This Flyers season, there are several promising prospects to watch.

This form of management has become regular in the NHL, as teams have recognized that building through the draft and then using some of their capital to help bring in better players through trades is the best way to build a team and hope for long-term success.

Several teams have adopted this style, including the Chicago Blackhawks and the Pittsburgh Penguins, and have won several cups because of it. Some, like the Buffalo Sabres, have tried but just never seemed to find the right mix to even get into the playoff picture.

The Philadelphia Flyers have begun their rebuilding phase, which is something new for the fan base and this management team to go through.

Over the past year and a half, the Flyers have made changes to their roster with the trades of Kevin Hayes and Ivan Provorov while recognizing that they do have some talented players in their minor system in Allentown.

There are several players on the Phantoms that fans need to keep their eyes on, as they will likely break into the roster at some point this year.

Firstly, there's goaltender Samuel Ersson. He has shown Flyers management that he is a capable starting goaltender and has been the reason why Carter Hart's team has been surfacing in trade discussions, as many feel this goaltender can step in and replace him in the long run. His potential ceiling is endless at the moment, and with the team remoulding their defence, his role should improve over time.

The 23-year-old goaltender was drafted in the fifth round by the Flyers in 2018, 143rd overall. He played twelve games for the Flyers last year and had a 3.07 goals-against average with a .899 save percentage. His record was 6-3-0. I believe he will certainly push for at least the backup role this year, as several goalies behind Carter Hart will also try, including Cal Petersen.

Another player to watch is Elliot Desnoyers. The 21-year-old left winger, standing at 5'11" and 183 pounds, was also drafted by the Flyers in the fifth round, during the 2020 entry draft, at 135th overall. He has a strong focus on defence, which aligns with head coach John Tortorella's style of preaching a defensive-first approach to hockey. During his time with the Phantoms, he played 65 games, scoring 23 goals with 21 assists for 44 points and maintaining a +4 rating, along with 16 penalty minutes.

There's a good chance that he could find a spot on the second or third line, playing a shutdown role for the Flyers with some offensive upside. I would expect him to feature on one of their power play units. However, it remains to be seen if he will crack the lineup this year or not.

The final player to keep an eye on is Ronnie Attard. This is a player expected to make the lineup this year, given his 6-foot-three frame and his calmness with the puck, which provides the Flyers with a solid defensive choice. He would be considered an older rookie, as he is currently 24 years old.

He was drafted in the 2019 entry draft, 72nd overall. His aggressive style will also serve him well on the penalty kill, which is a key component of a solid defensive core. During the 2023 season with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, he played 68 games, scoring twelve goals with 20 assists for 32 points and accumulating 41 penalty minutes while maintaining a +10 rating.

We will have to wait and see how any of these players will fare and if they will secure a spot in the lineup for the long term.