Philadelphia Flyers Top 10 Prospect Rankings

Part 3 of 3 counting down the top 25 prospects in the Philadelphia Flyers system.

General Manager Danny Briere has proven to be a successful addition to the front office since he was awarded the full-time general manager position. Having a big splash in-depth charts is additionally instrumental, pulling strings to both add and subtract from the current NHL roster.

This summer, Danny Briere and Keith Jones replenished the pipeline. Their depth is considered to be the product of both high selections and drafting in the later rounds. Talents such as 19-year-old Matvei Michkov, arguably the best prospect from the 2023 NHL Draft class, and Cutter Gauthier, 19, a star out of Boston College, are just a couple of examples in the deep end of the pool.

Considering a long-term objective, the Flyers' future at last appears promising. A fresh perspective following years, perhaps even decades, of hardship, suggesting that there might be hope still. Although there is optimism, the rebuild is far from finished. Looking at what the team currently has to work with gives Flyers faithful true faith. 

This is the final part in a three-part instalment breaking down the organization's top 25 prospects.  If you missed the top 25-11 rankings: 

Note: These rankings are unbiased, using data from Dobber Prospects, DP staff, PNHLe, and Elite Prospects, as well as the data I have collected over the past year while watching Flyers prospects more in-depth. I take into consideration age, league, and sample size, among other things that will be presented throughout this piece.

*All stats were last accumulated on 12/29/23

Alex Čiernik, 19, is a highly talented prospect who possesses a unique combination of skills. He is an explosive skater who can easily manoeuvre through the opposition with exceptional crossover-heavy rushes. His speed, athleticism, and skillful hands make him a deadly shooter who can create scoring opportunities in multiple ways. Čiernik has had an impressive start to the season with four goals, eight assists, and 12 points in 19 games.

He is set to make his presence felt at the 2024 World Juniors for Team Slovakia. At last year's World Junior Championship, he had 3 points (2 goals, 1 assist) in 5 games for Slovakia U20. Ćiernik is a small winger in size but has excellent speed and mobility. He can create offense while on the move.

To improve, he needs to work on his strength and expand his attacking abilities. Although, he has the potential to become a playmaker capable of handling middle-six minutes in the NHL.

Carter Sotheran, 18, drafted in the fifth round, is a notable yet unknown Flyers prospect. Initially, he went unnoticed. But after an impressive rookie campaign with the Portland Winterhawks, things looked up for him. Sotheran finished second in the Western Hockey League among rookie defensemen with 23 points. He was the only Winterhawk to play in all 68 regular-season games and won the club's Rookie of the Year award.

Regardless of analysts and statistics that have ranked him low on the depth charts, he is a very dynamic and resourceful second-pairing defenseman who could play a significant role in the Flyers' future. Stats don’t always tell the full story. Sotheran can quarterback a power-play unit. He is a creative threat on both ends of the ice, using his build and long reach to his advantage. He has seven goals and 14 assists in 32 games on the season. 5 of his 11 goals are game-winning goals, which is third most in the WHL. Sotheran is pacing to set a new career-high across his entire stat line. He has already surged past the four goals he scored in 2022-23.

Sotheran is a transition specialist with surprising mobility and intelligence for his size. Developing consistency is very important. He plays a complete game, racking up points while using his long reach at 6-foot-3. Steering away traffic and pushing the opposition to the outside — not afraid to throw his weight around if necessary.

An older prospect in the Flyers pipeline who has shown a lot of potential. Ronnie Attard, at 24, has not yet cracked the Flyers roster consistently. He is known for his ability to block passing lanes while also putting his body on the line to cover lanes.

He plays a very aggressive style, making him a valuable asset. Ronnie Attard has played two games with the Flyers, scoring two goals and two assists between 2021 and 2023. Although he is an appreciated piece in the Flyers organization, they have not given him NHL minutes. He has racked up 15 points (five goals, ten assists) in 26 games on the year.

Attard has an impressive upside and will be a great addition as a second/third-pairing defenseman. He is an offensive-minded, large-framed defenseman, and while his defensive game is still a work in progress, he shows potential to develop into a multi-category defenseman.

In the 2023 NHL Draft, the Flyers landed the best goaltender in the second round after GM Danny Briere traded up to acquire an 18-year-old from Carberry, Manitoba.

Carson Bjarnason, 18, in defiance of being a part of a struggling Brandon Wheat Kings team, has faced the most shots in the WHL this season. Although his underlining stats may not be impressive, his style of play resembles that of his idol, Carter Hart. Like his counterpart, Bjarnason keeps his team in games each night, and that is all you can ask from your goaltender. Bjarnason has allowed 64 goals this season and has recorded a 3.23 goals against average and a .900 save percentage.

Making well over 750 saves with a 13-7-3 record and one shutout. He is an athletic goaltender with good size and play-reading ability. Be that as it may, he needs to work on his improvisational play but has shown potential to become an NHL-calibre goaltender.

Emil Andrae, 21, is a skilled Swedish-born defenseman for the Phantoms. Although he has played in the National Hockey League, he still needs more seasoning in Lehigh Valley. He has consistently displayed promising performance in his game. He scored two goals and four assists in ten games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms last season.

Despite some injury setbacks, including concussions, he has produced 15 points in 20 games this season. three goals and 12 assists. Granted, despite the small sample size in the AHL and NHL, Andrae is an undersized defenseman with an offensive mindset and can play a 200-foot game.

