It wasn’t too long ago when we lived in a world where the Philadelphia Flyers were absent from an “top prospects” lists, or were at best scantly represented. That’s changing rapidly of late, and it’s reflected in NHL.com’s list of the league’s top 60 prospects, released Thursday.
The list is led by Lightning forward Jonathan Drouin. The Flyers make their first appearance at No. 30 with Scott Laughton, for whom NHL.com wrote the following:
The 20th pick of the 2012 draft has made the Flyers’ opening-night roster the past two seasons, but each time was returned to his junior team, Oshawa of the OHL. This season, though, he could be ready to make the jump to the NHL on a full-time basis. Laughton is skilled offensively but also plays a 200-foot game and could contribute as a bottom-six forward to start. The Flyers have a glut of centers, but at 6-1 and 177 pounds, Laughton could slide to the wing if needed.
Laughton is the 12th ranked center on the list. Not too shabby for a guy who was drafted just two years ago.
Elsewhere on the list are two of the team’s big four defensive prospects: Robert Hagg at No. 55 and Shayne Gostisbehere at No. 58. Interesting that there’s no Samuel Morin on the list (in the top 60, that is), but that probably has something to do with his NHL-readiness comparative to the other two.
