Earlier today, prospects and invites stepped onto the ice at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, NJ. Included were most selections from the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
Matvei Michkov and Egor Zavragin have contracts to fulfill in the KHL, so they will not attend the 2023 Flyers’ Development Camp, but Denver Barkey, Alex Ciernik, Cole Knuble, Ryan MacPherson, Oliver Bonk, Matteo Mann, Carter Sotheran, and Carson Bjarnason will be in attendance.
Here is the roster of forwards, defensemen, and goaltenders who will appear at the 2023 Flyers Development Camp:
- JR Avon, Denver Barkey, Bobby Brink, Matt Brown, Alex Bump, Alex Ciernik, Elliot Desnoyers, Jonathan Fauchon, Tyson Foerster, Brendan Furry, Jacob Gaucher, Alexis Gendron, Mathieu Gosselin, Devin Kaplan, Cole Knuble, Connor MacPherson, Ryan MacPherson, Owen McLaughlin, Kyle Penney, Samu Tuomaala, John Waldron, Zayde Wisdom
- Emil Andrae, Oliver Bonk, Adam Ginning, Helge Grans, Matteo Mann, Hunter McDonald, Mason Millman, Ty Murchison, Ethan Samson, Sam Sedley, Carter Sotheran, Alexander Tertyshny, Will Zmolek
- Carson Bjarnason, Noah Giesbrecht, Cameron Korpi, Pete Sterling
In all, there are 13 camp invites. Conspicuous in his absence, Cutter Gauthier will not attend the 2023 Flyers Development Camp. Daniel Briere stated after the regular season that Gauthier would return to Boston College, but he did attend the 2022 Flyers Development Camp.
“On Cutter, we told him about our vision and what we see moving forward. He had a discussion with his advisor and family, and they decided it was better for him to go back for another year, which I really don’t have a problem with. It’s going to give him a chance to hopefully be even more dominant than he was this year.”
Daniel Briere; 4/17/2023
Gauthier can attend the 2023 Flyers Development Camp under a few conditions. First, he has to pay for transportation, food, and lodging. Additionally, Gauthier cannot miss class as an NCAA student-athlete. His announcement that he’ll attend Boston College for another season and his lack of attendance in Voorhees doesn’t yet mean that fissures are forming between Gauthier and the Flyers.
Tyson Foerster
No longer sporting 52 on his sweater, Foerster took on 18, representing his birthdate. He came out shooting on the first day of the 2023 Flyers Development Camp.
In a short time, Foerster matured. He debuted in 2022-2023, now a leader at the 2023 Flyers Development Camp. Foerster had a successful stint in the NHL but isn’t resting on his laurels. He knows better than to expect a slot in a John Tortorella lineup.
“I don’t think I can expect a spot. I still have to work my tail off and try to earn myself a spot on this team.”
Tyson Foerster; 7/2/2023
Foerster tallied seven points (3G, 4A) with a +2 rating in 8GP. He blocked shots, helping out in the defensive zone, a critical aspect in a system installed by Tortorella.
Helge Grans
An arrival to Philadelphia from the three-team trade that sent Ivan Provorov to the Columbus Blue Jackets, Grans learned he would join the Flyers while watching tennis. Welcoming him were Briere and Riley Armstrong.
“I got a call. I was watching tennis Tuesday evening, and [I] got a call from Rob Blake of the Kings. He told me I’m going to get traded, said thanks for all the time and so on.”
Helge Grans; 7/2/2023
Grans describes himself as a two-way defenseman but more comfortable with the puck. He stated that he needs to improve on the defensive side of his game without the puck. Once Grans becomes more consistent in his game, he could be a recall candidate on this Flyers’ defensive unit.
In 2022-2023 with the Ontario Reign, Grans tallied nine points (2G, 7A) in 59GP with a -8 rating.
Cole Knuble
Knuble learned how to play hockey at the Flyers Training Center. His father, Mike Knuble, formerly played in Philadelphia from 2005-2009 before returning and finishing his career with the Flyers in 2012-2013. For Cole, it’s all coming full circle.
“He [Mike Knuble] was super happy. He would be happy anywhere, but especially since it was the Flyers, [he] was even more excited. He loved his time here, and [he] knows how good of an organization it is.”
Cole Knuble; 7/2/2023
A legacy selection, Knuble was on the radar for the Flyers at the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, but Chuck Fletcher and Brent Flahr had concerns about his skating. Knuble worked very hard, impressing Briere and Flahr. He played with a chip on his shoulder, wanting to prove all of the NHL wrong for passing on him in 2022. Knuble became stronger, playing with more poise, and focused on rounding off a two-hundred-foot game. Crediting a habit of breaking down film with his father, Knuble says his hockey IQ is his greatest strength.
In 2022-2023, Knuble wore the ‘A’ for the Fargo Force in the USHL, tallying 66 points (30G, 36A) with a +31 rating in 57GP.
Alexander Tertyshny
A camp invite, Tertyshny is the son of former Flyers defenseman Dmitri Tertyshny. Keith Jones and John LeClair recorded assists on his first NHL goal against the then Phoenix Coyotes on February 16th, 1999. Alexander reached Flahr about a camp invitation.
Alexander feels most comfortable with the puck on his stick and thinks that he gets his skating ability from his father. Defensively, he compared his ability to what he’s seen of his father on cassette film.
“I think defensively, he [Dmitri Tertyshny] was definitely ahead of the game.”
Alexander Tertyshny; 7/2/2023
He spent time with Samuel Morin on the first day of the 2023 Flyers Development Camp, heading to Stonehill College in 2023-2024.
Bobby Brink
Relegated to the AHL for 2022-2023, Brink missed the 2022 Flyers Development Camp due to getting surgery on a torn labrum in his left hip. Brink says he feels at his best following time off:
“It was a labrum tear that was repaired, like an impingement. They reshaped it to fit properly.”
Bobby Brink; 7/2/2023
Brink said he feels that his range of motion has returned. Most critically, he needs to prove himself again. Noticeably filling his frame, Brink kept motivated to improve his skating, feeling faster and quicker.
Last season, Brink competed with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the AHL, tallying 28 points (12G, 16A) in 41GP with a -7 rating.
Emil Andrae
Signing Andrae to an entry-level contract was one of the first decisions Briere made as the GM of the Flyers. In the AHL, he opened eyes almost immediately.
Andrae believes his game translates well on a smaller rink. He and Ginning share the same sentiment, preferring the smaller ice for their game, citing less skating. However, Andrae is still working out the logistics with the SHL, as there is a return policy, but he wants to stick to his development on the road to the NHL.
“My goal is to be on the best league as possible. Of course I want to play in the NHL as fast as I can, but I want to stay to my development and keep getting better as players. We’ll see in the future.”
Emil Andrae; 7/2/2023
In 2022-2023, Andrae debuted in the AHL with the Phantoms tallying six points (2G, 4A) in 10GP with a -4 rating.
