This weeks prospects update will look at the Flyers prospects overseas.
Olle Lycksell
When the Flyers drafted Olle Lycksell in the 6th round of the 2017 draft, he was a young boy. By boy, I mean a not matured yet, under-ager in the 2017 draft. Lycksell made the 2017 draft by just 21 days. That did not scare the Flyers away from this young Swede.
What the Flyers saw was potential. A kid, who had yet to turn 18, but already played in junior leagues well above his age. They also saw his impressive stat-line as a 16 year old in Sweden’s Junior U18 Elite League. ycksell scored 8 goals and 31 assists in 34 games against kids, at the most, 2 years older than him.
Fast forward to this year. Lycksell made a big jump this year by playing in 10 SHL games. However, Lycksell didn’t play more than 8 minutes in any of those 10 games. He has made his living this year in the SuperElite League, the top junior league in Sweden.
For the season, Lycksell has 8 goals and 11 assists in 21 games in the SuperElite League. But, if we hold a contest for the best play by a Flyers prospect this year, Lycksell may be in the lead. Have a look for yourself. Does this shoot-out goal remind you of anybody?
Disgusting shootout winner by Flyers prospect Olle Lycksell in the Allsvenskan pic.twitter.com/IxWWBW5avG
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) December 5, 2017
— Brandon J. Sommermann (@B_Sommermann) December 18, 2017
Felix Sandstrom
No introduction is necessary for Felix. All Flyers fans know who he is and everybody knows what they think he can become. However, just like the Flyers most ready NHL goalie prospect, Anthony Stolarz, Sandstrom is dealing with the injury bug too.
Having only played 8 games this season, Sandstrom has been dealing with injuries from the start. To make matters worse, his latest injury has kept him out since his last start, October 26.
Before the injury, Sandstrom wasn’t having the greatest of years which may be a result of a nagging injury that has now kept him out for a month and a half.
For the season, Sandstrom is 3-5-0 with a 2.87 GAA and a .905 %. Not great stats for a player who many thought could compete for a job next season with the Flyers or Phantoms.
Kirill Ustimenko
Kirill Ustimenko was a shocking pick by the Flyers in the 3rd round of the 2017 draft. Ustimenko, who was labeled as the best European goalie in the draft, was taken by a team that already has 3 NHL-caliber goalies in the pipeline. However, Ustimenko stats were too good to pass up with the 80th pick in the draft.
Ustimenko’s put together a 17-5-3 with a 1.74 GAA and a .938 % in his draft year in the MHL, the top junior league in Russia. That is an impressive stat-line for a goalie competing for a job. Ustimenko battled all of last season to become the starter. He made the jump to the MHL after just 2 starts in the Russia U18 league, posting 2 shutouts in 2 games.
For this season, Ustimenko is 23-5-3 with a 1.71 GAA and a .927%. If Ustimenko can make the same jump he made to the MHL to the KHL and have similar success. The Flyers will add another NHL-caliber goalie to their prospect chain.
David Kase
David Kase has been a very interesting prospect for the Flyers ever since they drafted him in the 5th round of the 2015 draft. One of the main reasons why the Flyers took a chance on Kase was because of his stellar post-season leading into his draft year. Since that point, Kase has struggled to find himself as a regular for any top team in the Czech Republic’s top league. He has been making a name for himself in the lower leagues.
Fast forward to this year. Kase left Czech Republic for the Swedish Elite League. A definite upgrade over any league in Czech Republic. Kase has found a home with Mora IK of the SHL. He gets regular minutes and has been producing fairly decent for a 5th round pick.
For the season, Kase has 3 goals and 8 assists through 19 games. If Kase can turn into something similar to his older brother, Ondrej Kase, the Flyers will be very happy with David.
Linus Hogberg
Linus Hogberg was drafted by the Flyers in the 5th round of the 2016 draft after a great season in the SuperElite League. Since that year, Hogberg hasn’t been able to find the score sheet as consistently as he did in his draft year. But, there are reasons for that.
Hogberg made the jump to the SHL just 10 games in the 2016-2017 after an impressive start to his season, 1 goal and 8 assists. However, when he did, he didn’t play in more than 16 minutes in any of the 35 SHL games he played in. He only accounted for 4 assists the whole season.
This year, Hogberg is playing more minutes, but the scoring touch isn’t there. For the season, Hogberg has 1 goal and 3 assists in 25 SHL games.
Next week’s prospect update will look at the Flyers in the OHL.
Mandatory Photo Credit: Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press via AP
