Like every season, the Flyers will want to become deeper in 2020-21.
Tanner Laczynski is ready to be in the depth picture after the Flyers signed the prospect to his two-year entry-level contract Monday.
Laczynski, a center who turns 23 years old in June, finished an impressive collegiate career at Ohio State. In four years with the Buckeyes, Laczynski was over a point-per-game player, putting up 48 goals and 95 assists in 138 contests. As a senior this season, the 2016 sixth-round draft pick had 34 points (11 goals, 23 assists) through 36 games and finished tied for fourth in the country with 20 primary helpers.
“Tanner has completed an excellent college career at Ohio State University and we are very excited to have him under contract,” Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr said in a statement released by the team. “He plays a mature two-way game, he’s a proven leader and we see him as a versatile forward for the Flyers organization going forward.”
Laczynski brings an impressive shot, good instincts and a pro build at 6-foot-1, 205 pounds. While Laczynski is likely to open 2020-21 with AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley, he'll be in the conversation to join the Flyers at some point next season because of his seasoned makeup and versatile game. He is well-groomed and works hard.
People might see him play games, I get to see him practice every day," Ohio State head coach Steve Rohlik said in a May phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. "That's the biggest piece that people don't get to see is what he brings every day in practice, how hard he practices, how hard he's focused on becoming a better player every day. Those are the things that I think separate him from a lot of guys and I think that's what's going to help him continue to develop, that's what's going to help him at the next level. Just his attitude toward showing up every day and being the best he can be.
The Flyers have another college player to sign in Wade Allison, whose rights expire Aug. 15. The Western Michigan product has battled injuries throughout his four years with the Broncos but the 2016 second-round draft pick has strong size (6-2/205) and scoring potential along the wing.
The rights to prospects Linus Hogberg and David Bernhardt, two Swedish blueliners in the Flyers' system, expire June 1.
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