The Philadelphia Flyers announced on Thursday that the team has signed 2017 first-round pick Morgan Frost (chosen 27th overall) and second-round selection Isaac Ratcliffe (35th overall) to entry-level contracts. The team previously signed Nolan Patrick, the second overall pick of the 2017 Draft, to an entry-level deal on July 17.
It has become standard practice across the NHL to get CHL-affiliated high-end draftees signed soon after the NHL Draft. For example, the Flyers inked 2016 second-round pick Pascal Laberge (Victoriaville Tigres of the Quebec Major Junior League) to an entry-level deal on July 14, 2016 after being taken 36th overall. Forty-eighth overall pick Carter Hart signed on Oct. 2, 2016.
After 2016 first-round selection German Rubtsov subsequently transferred from the KHL to the QMJHL's Chicoutimi Sagueneens, the Flyers signed him to an entry-level deal on March 2, 2017. Even 2016 fourth-round pick Connor Bunnaman, who enjoyed a breakout OHL season with the Kitchener Rangers, signed an entry-level deal on April 21, 2017.
Thus, all but two of the CHL-affiliated Flyers 2016 draftees are already under entry-level contract a full season ahead of when their rights would have expired (June 1, 2018). The still-unsigned CHL players are third-round (82nd overall) pick Carsen Twarynski and sixth-round (172nd overall) draftee Anthony Salintri.
There is no drawback to quick signings, so long as the signed players continue to develop into pro hockey candidates as anticipated. The three-year contracts can slide (i.e., not count against the 50-contract maximum or "officially" begin) until the players turn 20, and there is no cap hit incurred if the deal slides for the season. Both Frost and Ratcliffe are likely to slide for the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. Frost will play for the OHL's Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds while Ratcliffe will rejoin the Guelph Storm.
The early Laberge signing last summer is one that looks a bit iffy at present in one-year hindsight. The player is now coming off a subpar draft-plus-one season in 2016-17 that was largely ruined by a severe concussion. However, the Flyers organization believes he will bounce back strong in the Quebec League in 2017-18 and be ready for the American Hockey League level by the next season.
The timetable for signing collegiate players or European league players is typically less immediate. In the case of prospects committed to NCAA programs, as soon as the player signs a professional contract, he forgoes his remaining college hockey eligibility. In the case of European leaguers, the players are typically contracted to pro teams overseas and then transfer to North American pro hockey when both they and the NHL team holding their rights feel the time is right to do so.
For these reasons, 2014 draftees Mark Friedman (third round, 86th overall) and Oskar Lindblom (fifth round, 138th overall) did not sign their entry-level deals with the Flyers until just recently. Both will play their first North American pro seasons in 2017-18. Friedman decided to forgo his senior season at Bowling Green University while Lindblom completed his contractual requirements last season to Swedish team Brynà¤s IF Gà¤vle. Goalie prospect Felix Sandström, selected in the third round (70th overall) of the 2015 Draft, is likely to sign with the Flyers after playing one more season in Sweden with Brynà¤s.