31 Teams in 31 Days - Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers have a very strong farm system right now and that includes a heavy OHL presence.

1. Morgan Frost - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Another good year for Frost as he finished tied for 3rd in OHL scoring. In a way, I think his offensive performance was way more impressive this year with defenses really keying in on him thanks to Sault Ste. Marie's lack of depth at the forward position. Frost played a lot and drew a lot of attention from the opposition's shutdown units. Yet, he found a way to be a consistent play creator. I think Frost's skating and his strength on the puck greatly improved this year, two areas that were identified as weaknesses previously. In particular, I thought Frost's top end speed looked considerably better as he showed a greater ability to carve up the neutral zone and lead entry into the offensive zone. And with a good head for the game, Frost's improved strength allowed him to be a more effective defensive player. Talking to some people, there were some concerns with Frost being a little turnover prone this year as he tried to force plays or go through one too many defenders on his own. I did see some of this. But I also think that it was a by product of taking on the brunt of the offensive workload (especially when Hayton was injured). That said, as he turns pro this year, that will be an area of focus as he adapts to the speed of the pro game. He will need to make quicker decisions with the puck. Additionally, his first few steps are still only average IMO, which could also make the transition a little more difficult for him. All that said, I'm a fan. Frost is such a skilled playmaker and I think that as he continues to gain strength, his game will really round into form at the pro level as a cerebral pivot. At the AHL level this year, I would expect him to be around the 18/30 mark.

2. Isaac Ratcliffe - Guelph Storm
The beast. A very strong season for Ratcliffe as he hit the 50 goal mark and led the Storm to an OHL Championship. We really saw Ratcliffe take advantage of his physical gifts this year, driving the net with confidence, and displaying way more intensity in the corners. He just flat out refused to give up the puck along the wall in most instances, bullying defenders and keeping them at bay. His shot remains a big time asset too, as it is without question, one of the hardest in the OHL. He is so good at using his size and reach to corral passes only to quickly blast a hard wrist or snap shot on net. For a bigger guy, his release is quite quick. His skating is another area that continues to get better. North/South, I don't think it's ever been a huge issue. But East/West, his agility and lateral movement have really improved. It will still be something that he needs to work on, but it has come a long way. He now has the ability to cut to the middle to create room for his shot, rather than simply relying on beating defenders out wide. Another area that has grown immensely over his OHL career is his defensive play. This was something that I really noticed most in the playoffs and Memorial Cup this year. With that long stick, he can really be a pest in the defensive zone when he's focused. One area of his game that never really developed a ton is his vision with the puck and overall passing ability. He's still very much a shoot first kind of player and even when he's able to prolong possession along the wall, he doesn't have a terrific feel for finding teammates. He will be the type who needs to play with that elite playmaker. But his progression as an OHL player has been terrific and he is ready for the pro level. I think he'll be a 20+ goal scorer in the AHL next year and could actually be an NHL regular earlier than Frost.

3. Matthew Strome - Hamilton Bulldogs
I've seen some concerns over Strome's drop in goal scoring this year, but I think it's simply a result of him taking on a different role in the offensive scheme of the Bulldogs. The emergence of Arthur Kaliyev made Strome more of a "grunt," for lack of better term. He was the guy sent into the offensive zone to get or maintain possession deep, below the hash marks. This was actually really good for his development as a player IMO, as it forced him to use his size and strength advantage more and made use of his greatest strength, his vision and hockey sense. No question, Strome is one of the smartest players in the offensive zone in the OHL. He's not the most creative with the puck. And he's not the fleetest of foot. But he stays one step ahead of opposing defenses with his brain. He's so good at working behind the net or coming off the half wall, and finding an open teammate with a tape to tape pass. It will certainly be interesting to see how Strome's game adapts to the AHL next year though. His skating, while it has improved, is still going to be a weakness at the pro level. He's not the type to play with pace. But I absolutely refuse to count out players who think the game as well as he does. Sometimes those guys just find a way, even if they may not possess the raw power or athleticism of contemporaries. I won't make a prediction for next year because I wouldn't be surprised if he struggled initially. However, I also wouldn't be shocked if he put up better numbers than Frost and Ratcliffe. Call him a wild card.

4. Maksim Sushko - Owen Sound Attack
A step back for Sushko last year in Owen Sound, where he struggled to match the production that he put up in 2017/18. The talent around him in Owen Sound was not as strong, especially after the Suzuki deal, which in turn I think tells us what we need to know about Sushko. He is a great energy player. He gets after it on the forecheck. He is effective on the penalty kill and in all three zones. His hands are pretty good in tight. He skates well. But he is not the type to be able to create his own scoring chances consistently. And his vision and anticipation in the offensive zone without the puck are not extremely strong traits. All that said, there is definitely still hope for Sushko to become a bottom 6 player at the NHL level. Right now, he's probably on the bubble to play in the AHL next year versus playing in the ECHL. But his tenacity could endear him to the coaching staff and earn him consistent 4th line minutes.

5. Mason Millman - Saginaw Spirit
Millman's draft selection did surprise me slightly this year, but that does not mean it is a poor selection. There are components of Millman's game that will translate very well to the pro level. His skating ability is above average as he possesses a very fluid stride that allows him to be quick to get the puck up ice. Millman also sees the ice well. He runs the point of the powerplay well and is able to make a consistent, clean first pass. The rest of his game is a work in progress. Can he learn to use his skating ability to be a dominant force in transition and become more confident carrying the puck and leading the rush? Can Millman improve his point shot to give him another weapon as an offensive player? How good can Millman's game be in his own end? Right now, he profiles as one of those good at everything types; the jack of all trades defender. But in order to earn an NHL contract within the next two years, he will need to prove that he can at least become a dominant offensive player at this level. Again, there are some very redeeming characteristics, so let's see how he puts it all together. He'll return to a solid Saginaw team next year. If Bode Wilde does not return and plays in the AHL, he will be given significantly more offensive responsibility. I could easily see him over the 40 point mark.