Philadelphia Flyers Top 20 prospects: AGM Brent Flahr on No. 20 - 11, from Alexei Kolosov to Cole Knuble

Yesterday, we ranked the top 20 Philadelphia Flyers prospects. Today, it’s time to hear from the man who knows them best — Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr.

Flahr, who manages amateur scouting and the draft for the Flyers, took the time to answer questions on all 20 of our ranked prospects. After all, while Alexander Appleyard and I may follow the prospects, the Flyers are the ones tasked with developing them into NHL players. Executives like Flahr will be the ones who determine when each prospect is ready to take the leap into the NHL, making their insights on where each one stands essential to understanding their places with the big club.

In Part 1 of our interview, the focus is on the back half of our list, starting with goalie prospect Alexei Kolosov, and ending with the recently-drafted Cole Knuble.

Note: Questions and answers have been edited slightly for clarity and length.

Alexei Kolosov – G (No. 11)

Kolosov was signed to his ELC this summer, and then loaned back to his KHL club. Is the plan at this stage for him to come over to North America next summer?

Yeah, that’s the plan. We talked to his agent at the draft there. I don’t mind goalies in the KHL, the goalies develop as long as he’s in a place where he’s gonna play and have an important role and hopefully continue to get better. I do think that next year he should be ready to come over.

I know he has some things he needs to work on off the ice — strength and conditioning, things like that, like any young kid. And he hasn’t been over here yet either, so once we get him here, our guys can work with him. But he’s showing that he’s more than capable of playing pro over here, and hopefully another good year this year he should be ready to come over.

At least in the public sphere, it doesn’t seem like Kolosov gets a ton of hype, when you look at most prospect rankings and such. But when you talk to people with the organization, they seem universally excited about his potential. Why do you think people might be sleeping on him a bit?

Probably part of it is where he plays. You don’t get to see him playing in Minsk, or (in the KHL). But if you watch his highlights, and you watch the stuff that he’s capable of, he’s uber-athletic. He has decent size, but he’s a lot of fun to watch and makes a lot of spectacular saves.

There’s things he’s gonna have to clean up, as far as technical stuff, but he’s still really raw. He has a goaltending coach over there that has worked with our guys. But I think our goalie guys are really excited to get their hands on him. I think he’s excited to get over here, give himself a chance, and adjust to the North American life — learning the language, learning the culture and that kind of stuff. So it’ll be some time, but he’s pretty fun.

Helge Grans – D (No. 12)

Now that the development staff has had a chance to work with Helge Grans up close, and you’ve had the summer to really dive into his game, what type of defenseman does the organization want to try and mold him into to help him get to the next level? He’s produced offensively from the back end at times in his career, but he also has the physical tools to potentially be more of a defensively-oriented guy too. Which path does the org want him to take?

Well, that’s kind of the question with him, I think, is just his identity. Obviously, he’s a good-sized guy, he’s a right shot, he can skate, he’s long, he can handle the puck. He’s put up some numbers (in Europe), and a little bit in the American League, but I’ve never really seen him as running a power play (in the NHL) or anything like that. He can shoot it, he can pass the puck and do some things, but I see him as a puck-mover, a guy that can defend and eat minutes with his size and range.

I think for him to make it, he’s got to add a dimension to his game, and be really efficient. He’s still a young guy, especially for a defenseman. He’s been around a little bit (in North America) because of the rules, but he’s still a young guy, and for a defenseman especially.

I think adding a physical dimension to his game would really help. I think he does it at times, but to do that consistently is important. But he’s a guy that’s still growing into his body. He’s a tall, lanky guy. I think he’s put on some mass, and obviously he’s going to have to continue to get stronger and quicker, and then just find a niche for himself.

Is he a guy who could potentially be in the mix for an NHL roster spot at camp? Or is the organization more taking the long view with him, especially given his relative struggles at the AHL level last season in the Kings’ org?

Our coaches don’t know him particularly well, so obviously they go with what we’ve told them the expectations are. But it’ll be interesting to see how he does at camp. He’s not a young guy, he’s been to NHL camps before. Hopefully he comes in here confident, and just does what he does.

But for him to be effective, I don’t think he’s ever gonna be one of the flashiest guys. He’s big and can move and defend and move the puck hopefully and get the puck going out of your own end. That’ll be the key for him.

Denver Barkey – F (No. 13)

We talked a lot about Barkey in the immediate wake of the draft, and he unfortunately wasn’t able to participate in the on-ice part of development camp. But in terms of what the org sees in him – was his standout play in the OHL playoffs for London important in terms of convincing you that he can overcome his lack of size?

