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Flyers Sign Högberg to ELC

May 30, 2020, 5:46 PM ET [37 Comments]
Bill Meltzer
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Flyers Sign Högberg to ELC

Two days before his rights were set to expire, the Philadelphia Flyers signed 22-year-old Swedish defenseman Linus Högberg to a two-year entry-level contract. He was originally selected by the Flyers in the fifth round (139th overall of the 2016 NHL Draft.

Högberg made his SHL debut for the Växjö Lakers at age 17. Prior to reaching the SHL, he spent two seasons sharing time between the parent club's J20 and J18 teams. He previously did the same on the junior and youth teams of Huddinge IK, a club based south of Stockholm.One of the youngest players available in the 2016 Draft (he was born 11 days before the age eligibility cutoff), he became a semi-regular in the SHL team's lineup the next year.

Högberg served as the 7th defenseman for Team Sweden at the 2017-18 World Junior Championships, dressing in seven games but playing sparingly. That same season, with Växjö, he won the SHL championship as a member of a league powerhouse club.

By 2018-19, Högberg started to see his ice time increase for Växjö. He posted a career high 14 points (5g, 9a) in 50 games this season in the final year of his contract with the team.

Högberg is an above-average skater and positionally savvy defender with a quick stick. Generally, he plays a low-risk game. There have been hints of nascent offensive ability, but that has never become a regular facet of his game.

Högberg's rate of progress over the four seasons since he was drafted has been notable more for his cumulative subtle improvements rather than a quantum leap he took in one particular season. For that reason, he may not jump out as much as other prospects in small sample size viewings but his game grows on observers over time.

Back in January of this year, Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr said that the organization was weighing the decision on offering Högberg an entry level contract. The eventual signing came in just under the wire.

"He has good self-awareness as a player. He knows what works for him, and his game doesn't change much from night to night. He skates well, moves the puck and keeps things fairly simple out there. One thing that we've been looking for from Högberg is for him to add strength, which has taken awhile, to be equipped to handle the physical game he'd be up against over here. He has some skill but he's not very aggressive in his approach. But he's been a pretty consistently responsible player, works hard and he is an established young pro over there at this point," Flahr said in January.

Högberg will turn 23 on Sept 4.

It is not yet known if the Flyers will be able to sign 23-year-old defense prospect Wyatt Kalynuk, whom they drafted in the seventh round (196th overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft. At the time, the former USHL blueliner was a 20-year-old incoming freshman to the University of Wisconsin.

Once in college, Kalynuk quickly proved himself to be an above-average offense defenseman with plus mobility. He immediately became a regular on the Badgers' power play and his overall game improved from season to season.

After completing his junior year, Kalynuk recently announced his intention to forego his senior year and turn pro. Under the rules pertaining to players of his age at the time of his NHL Draft selection, the Flyers have a 30-day window to sign him. Thereafter, he can opt for unrestricted free agency.

Back in January, Flahr said of Kalynuk, "I think Wyatt can be a pro. Yes, he's a power play guy but there are other elements to his game that he's developed. He's in a good place right now. Again, he's another player that we'll see where his thoughts are at after this season [in regard to turning pro or playing his senior season]. We wouldn't be uncomfortable with either direction."

The Flyers have interest in signing the player and have been in dialogue with his agent. Nothing is done until a deal is actually signed, however.

On June 1, the rights to Swedish defenseman David Bernhardt will expire. The 22-year-old former WJC participant for Team Sweden and 2016 Flyers draftee (7th round, 199th overall) remade his game over the years from that of an offensive-minded defenseman at the Swedish junior level to become a little more well-rounded. He has also worked hard to overcome some skating deficiencies.

Originally part of the Djurgårdens IF Stockholm program, Bernhardt has bounced around a bit the last few years. After a stint as a teammate of Högberg's on Växjö, he spent the majority of the 2019-20 season in Finland with SaiPa Lappeenranta (one goal, seven points in 33 games).
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