Which Flyers Prospects Can Help Flyers Next Season?

Next season there will surely be tangible results of general manager Ron Hextall’s long-term plan for the Flyers whether they win or not.

There will be turnover on the roster and, for the first time in a long time, they are able to fill those holes with players who are already in the organization.

No big splash on July 1 for free agency, no trades to address a need and — most importantly — contracts will be relatively cheap.

Specifically on defense there will likely be two voids with the expected departures of Nick Schultz and Michael Del Zotto, both of whom are free agents.

Two candidates have made their NHL debuts in the past week. Robert Hagg was superb in his debut Sunday night, the Flyers’ season finale, and Sam Morin was good last Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils.

“I thought it was solid, strong play,” coach Dave Hakstol said Sunday night. “Confident player. I thought he defended pretty well. It didn’t take him very long to settle in to the hockey game. He defended well. He moved well. I thought he supports the play really well. He showed real good confidence. So overall it was a nice start for him.”

Hagg has more tools than Schultz and Del Zotto. His physicality has improved in the last season, one in which he feared that he might be dropped from the entire organization if he didn’t get his act together in the minors.