Yeah, I think that’s fair. We’ve known, watching him in the Hlinka Tournament from the start of the (2022-23) season, to early in the year, to the second half, and then especially in the playoffs… the playoffs are when you see the grind, and especially in a young player. He gets lots of attention out there. So to see him have success, and to see him compete as hard as he did every night, the way he showed up in big games… as a smaller player, you need those intangibles for me, and he certainly showed that.

I don’t know how much you got to talk to him, but he’s a hockey player, he’s a rink rat, he just loves to play the game, loves to be around. It almost drove him nuts, not being able to participate during (development) camp. But he’ll get a chance here in rookie camp. Obviously, he has a ways to go physically where he needs to get to. But he trained with Gary Roberts there in Toronto all summer, and he has (another) couple of years. He’s gonna be a real exciting junior, and a guy that hopefully we can mold into an NHL player here down the road.

Obviously, the OHL playoffs aren’t the NHL playoffs by any means. But is there something to be said for playoff production being even more important for smaller prospects, in terms of them proving that they’ll still have an impact when the games get tougher, given the stigma against smaller guys thriving when things get tighter in the playoffs? Does it almost mean more for him to do it, then, say, if he was 6’1 and 190 pounds?

Well, I think it’s like that for everybody. But yeah, for smaller players, you get scrutinized a little bit more, just because of the question marks. We’re looking for gamers, guys that succeed in tough situations. And believe me, as a player playing where he was, he got lots of attention from bigger (and) older defensemen, and checking centermen and whatnot, and he seemed to flourish regardless. Just his mentality, and obviously how smart he is, it certainly helps.

But I think that’s fair. Playoff hockey and having success, it’s something you can’t teach in some cases.

Carson Bjarnason – G (No. 14)

Bjarnason’s raw numbers weren’t anything special last season, but they were deflated in large part due to the quality of the skaters in front of him in Brandon. Is there hope that the Wheat Kings could be better in 2023-24, and give him more help? And if not, how do you work to ensure it doesn’t hamper his development?

I think they should be a better team. Obviously, they’re a younger team. This year, they have a top pick this year on the back end (Charlie Elick), (and) they’re going to be probably even better the year after. The tough part of being on a young team (is) you get shelled certain nights. But at the same time, if you’re strong enough mentally, you grow through it.

They’re gonna see the other side of it too, when they’re a really good team. They should be better this year, and then the next year, that’s kind of the year that it looks like they’re targeting to be a top team. I think it’s a challenge for him. But he’s a great kid. Highly motivated, works hard. He’s put on lots of muscle this summer. He’s excited to get back here.

What was it about Bjarnason’s game that stood out during the draft process, despite the fact that he gave up a lot of goals for Brandon?

Yeah, we had some insight (from Flyers scout) Mark Greig — obviously Bjarnason was still around when (Mark’s son) Ridly was there, a little bit when he was younger. So we had some intel as far as the kid and the character, the makeup. And also, our goalie guys had spent a lot of time (watching him). They know he’s not a finished product yet. But just with his size, his athletic ability and his competitiveness… just all the things that they see that they can help him with, that’s gonna get him to another level.

We have our scouts put together their lists, and obviously, we allow our goalie guys to come in and have a big say in it when it comes to goaltending. He was a guy that they they really liked, and a guy that fell to us in the second round.  Obviously, we’re excited to have him.

Olle Lycksell – F (No. 15)

What does Lycksell need to do this season to prove that he’s a not a tweener, the kind of player who can put up big numbers in the AHL but doesn’t really have a clear NHL role?

I think we’ve talked about it before: he’s kind of been a slow starter wherever he’s been. He’s taken a while to adjust. Even pro hockey over there (in Sweden), he became a really good player in the Allsvenskan, (and then) became a really good player in the Swedish Elite League. Came over, he’s obviously (been a) good player for us in Lehigh. But I didn’t think he played his game when he got a call up. He worked hard, and did things like that. But to me, he didn’t look comfortable, he looked kind of safe, and trying to force things a little bit.

I’m hoping this year he comes back a little more confident, show the poise and some of the ability that that he has. He’s a competitive kid. But he’s got more ability than I think that he was able to show last year.

But at the same time, I do think he needs to add some layers to his game. We had a lot of guys (in the AHL) who were (penalty) killing, so his role down below was more offensive, but I do think he’s gonna have to learn to become a good penalty killer and do some other things too that will give him some minutes at the NHL level if he’s going to make it.

