The Philadelphia Flyers’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, was loaded with gifted prospects final season. This was evident within the variety of gamers known as up from the Phantoms to the massive league membership final marketing campaign and the staff’s general efficiency within the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs. Olle Lycksell, Emil Andrae, Samu Tuomaala, and Ethan Samson have been just some of the farmhands who made vital contributions to Lehigh Valley through the 2023-24 season.
Chosen 174th general in 2021 by the Flyers, Samson will enter his second season {of professional} hockey this fall with the Phantoms. Earlier than becoming a member of the Flyers’ group, the 21-year-old native of British Columbia performed components of 4 seasons within the Western Hockey League (WHL). A sturdy passer and puck handler, analysts anticipate that he’ll totally be within the combine to earn a roster spot on the Flyers within the subsequent two seasons.
Prince George Cougars
Samson made his junior-level debut through the 2019-20 marketing campaign with the Prince George Cougars of the WHL. That season, he recorded seven factors (two targets and 5 assists) and 26 penalty minutes in 61 video games. After the shortened 2020-21 marketing campaign, the right-shot defenseman made vital good points in his growth over the subsequent two seasons, together with his potential to play an energetic function within the offensive rush.
Associated: Philadelphia Flyers 2024-25 Prospect Pyramid
In the course of the 2021-22 marketing campaign, Samson appeared in 68 video games. He scored 15 targets, tallied 28 assists, and recorded 46 penalty minutes for Prince George. Within the playoffs, the alternate captain appeared in 4 video games for the Cougars. The next season, Samson once more wore the alternate captain’s “A.” Throughout his last marketing campaign with the membership, he had his greatest season within the juniors. He had 60 factors (18 targets and 42 assists) and 71 penalty minutes in 60 video games. His excellent statistics have been complemented by a plus-11 ranking. Within the playoffs, he tallied 5 assists and recorded eight penalty minutes in 10 appearances. In the course of the 2022-23 marketing campaign, Samson obtained WHL (BC) First All-Star Staff honors.
Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Samson signed an entry-level contract with the Flyers on Dec. 31, 2022. In the course of the 2023-24 marketing campaign, he suited up for the Phantoms in 63 video games. His offensive contributions to the membership included three targets and 9 assists. The 6-foot-1, 181-pounder made his presence on the ice recognized to opposing gamers, recording 56 penalty minutes. In the course of the playoffs, he appeared in two video games towards the Hershey Bears, a 2-0 victory in Recreation 3 on Could 8 and a 5-3 loss in Recreation 4 on Could 11. These appearances have been highlighted by two photographs on objective throughout Recreation 4.
For the Phantoms, Samson completed the 2023-24 marketing campaign fifth general in penalty minutes, and fourth amongst blueliners in targets. He’s anticipated to rejoin Lehigh Valley for the 2024-25 marketing campaign. The 21-year-old will greater than probably be joined on the Phantoms by different Flyers’ prospects on protection together with Andrae and Helge Grans. Samson’s rookie season accomplishments have the teaching employees and Flyers’ brass desirous to see what he can do throughout his second season within the AHL. His path to an NHL call-up over the subsequent two seasons would require that the blueliner concentrate on bettering his 200-foot recreation. Additional growth in ability areas resembling hitting, shot accuracy, and skating can all assist to rework Samson from an AHL-level expertise to a full-time NHL defenseman.
Flyers Coaching Camp
The Flyers Coaching Camp will kick off on Sept. 18, 2024, on the Flyers Coaching Middle in Voorhees, New Jersey. Whereas most eyes will undoubtedly be on Philadelphia’s prime prospect, Matvei Michkov, this camp may even function various different future foundational gamers. This discussion board may even present prospects like Samson the precious alternative to showcase their expertise for Flyers’ management, resembling basic supervisor Daniel Brière and head coach John Tortorella, over the span of a number of days. This expertise will function obligatory big-league publicity for a participant who should compete for a everlasting roster spot on the Flyers over the course of the subsequent two seasons.
