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How Many Flyers Prospects Will Play in Next WJC? |
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Last season, there were nine Flyers-affiliated prospects in the World Junior Championships. This was a reflection of the major improvements the organization has made in the depth of its prospect pool but equally a reflection of the diversity of home countries within the tournament-eligible player prospect pool.
There were two Canadian players (Carter Hart and Philippe Myers), two Russian players (Mikhail Vorobyev, German Rubtsov), two Swedish players (Felix Sandström and David Bernhardt), one U.S. player (Tanner Laczynski), one Czech player (David Kase) and one Slovakian player (Matej Tomek). By any measure, that it extensive representation. However, a few of these players from non medal-contending teams, such as Slovakia backup goalie Tomek, would likely not have earned roster spots on the top teams.
Come the 2017-18 tournament in Buffalo, the Flyers won't have nearly as many affiliated players overall or be represented across nearly as many national teams. This is not a reflection of a downturn in the Philadelphia prospect pool but rather simply a result of prospects "aging out" of eligibility for the under-20 tournament and most of the just-drafted players from the 2017 NHL Draft not yet being likely candidates to play in a tournament historically (although not always) dominated by 19-year-old players.
Come next tourney, the Flyers-related representation will likely be two, three or four players.
Hart appears to be a shoo-in to one again play in goal for Team Canada. Nolan Patrick would also be a slam-dunk to play for Canada if he is not in the NHL with the Flyers (but the latter is the more appealing lineup scenario if all goes well). Rubtsov will probably see much more ice time for Russia next tournament than he saw in being assigned to strictly a fourth-line role last year. The Flyers' 2016 first-round pick is eligible for the American Hockey League next season or could return for a full year of Quebec League hockey but, in either event, could suit up for Russia. Another 2016 draftee, defenseman Linus Högberg, may have a chance at a spot on the Team Sweden blueline.
Myers, Vorobyev, Sandström, Bernhardt, Laczynski, Kase and Tomek have all aged out of WJC eligibility. Meanwhile, class of 2017 draftees such as first-rounder Morgan Frost and second-rounder Isaac Ratcliffe were not invited to Canada's summer development camp this year but could have a better shot at being in the roster mix for the 2018-19 tournament.
Note: If the Flyers elect to sign undrafted training camp invitee Ivan Kosorenkov and he is invited to play for Team Russia, the Flyers prospect pool at the WJC would bump up by one representative. The Russian WJC roster, while no longer plagued by nearly the same degree of "irregularities" of the late 1990s and early 2000s, still sometimes has seemingly unexpected players included or excluded. Kosorenkov has a chance at a spot, at least. Goaltender Kirill Ustimenko, chosen by the Flyers in the third round of the 2017 Draft, played very well at the Under-18 Worlds this past spring but probably needs more seasoning before he'd be a strong bet to play for the Under-20 national team.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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