I think there’s still room for improvement. But he was a Torts favorite right out of camp last year, and he went down and helped his cause. But at the same time, when he gets his callups and gets his chance here in camp hopefully, he can grab it.

Alex Ciernik – F (No. 16)

For Ciernik, the expectation is that he’ll spend the entire season in the Allsvenskan, after bouncing between that and juniors last season?

Yes, he’ll be in Västerviks. He’s gonna come to camp, just for the rookie camp. He won’t stick around for main camp, just so he doesn’t miss any regular games there. He’s excited, he’s expecting to have a good role on the team and play. He was happy when he was there last year, so it should be a good fit for him. The coach likes him.

The Allsvenskan is a great league for young players. Not many guys have stepped right into the Swedish Elite League and played much. They all want to play in the league, which is great, but then they you’re playing five, six minutes a night. I think the (Allsvenskan) is way better for their development as young guys, you get to play.

When we interviewed Ciernik after the draft, he presented himself as a kid who isn’t lacking for self-confidence. Was that something that jumped out at you guys in the pre-draft process as well?

Well, if you would have seen him in November… and (with 10th overall pick Dalibor) Dvorsky (at World Juniors), that line that was playing for the Slovaks was really impressive. And even in the Allsvenskan, when he was called up, he was really impressive. I think with (his other team Södertälje), there was a lot of pressure to win, so they’re playing older guys, and he kind of fell out of favor there, and I think he really really lost confidence in the second half, and wasn’t playing much. He just kinda floundered. But the skill set was always there.

We got to know his dad a little bit — (Director of European Scouting Joakim Grundberg) knows his father pretty well there — and then we kind of kept tabs on him. Obviously, in the fourth round with his skillset, we were excited to get him there. He’s gonna take a while, he’s gonna need to work hard off the ice, get a lot stronger, but he’s got a great tool set to work with, that’s for sure.

Ethan Samson – D (No. 17)

When a defenseman – particular a righthanded shooting one – closes out his junior career scoring at a point-per-game pace, it’s going to get fans excited. What did Samson add to his game last season to take that production leap?

Well, he’s just slowly growing into his body. You see him off the ice, he’s still a young guy. Physically, he’s made some strides, but I think his skating has come, his poise with the puck has improved, and he’s always had a good shot. He’s really good on the power play there.

Last year, he played half the game, so part of his adjustment this year is going to be not pacing himself like in junior. All these young guys that are forced to play 30 minutes — you have to pace yourself just to get through games, and especially when you’re playing three-in-threes and some crazy schedules (like) they have in junior hockey. (Here) he’s not going to play that type of minutes. When he does get a chance, he’s gonna have to play with more pace, play hard for whatever it is — 12 minutes, or whatever he starts out playing. And then still doing the other things that he does.

He’s a raw kid, but he’s got those tools, he’s got the hands and the ability to pass pucks and get shots through, and he has that offensive dimension that’s gonna hopefully give him a chance down the road. But realistically, we know he’s gonna need some time.

Samson was a sixth round pick, and he’s a bit of an under the radar guy to fans as a result. What do you see as his realistic ceiling?

I don’t know. He’s a smart player. I just think realistically, he’s probably a 5/6 guy. But again, that’ll be up to the other side of this game, and how quickly he can adjust.

Samu Tuomaala – F (No. 18)

Especially in the development camp scrimmage this summer, Tuomaala seemed to be embracing more of a forecheck-heavy, energy style than in the past, when he was more of a shoot-from-the-perimeter kind of player. Is that an adjustment the organization is pushing for him to make?

I think (player development coach) Sami (Kapanen) has worked a lot with him. Last year, I think early on when he was struggling, I think he was just waiting for the puck all the time. He can really shoot the puck, that’s well-advertised. But especially over there — and the team (Jukurit) early in the year, that was a trap team he was playing on. So when you’re speedy winger with a big shot, it’s not the best style of play to play in.

But at the same time, he had to find ways to impact games. He’s a shorter guy, but he’s strong, he’s well built and he’s got really good speed. So I think his best bet is to bring energy, be hard to play against, and use his speed — whether it’s on the forecheck disrupting things, forcing turnovers, or skating by defensemen and drawing penalties, or getting looks at the net.

Last year, he’s was pretty much void of confidence when I was over there last year. This year, when he was here this summer, he’s really excited about coming over. In development camp he looked good. He’s really put in the time off the ice. We’ll see where it goes.

