 13 games, with 2 points, in his 'rookie' season. Since then, the undersized forward has put up 64, 80 and 103 points with one of the top CHL teams of the past decade.
Akeson models his game after current Flyers' forward, Claude Giroux, with whom he considers a friend.
Using his great vision and high hockey IQ, Akeson is a pass first player with above average stick handling. When he has room, Akeson is a quick skater. Under pressure, he shows great poise, and deceptive speed one-on-one. He has a fairly accurate shot, but most wouldn't consider him much of a goal scorer.
On the downside, Jason is a perimeter player and finds himself in vulnerable positions quite often. His lack of size doesn't help him either, without much strength on the puck.
Akeson will finish out the season with Kitchener as the team looks for a Memorial Cup win. A guy who's played with the likes of Gabriel Landeskog and Jeff Skinner, Akeson has been criticized as possibly having inflated stats on a top team, slumping when Landeskog was hurt earlier in the season.
At only 20 years old, Akeson has time, and signing with a deep Flyers organization will keep him grounded in the American League while he continues his development towards his goal.
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