Adding to his impressive totals, Andrae has nine points (2 goals, 7 assists) in his last six games. He is currently fourth in points among AHL rookie defensemen. Andrae skates well, has a great shot, and isn’t afraid to play physically. He is excellent at breakouts and makes quick decisions with the puck in the defensive zone, and he can play in any situation.

When evaluating prospects, there are several factors to consider, such as their size, the league they play in, and other criteria. That all goes out the window with Denver Barkey and his impressive production and natural abilities.

Denver Barkey, 18, regardless of his small stature, is one of the Flyers' best prospects with the highest potential of making it to the NHL. He has the tools to become a top-six role player, currently playing for the London Knights in the OHL, where he has already shown great success. He has plenty of time to continue developing and building muscle, with a bright future. He is one of the top scorers in the OHL, with 18 goals, 31 assists, and 49 points in 31 games.

Last season, he scored 59 points in 61 games played. He is on track to shatter his previous career records in almost half the games. Barkey has over 10 multi-point games, leads the OHL in shorthanded goals with five, is dynamic on the power play and has 18 points (4 goals, 15 assists) in his last 10 games.

One of the best Ontario League prospects from the 2023 draft class, yet went undrafted until the third round, 95th overall. He is an incredibly fun, skilled, and shifty forward to watch. Denver Barkey has high-end playmaking abilities, a constantly running motor and an inside-driven mindset, which makes him stand out.

Oliver Bonk, 18, son of former NHL player Radek Bonk, is a rising star in the OHL. He plays a lot of minutes, logging 15:00 minutes per game, and is on track to have the best season of his career. With 24 assists and 30 points in 28 games, he is a strong offensive player who can also prevent damage in the defensive zone.

He has the qualities of a Flyer and will do whatever it takes to help his team win. At only 18 years old, he has already caught the attention of Team Canada's World Junior team and is eager to prove himself on the international stage. On pace for 70 points in 67 games. Bonk has the potential to become a top-pairing defenseman in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Philadelphia Flyers brass are very high on Bonk's talent and abilities, taking him in the first round in 2023.

Although his point totals are impressive, Bonk does everything that does not show on the scoresheet. He surveys, processes, sets up players, and ties up bodies in front of the net. He has worked to improve his shot, making it even more efficient and powerful. In his draft year, he posted 40 points in 67 games during his draft. At his current weight of 176 pounds and height of 6-foot-1, he will need to gain more muscle to compete at the highest level. Ultimately, he's projected to become a fringe first-pairing defender.

A goaltender from Belarus has been performing well for Dinamo Minsk and could be a potential contender for Carter Hart’s job. The Flyers drafted Alexei Kolosov, 21, in 2021 and recently signed him to an entry-level contract.

Although he signed an ELC, Philadelphia loaned Alexei Kolosov back to Minsk to complete his final season in Russia. He is expected to come to America in the new year and play in the orange and black. Kolosov is currently among the top goalies in the KHL, having three shutouts this season and ranking top 15 in the league for goals against average (2.31) and save percentage (.910) with 28 starts.

In those 26 games, Kolosov has made 634 saves and allowed 66 goals. Earning him a 2.41 goals against average and a .906 save percentage with an 11-14-0 record. Despite his unorthodox style, he finds himself in position to make saves. He is an elite netminder who, despite being undersized. Covers the net well.

The Philadelphia Flyers' 2022 first-round draft pick is close to making his debut for the team. The 19-year-old sophomore from Boston College is exceeding expectations, leading the NCAA in game-winning goals with five and scoring eight goals at 5-on-5 for 23 points in 17 games, which is well above a point per game.

Cutter Gauthier, 19, is representing Team USA at the 2024 World Junior Championship. He is one of seven Boston College players at the tournament. This is his second appearance at the WJC. He has four assists in two games for the USA, who are heavy favourites to win the World Juniors this year.

Gauthier is a great defensive player, using his size to win puck battles along the boards and in the corners. On the offensive end, he is dynamic and versatile, with a high hockey IQ, making him a target for passes from his teammates. He is a highly talented player with elite potential in the NHL. The Flyers brass hopes Cutter Gauthier can become a first-line center with the ability to produce 70-80 points per season.

He is both offensively and defensively efficient. He has the size, strength, and skating ability needed to excel at a high level. Following the 2023-24 NCAA season, management will discuss an entry-level contract with his camp. Gauthier will fill a top-six role and further improve a struggling power play with his shooting abilities. Gauthier is a reliable first-line center and will be a valuable addition to the Philadelphia Flyers.

One of the Flyers' biggest draft steals may have fallen right into their laps by throwing up countless smoke screens. Danny Briere could execute his plan. This resulted in the Flyers landing the Russian in the seventh spot of the entry draft.

Matvei Michkov, 19, is one of the best prospects out of the KHL. He leads Sochi in scoring with 12 goals on the season, in fewer games than his teammates, — 30 games. Michkov has an outstanding 0.87 points per game in his draft year, plus one season, the best by a U-19 player in KHL history. He has surpassed the records of Evgeny Kuznetsov, Vladimir Tarasenko, Kirill Kaprizov, and Alex Ovechkin, among others.

Michkov is a Philadelphia Flyer through and through. He has the grit and determination that Philly sports fans gravitate towards. Not only does he have superstar potential, but he has the passion and drive to be a truly elite talent at the NHL level. He will get into the dirty areas and battle hard along the boards.

He has scored 12 goals, provided 15 assists, and accumulated 27 points in 30 games this season. His recent diagnosis of pneumonia, a lung infection that can vary in severity, has affected his 50-point pace. Michkov now sits at a 47-point pace despite the minor setback. Michkov has one of the highest ceilings of any prospect currently in the NHL.

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