We continue our weekly check-in on the Flyers’ prospects currently playing in the AHL, overseas or at the junior and college levels.
In this week’s edition, we’ll begin with a highly-touted blueliner who is looking more and more NHL-ready with each passing week.
You know who we’re talking about. Let’s get to it!
Ivan Provorov, D, Brandon Wheat Kings
Brandon scored an astounding 32 goals in four emphatic victories last week, and Provorov was involved in producing quite a few of them. The 19-year-old Russian erupted for five goals and four assists in those tilts and went a combined plus-12. Not only is Provorov a force offensively in the WHL — 19 goals and 46 assists in 57 games — but he also has a knack for breaking up opposing scoring chances before they even develop. If he can carry over his two-way ability into training camp, Provorov will earn an NHL roster spot with ease. He's that talented.
Travis Konecny, C/RW, Sarnia Sting
Relatively quiet week for Konecny. The 2015 first-round pick was held off the scoresheet in a 5-2 loss to Sault Ste. on Thursday but did generate three shots on goal. One night later, the electric forward got back in the point column with his 64th assist of the season on Sarnia's first tally in a 2-1 win over Windsor. In all, the 5-foot-10, 176-pounder has 90 points (26 goals) in just 56 games between the Sting and Ottawa 67's.
Philippe Myers, D, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
Myers' progression has been fun to follow. This was a kid who recorded just two goals and eight points in 60 games in 2014-15 before going undrafted. Flyers GM Ron Hextall took a shot on him, rewarded him with an entry-level contract out of camp last summer and may have unearthed a gem. The 6-foot-4, 206-pounder continued his impressive campaign with two goals — one being a game-winner in overtime — and an assist in four wins for Rouyn-Noranda last week. He leads all defensemen in the QMJHL in goals (17) and plus/minus (plus-47) and is up to 43 points in 58 games. Myers is by no means a lock to be an NHL stud but he has opened eyes. Can never have enough defensemen anyway, right?
Anthony Stolarz, G, Lehigh Valley Phantoms
To say Stolarz stole Wednesday's win over Syracuse would be a severe understatement. The towering netminder made 51 saves on 53 shots to earn his 19th win of the season. Yes, you read that correctly. Fifty-one saves. Imagine what this kid could do with a little goal support. To his credit, Stolarz has done a spectacular job of keeping games close this season. He made 29 saves in a 3-0 loss to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday and was hung out to dry yet again in a 24-save effort in Saturday's 3-1 loss to Binghamton. All told, Stolarz is 19-14-5 with a .919 save percentage and 2.49 goals-against average in 39 appearances for the Phantoms. You can make a real case for him being named team MVP.
NHL
Travis Sanheim, D, Calgary Hitmen
Sanheim did everything he could for Calgary on Sunday but the Hitmen still fell short. The 6-foot-4, 199-pounder scored his 11th goal of the season and also had an assist but Red Deer held on for a 4-3 victory, its second in as many games against Sanheim and company over the weekend. In 45 games in 2015-16, Sanheim has recorded 55 points and a plus-11 rating.
Cooper Marody, C/RW, University of Michigan Wolverines
Michigan was handed a pair of losses by Ohio State over the weekend, but Marody was a huge bright spot. The freshman forward registered two assists in Friday's 7-4 defeat and was even better Sunday. Marody collected another assist and his third-period marker evened the game at 5-5, but the Wolverines couldn't complete their comeback in overtime. Since returning from a bout with mono, Marody has been quite active and he's up to 21 points (10 goals) in just 26 games in his first season at the collegiate level.
Nicolas Aube-Kubel, C/RW, Val-d'Or Foreurs
For just the second time this season, Aube-Kubel has failed to record a point in three consecutive games. He earned an assist in Tuesday's 6-5 loss to Rouyn-Noranda but came up empty-handed in a trio of Val-d'Or victories over the weekend. Not to worry though. The elusive forward has picked up 35 goals, 42 assists and a plus-39 rating through 56 games. He set career-highs in goals (38), assists (42) and points (80) in 2014-15 and is close to breaking all three marks.
Felix Sandstrom, G, Sweden Brynäs IF
Sandstrom made two starts for Brynäs IF last week. He was lit up for four goals on 19 shots in a 5-3 loss to the Malmö Redhawks on Wednesday but rebounded with a 19-save effort against Färjestad BK on Friday, when he took the loss after allowing just one goal. The 19-year-old finished the regular season 10-11-2 with a .902 save percentage and 2.63 goals-against average in 24 appearances.
Petr Straka, LW, Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Straka has really elevated his game as of late. The Plzen, Czech Republic native, whose contract expires after this season, fired nine shots on target and tallied a goal and an assist in three games for Lehigh Valley last week. He's up to 34 points and 135 shots in 50 games in the AHL and has been relentless on the forecheck and in the corners. He wants a new deal, you can see it.
Quick hits
• Winger Taylor Leier had nine shots in three games for the Phantoms last week but did not record a point. He has 18 goals and 21 assists in 55 AHL games this season.
• Sophomore defenseman Mark Friedman was held pointless as Bowling Green split its back-to-back with Alabama Huntsville to finish the season. He compiled four goals and 16 assists in 38 games for the Falcons, who will take on Bemidji State in the postseason.
• Winger Tyrell Goulbourne was a healthy scratch for Lehigh Valley on Saturday, making defenseman Sam Morin the last remaining Phantom to appear in every single game so far this season.
• Senior defenseman Reece Willcox helped Cornell close out 2015-16 with a pair of victories over Union. He completed the season with two goals and 11 assists in 30 games.
• Winger Cole Bardreau scored his 10th goal of 2015-16 in Wednesday's 3-2 win over Syracuse and later picked up his 12th assist in the Phantoms' 3-1 loss to Binghamton on Saturday.
• Sophomore defenseman Terrance Amorosa had two assists in Friday's 3-2 win over Princeton. He recorded four goals and 16 points in 25 games for Clarkson.
• Winger Danick Martel collected his 20th goal of the season in Lehigh Valley's 3-2 win over Syracuse on Wednesday. He has 31 points in 52 games overall.
• Center Samuel Dove-McFalls had a goal and an assist in Saturday's 7-4 win over Acadie-Bathurst. He went scoreless in three other outings for Saint John last week.
• Winger Oskar Lindblom snapped a five-game pointless drought in Brynäs' season finale with an assist on his team's lone goal in a 2-1 loss to Färjestad BK on Saturday. He finished the campaign with 24 points (seven goals) in 47 games.
• Center Mikhail Vorobyov appeared in one KHL playoff game last week but received just 1:29 of ice time. He was a healthy scratch in Games 1-5 and the deciding Game 7, which Salavat Yulaev Ufa won, 3-2.
• Winger Radel Fazleev, who has 18 goals and 45 assists this season, saw his six-game point streak come to an end last week. He went pointless in a pair of losses to Red Deer.