NHL Prospect Watch – Philadelphia Flyers
In the lead-up to the 2023-24 NHL season, we’re taking a look at the current and former WHL talent in each NHL Club’s prospect pool. In this 32-part series, we’ll highlight the WHL players signed to an NHL contract or recently drafted, 25 years of age or younger with 50 or fewer NHL games played. Join us for a brand-new season of NHL Prospect Watch!
We continue with the prospect pool of the Philadelphia Flyers.
Carson Bjarnason
Brandon Wheat Kings goaltender Carson Bjarnason signed his entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers earlier this week after being selected in the second round of the 2023 NHL Draft. Bjarnason, from Carberry, Man., won 21 games with the Wheat Kings in 2022-23, posting a .900 save percentage and four shutouts along the way. Internationally, the 18-year-old helped Canada earn a bronze medal at the 2023 IIHF U18 World Championship, appearing in six games at the tournament.
DONE DEAL: We have signed goaltender @CarsonBjarnason to a three-year, entry level contract. https://t.co/wC4qyApmjw
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) September 26, 2023
Ethan Samson
Defenceman Ethan Samson enjoyed a career year with the Prince George Cougars in 2022-23, scoring 18 times, totalling 60 points, and leading the Cougars to the Second Round of the WHL Playoffs for the first time in 16 years. Samson, the Prince George captain, was selected by the Flyers in the sixth round of the 2021 NHL Draft and signed an entry-level contract with the NHL Club on New Year’s Eve of 2022. A two-time B.C. Division All-Star, Samson has accrued 122 points (36G-86A) in 211 WHL regular season games, all with the Cougars.
Sign an NHL contract. Score a goal. All in a regular ol' New Year's Eve for Ethan Samson.@PGCougars | @NHLFlyers pic.twitter.com/1dIMXcI00d
— The WHL (@TheWHL) January 1, 2023
Carter Sotheran
Portland Winterhawks blueliner Carter Sotheran was selected in the fifth round of the 2023 NHL Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers after amassing 23 points in his rookie WHL campaign. Sotheran, who calls Sanford, Man. home, appeared in all 68 regular season contests with Portland, then added an assist in his nine post-season outings this past spring. The 18-year-old was originally selected by the Winterhawks in the fifth round of the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft.
Time Flies
Now vs Then pic.twitter.com/vanVawYfl4— carter sotheran (@sotheran_carter) September 21, 2023
Egor Zamula
Former WHL defenceman Egor Zamula appeared in a career-high 14 games for the Philadelphia Flyers in 2022-23, recording his first four career NHL points (all assists) along the way and upping his career NHL games playyed total to 26. The Russian rearguard also tallied 19 points in 44 contests at AHL Lehigh Valley. Zamula spent three seasons in the WHL from 2017-18 through 2019-20, first with the Regina Pats before settling in with the Calgary Hitmen midway through the 2017-18 campaign. In 2018-19 he put up a career-high 56 points from the Hitmen blueline. He originally signed a free-agent entry-level contract with the Flyers in September of 2018.
Although @egor_zamula didn’t participate at Development Camp this summer, that wasn’t going to stop him from joining the kids and critiquing their @Topgolf game. pic.twitter.com/KhB90e4YyO
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) July 7, 2023
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