The Philadelphia Flyers have not made it official yet, but multiple news outlets have reported that they have signed defenseman Mark Alt to an entry level contract.
Diana C. Nearhos of the Post Star also reported, via twitter, “Last night, I was told the Flyers had not signed Alt. Today, I’m told they have. So he will likely be here (Glens Falls) soon.”
Alt, 21, was acquired by the Flyers as part of the trade with the Carolina Hurricanes that brought Brian Boucher back into the organization. While he scored an impressive 5 goals and 22 assists as a sophomore, he traded in his production for playing steadier defense as a junior. He finished this season with the University of Minnesota Gophers with only seven assists, but was second on the team in +/- with a +18 rating.
Alt is still an open book when it comes to his talent ceiling. He has good size (6′-3″) and very good skating abilities, but is still refining his game. If he can continue to develop into a steady defensive defenseman, with the potential for some two-way play down the road, then Alt is a good player to have in the system.
This signing suggests that the Flyers will not be signing their 2011 fourth round pick, Colin Suellentrop. Suellentrop plays a similar role to Alt, including the fact that they are both right shooting defenseman. It is always difficult to gauge the quality of defensive defensemen at the junior level, but the Flyers have likely seen a lot of Suellentrop’s game considering he’s a teammate of Scott Laughton’s on the Oshawa Generals.
Once his signing becomes official, Alt may make his AHL debut with the Adirondack Phantoms some time before the season ends. Heck, considering the long list of injuries with the Flyers, maybe he gets a look with the big club sooner.
Why not sign Colin Suellentrop also, it’s not like this organization is overflowing with talented, defensemen, prospects? Right now, what do they have to lose? The Phantoms blow, & are devoid of talent, & the Parent club, needs alot of help. Just furthers the notion, that they CAN’T evaluate & home grow, defensemen, & goalies! OYE VEY!
this is a team who never really develops players as it trys to win everytime it gets close. which is a double edged sword. and we have been bit by both edges for the last 30 plus years. the only players we develop are sure things.
i love when we win and anything can happen when you get to the playoffs, but i wish we would just roll over and tank. i think we will just miss playoffs but i wish we would be in the top 5 for picks as there are sure thing players who can help this team right away.
I think the reason you don’t sign Colin Suellentrop is because the team can only carry 50 contracts (though some can slide if the player is still under 20 and in juniors). There is no obligation to sign every player that a team drafts, and if they feel that one player has more upside than the other in the same role, better to not waste a contract space. Of course, they also better damn well do their homework first.
Lewdoggie, with the loss on Saturday, they went from being two points back to five points back. There just isn’t enough ground to recover. I think they’ll finish between 6th and 9th place in the league.
It’s entirely possible that the Flyers, Devils and Rangers could all miss the playoffs this season, while the Islanders move on. Crazy world we live in.
Great points JJ! That’s the exact point I was making. They do their homework, & still can’t home grow defensemen, & goalies. I can’t remember, the last stud, or even very good defensemen, or goalie, we home grew.
Goalies- Hextall? Lindbergh?
Defensemen- Ryan Parent? Joni Pitkanen? Behn Wilson? Tom Bladon? Jimmy Watson? Some pretty mediocre, slim pickens, for a team, that’s been in the league, for 40+ years! Snyder MUST GO!!!!
hats off to Luke Schenn for returning after that puck to the head.The new goalie was one of the few good things to take out of the Jet lose.