Quick Hits: July 7, 2024

1) The Flyers' 2024 Development Camp wrapped up on Sunday with a scrimmage between Team Briere and Team Jones, won 7-3 by Team Jones. The first two periods were played at 5-on-5. The third period was divided between a 4-on-4 segment at 3-on-3. Rather than penalties, there were modified penalty shots with the attacking side having a head start on an attack from center ice.

Team Jones led 2-0 after the first period, and built a 5-0 lead in the second period before two late goals by Team Briere cut the gap to 5-2. Team Jones added two more goals to one for Team Briere in the third period. Afterwards, there was a three-attempt shootout for the two sides, although the 7-3 victory for the Jones side was already secured.

Scoring Summary

1st period:

Team Jones 1-0 Hunter McDonald 1st (Alex Bump)
Team Jones 2-0 Josh Zakreski 1st (Spencer Gill)

2nd period:

Team Jones 3-0 Heikki Ruohonen 1st (J.R. Avon)
Team Jones 4-0 Jack Williams 1st (Denver Barkey)
Team Jones 5-0 Cooper Wylie 1st (unassisted)
Team Briere 5-1 Mark Estapa 1st (unassisted)
Team Briere 5-2 Ryan Macpherson 1st (penalty shot)

3rd period:

Team Jones 6-2 Ethan Samson 1st (unassisted, 4-on-4)
Team Jones 7-2 Alex Ciernik 1st (Austin Moline, 3-on-3)
Team Briere 7-3 Alexis Gendron 1st (unassisted, 3-on-3)

2) Almost immediately after the scrimmage, the Flyers officially announced that 2024 first-round pick Jett Luchanko has signed his entry-level contract. Later on PhiladelphiaFlyers.com, I will have an analysis article breaking down Luchanko's ELC and explaining the workings of ELCs. It's a 411-type piece explaining to casual fans the key factors of how Luchanko's ELC works under the Collective Bargaining Agreement. For other fans, it's more of a refresher about ELC rules and a look at what's hopefully next for Luchanko in his development.

3) On Sunday, the Flyers announced that defenseman Egor Zamula, a restricted free agent this summer, signed a new two-year contract with the Flyers. The deal is for two seasons at a $1.7 million cap hit. All internal restricted free agents are now under contract.

Previously, the Flyers signed Bobby Brink to a two-year extension. He had been an arbitration-eligible free agent this offseason. In my Transaction Analysis for the Flyers' website, I broke down the contract and discussed why the 2024-25 season is so crucial for Brink.

Even with the departure of the bought-out Cam Atkinson (now with the Tampa Bay Lightning), Brink is currently caught in a numbers game among Flyers wingers. Barring a trade or pre-season injuries, Brink faces a tough battle for top-nine ice time at 5-on-5 plus power play time: both of which he needs in order to be in position to succeed at the NHL level on a full-season basis.

The arrival of highly touted rookie right wing Matvei Michkov represents one spot (likely in the top six). Owen Tippett now plays his off-wing (left wing) but both he and back-to-back leading scorer Travis Konecny are roster locks and shoo-ins for top six spots. Coming off a strong rookie season, winger Tyson Foerster makes it four locked-up spots within the top six to top nine in the four-on-four lineup. Scott Laughton and Noah Cates are each comfortable either at center or wing; at least for now, Cates figures to stay at left wing and Laughton at center.

Veteran checking winger Garnet Hathaway recently signed a two-year extension. He played much of last season on a line with center Ryan Poehling. They started out on the fourth line but, by the stretch drive, head coach John Tortorella was using a Cates/Foerster - Poehling - Hathaway trio as the third (and sometimes even the second) line at 5-on-5.

Joel Farabee played mostly in top-six (including frequent top line deployment) during the first half of the 2023-24 season. After the all-star break, Farabee yo-yoed around the lineup. Brink yo-yoed in and out of the lineup, including a stint back in the AHL with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Barring a trade or an injury, as of now, Brink finds himself competing with one of the aforementioned wingers for a single regular lineup spot on a wing. The club also has rugged veteran winger Nicolas Deslauriers. Last season, Deslauriers started out as a fourth-line regular (often with Poehling and Hathaway as his linemates). Later on, he was in and out of the lineup as the 12th or 13th forward or was rotated out when the team dressed seven defensemen and 11 forwards.

Thus, for right now, there's a lot of pressure on Brink to beat out players who regularly started above him in the Flyers' lineup. He's no longer waiver-exempt if the Flyers want to loan him to the Phantoms. Tortorella grew critical last season of the smallish winger's checking game, most notably berating Brink at length on the bench in a game in New Jersey and then sitting him the rest of the night.

On the flip side, Brink showed multiple flashes of higher-end ice vision and soft hands around the net compared to many of the other forwards on the roster. He took coaching with a good attitude and worked hard to improve the areas that were demanded of him both in the NHL under Tortorella and during his AHL stint under Ian Laperriere.

I'd say he has a fighting chance at making the NHL roster in 2024-25 but he's going to have to open eyes once again in camp to do so.

3) I think there is often a tendency for folks to overanalyze a develop camp -- especially during a scrimmage. This is still very much summer hockey and there really aren't many big-picture conclusions to be drawn about anyone. That said, the crop of 2024 draftees, in general, made a good showing at their first NHL development camp. Oftentimes at Development Camp, it's the players who are slightly older and/or have some pro experience under their belt who stand at the forefront of the on-ice sessions. This year, many of the first-time attendees drew positive notices on a day-to-day basis.

4) Noah Powell, for example, left a strong first-impression through his work ethic, his touch around the net and his positive, can-do attitude both on and off the ice. He became something of an instant fan (and coach) favorite at this year's Camp before he heads to Ohio State for his freshman season.



5) It is unusual for NHL teams to invite KHL-affiliated players to Development Camp, especially as undrafted invitees. This year, however, the Flyers had Dynamo Moscow defensemen Artyom Kudashov as a Development Camp invitee. The son of Dynamo head coach Alexei Kudashov, is a strictly averaged-sized defensive defenseman but skates well and has solid hockey instincts. Last season, the 19-year-old, became a semi-regular for Dynamo's pro team. He's not immediately ready for pro hockey in North America but he's a player worth tracking for a potential future over here after he gains a couple more years of pro experience in the KHL.

Kudashov patterns himself after Ottawa Senators defenseman Artem Zub. A Flyers hockey ops staff member can see some similarities between Kudashov and the now 28-year-old Zub when he was the same age. File the name away to see how Kudashov progresses in the next couple seasons.

6) Another notable undrafted invite this year was Northeastern forward Jack Williams. A Hobey Baker nominee this past season after a breakout sophomore season, Willams was one of the goal scorers in Saturday's scrimmage.

7) Following Saturday's scrimmage, Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr offered his impressions from Development Camp. He discussed Luchanko, Powell, Alexis Gendros, Alex Bump and others.

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