How much do you think it will help Tuomaala to come over to North America full-time this year?

Yeah, I think it’ll be key for him. He’s got to find his own path. But at the same time, he’s got a lot more swagger to him. He’s comfortable, he knows a lot of the guys that are around here now, on and off the ice staff, and the players more importantly,

I think last year was just a tough year on him on the ice. He just got in a rut. He got out of it in portions, but at the same time, he wasn’t where he thought he was going to be. Hopefully, he can just come over get his game going.

Sami Kapanen has obviously worked closely with Tuomaala over the past few years. Is he going to spend more time in North America because Tuomaala is here? Or is the plan for the two of them to communicate via phone mostly?

Sami comes over. He comes over to be around the guys. He won’t be over every month or every two weeks or anything. Like last year, he’s spent half the year with (Tuomaala), I think. But he has his guys over there in (Alex) Ciernik and (Brian) Zanetti and some guys, and then he does his pro scouting for us as well.

But Sami is a big part (of developing Tuomaala), and he’s a guy that he’ll keep in touch with, and obviously they’re pretty close. He’ll over here for camp, I think he’ll stay for the first week of Lehigh camp. He’ll come back here and there throughout, just to be around and see the guys as well.

Yegor Zavragin – G (No. 19)

Zavragin kicked off the 2023-24 campaign in the VHL, basically the KHL’s minor league. Last year he played the bulk of his games in the MHL. Does it look like the VHL is where he’ll spend most of this season?

Yeah, that’s what we’re told. And obviously, he may bounce back and forth depending on usage and playing time, but I know that’s what he’s hoping for. We’ll see where it goes.

The Flyers over the past few years have tapped into the European goalie well quite a lot, particularly in the mid rounds, with guys like Zavragin, (Alexei) Kolosov and (Sam) Ersson. Is that in part because it’s a way to take advantage of the fact that the Flyers – due to your resources as a big-market team – just have the ability to scout these kinds of under-the-radar players more than most other clubs?

I think so. But for him… I think (amateur scout) Kenny (Hoodikoff) does a really good job with goalies. I think he has a strength there. But, right from early on, we got video of him and our goalie coaches were excited about his game, his athleticism and, and the fact that his goalie coach over there, (Nikolai) Khabibulin was his kind of his role model. So he worked with him a lot. They weren’t affiliated, technically, but they worked together.

But at the same time, Kenny was really high on him all along. And obviously it was a draft where we thought there was some depth in the goaltending position. So when we got Bjarnason, and then (Zavragin) was still there a round later, we had him ranked high. So it was just one of those things where, do we take another goalie? I stepped up and said, ‘Why not?’ He’s gonna play over there. There’s no rush, he doesn’t need to play tomorrow. That’s one thing that the KHL and Russia has been doing, is producing goalies.

So we’ll be patient, and hopefully get him over here in time. Hopefully he’s in a good spot where he’ll continue to get better.

Cole Knuble – F (No. 20)

Was it mostly just the leap in skating ability that drove the organization to select Knuble this past summer, rather than pass on him like you did in 2022? Or were there other significant improvements that he made?

Well, skating was the biggest one for sure. He was a good player the year before, he was on our list, (but) because of his skating and the size, we didn’t (pick him). Looking back on it, you wish you took a flier on him in the seventh (round).

He’s the type of kid (who is) really competitive, and I think when he didn’t get drafted, he took it personally and really worked hard — not only his skating, but overall strength and details of the game. He’s a hockey player, he’s a rink rat, he loves the game. He’s kind of a little bit like an (Elliot) Desnoyers type of mentality where he’s he’s gonna find a way. He’s just driven.

He had a terrific year in the USHL, and was arguably one of the top players in the league. Anytime you went to watch them play, you noticed him, and for a lot of good reasons. I thought he was good this summer, in what I watched of the World Junior camps, and hopefully put himself in a position for that, and he should be a key piece for Notre Dame right away.

It looks like with his strong World Junior Showcase, he put himself in position to potentially make Team USA as a bottom-six jack-of-all-trades energy role player. Is that the role that you kinda envision him filling at the NHL level if he makes it?

Yeah, probably. He’s a kid who will do whatever you want. But he’s a really good penalty killer, he’s got sneaky-good skill, (can win) faceoffs, whatever you need to do, he’s going to try to figure it out. So hopefully he’ll continue to grow like his old man. But he’s gonna be a guy who’s gonna give himself a chance just because of his drive and his compete level.