Isaac: 3 Prospects to Watch at Flyers Development Camp

Let’s get one thing straight right off the bat: none of the 40 prospects at Flyers development camp are going to make the NHL roster this year based on what happens in the next week.

In fact, general manager Ron Hextall has gone so far as to say the players aren’t being evaluated at all, even though they’ll be on the ice starting Friday and will even play in a 3-on-3 tournament Tuesday. The more important part of the camp, in Hextall’s eyes, happens off the ice when the players learn how to be pros.

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Nevertheless, it’s a chance for a first impression ahead of September’s training camp and some players have a lot to gain.

Here are three players to watch that could make a case for a promotion in September.

Oskar Lindblom, LW, 2014 fifth-round pick

Depending on who you ask, Lindblom is anything from a lock to a dark horse to make the NHL roster in the fall. This past season the Swedish winger was elite in his home country’s best league. His 22 goals were one off the league lead, a title held by teammate Kevin Clark, and he was fourth in the league in total points.

Lindblom has been at this camp before, but this is the first time he has a shot at being on the NHL roster in the fall. In the eyes of Hextall, the Swedish league is just slightly beneath the American Hockey League in terms of difficulty. In the spring of 2016, when Lindblom’s Swedish team missed the playoffs, he came overseas and played eight games for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, racking up seven points.

Penciling in a lineup for the Flyers two months ahead of training camp, it would appear there’s a spot on the third line available for Lindblom at left wing although there’s a lot of time left for things to change.