Chuck Fletcher Taking Care of Business Despite Quarantine
Although the 2019-20 NHL season is currently on stand-by, that hasn’t stopped Philadelphia Flyers GM, Chuck Fletcher, from keeping busy.
As a matter of fact, he’s been real busy trying to improve the organization top to bottom. And why not? Whether it was through his trades like bringing in Niskanen, Braun, Pitlick and Grant, his UFA signing of Kevin Hayes, or even his coaching hire of Alain Vigneault, Michel Therrien, and Mike Yao, it just seems like everything Fletcher touched has turned to gold.
Here’s how Fletcher has kept busy during this quarantine.
Wyatte Wylie
Just as the NHL was about to suspend its season, the Philadelphia Flyers announced the signing of defensive prospect Wyatte Wylie to his first professional contract beginning in the 2020-21 season.
Wylie was the 127th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft and was a member of the WHL’s Everett Silvertips. This season Wylie led all WHL defensemen with 50 assists, while his 64 overall points finished second amongst WHL D-men.
Wylie is a former teammate of Flyers goalie Carter Hart and will be a very welcomed addition to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms’ blueline come this fall.
Tanner Lacynski and Wade Allison
A couple of weeks following the Wylie signing, Fletcher announced the signings of a couple more top prospects in the likes of forwards Tanner Lacynski and Wade Allison just days apart from each other. Lacynski, who will turn 23 in June, finished his Ohio State College career with a very respectable 48 goals and 143 points in 138 games. He figures to be a Flyers bottom 6 forward in the not too distant future.
As for Wade Allison, the Flyers 2nd round selection in the 2016 Entry Draft, he possesses a great package of size, speed, and skill and has all the makings of a real good middle-six power forward.
Both Lacynski and Allison will be Phantoms during the 2020-21 seasons but look for both to be call-ups to the big club if the injury bug strikes.
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Linus Sandin
Finally, multiple reports have confirmed that highly coveted Swedish forward Linus Sandin intends to sign with the Philadelphia Flyers, although he can’t officially do so until the NHL finalizes a new international transfer agreement. If his name sounds familiar it’s because he is the older brother of highly touted Leafs defensive prospect Rasmus Sandin. Linus Sandin, an undrafted free agent, was one of the Swedish Hockey League’s top scorers with 19 goals for his club HV71 last season and had multiple NHL offers.
At 23 years of age, Sandin can step into a bottom 6 roll on the Flyers immediately. He’s a natural right-winger (who can also play on the left side) and excels on the penalty kill. He’s a really intense forechecker who likes to go into the dirty areas and has a really sweet wrist shot.
He loves being in the opposing goalie’s face and has made the crease his office. If the reports of the Sandin signing materialize, it will prove to be a fantastic pick-up by Chuck Fletcher and the Flyers. Here is a clip of some of his highlights:
Please keep in mind that due to this work stoppage and the loss of revenue that has come with it, the NHL’s salary cap will surely be impacted. It may stay as it is currently, but the smart money is on it going down as little. That means there will be less money for the Flyers to resign both Pitlick and Grant. Grant’s versatility and overall skill as one of the NHL’s better 3rd line players may price the Flyers out from being able to resign him in particular, as he may be in the $2.5 to $3.5 million range.
So, Chuck Fletcher being proactive and having a “next man up” approach by signing (potentially) UFA Sandin to an entry-level contract as well as insuring that Lacynski and Allison continue to develop in the Flyers system now that they are so close to being in the NHL is absolutely vital.
By turning everything he touched to gold, Chuck Fletcher no doubt deserves to win the Executive of the Year Award.
He has been and continues to be very impressed with his body of work even with these below the radar moves he’s made during this quarantine.
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