The Philadelphia Flyers are like most NHL teams nowadays, namely turning over every stone to find high-end talent. While the KHL, Swedish and Finnish leagues and the Canadian junior hockey leagues have all developed prime players, the NCAA has also had their fair share of stars. One only has to look around the league to see the likes of Cale Makar, Kyle Connor, Macklin Celebrini, and Jack Eichel to realize the NCAA is becoming a logical, promising pipeline for prime prospects. The Flyers currently have a handful of NCAA alumni on their roster and on the farm. And the 2025 first-round draft pick, Porter Martone, is heading to Michigan State University to commence his NCAA career. The drafting of Martone comes 54 years after the Flyers drafted their first NCAA player, selecting goaltender Jerome Mrazek in the eighth round (106th overall) in the 1971 NHL Draft. Mrazek played a lone game for the Flyers (actually just six minutes where he gave up a goal for a 9.55 goals-against average).
There are a bevy of players to pick from. We could filter the pool by using only players the Flyers drafted from the NCAA. But that would remove a handful of players who would be no-brainers to make the list. So having said that, here’s the top 10 Flyers (either drafted or acquired) who came from the NCAA. Let the arguments begin! (Note: The statistics besides each name is of their stint with the Flyers, not their career.)
10) Cam York
Drafted 14th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft, York spent two seasons at the University of Michigan, playing a combined 54 games over two seasons and getting 36 points. Since his college days, and a few hiccups he had with former Flyers coach John Tortorella, York has been a steady top four defenseman for the Flyers. The five-year contract extension this offseason should help his confidence immensely, knowing he’s going to be here for a while as Philadelphia still steers towards contention.
Although he had roughly half the point total he did in 2023-24 (30), he should be able to increase that production moving forward. And given that Rick Tocchet is now in charge, he might even be given more of a chance on one of the power play units.
9) Matt Read
Matt Read was undrafted. He spent four seasons with Bemidji State University (in Minnesota for those not sure) and scored 22 goals in his last season there. Read signed with the Flyers in March 2011 and hit the ground running the following season, scoring 24 goals and leading all rookies in that stat. The 47 points was fourth among rookies that year also. Read had two 20-goal seasons and surprised the Flyers with his talent, providing a bit more depth on the roster. The forward spent all but 12 games of his NHL career in Philadelphia, closing out his career with Minnesota in 2018-19. The following year Read had a tryout with the Maple Leafs but ended up playing with the Toronto Marlies for 48 games in 2019-20.
8) Joel Farabee
Joel Farabee spent a full season with Boston University and made the most of it in 2018-19, scoring 36 points in 37 games. Farabee, taken 14th overall by the Flyers in 2018, looked to make a huge impression in Philadelphia. After two pandemic-shortened seasons in his first two years, Farabee had a 50-point season in 2023-24. He also finally looked to be turning a corner. But for some reason that never came to fruition. Instead Farabee fell off the proverbial cliff, scoring a mere eight goals in 50 games for Philadelphia before he was traded to Calgary alongside Morgan Frost. Farabee’s new start with the Flames didn’t get off on the right foot, scoring just three goals along with three assists in 31 games with Calgary. A forward that showed promise but never quite emerged enough over roughly five-and-a-half years with his first team.
7) Mike Knuble
Knuble was drafted by the Red Wings in 1991, but then spent the next four seasons with the University of Michigan, scoring 70 goals and ending up with 118 points in his final two seasons there. Knuble blossomed somewhat in his final two years with the Bruins before the Flyers signed him in 2013. The big, rugged winger had four seasons of at least 24 goals in Philadelphia, scoring 34 in his initial year with the Flyers. And he provided a strong net front presence on the power play, not quite with the finishing touch that Tim Kerr or Wayne Simmonds had but certainly a hard body to move.
Knuble’s five seasons with the Flyers were his most productive. After three years in Washington, he returned to the Flyers for a brief 28-game stint in 2012-13, scoring four goals and adding four assists.
6) Paul Holmgren
Paul Holmgren spent one season playing at the University of Minnesota in 1974-75, scoring 10 goals and adding 11 assists in 37 games. He also had 108 penalty minutes. As was the case for most of his career in Philadelphia, Holmgren wasn’t averse to fisticuffs, amassing 1600 penalty minutes during his years with the Flyers. The forward had a 30-goal season in 1979-80 as Philadelphia had a massive unbeaten streak but still lost in the Finals to the Islanders and Bob Nystrom. Holmgren also wore a number of hats in the organization after his playing days were done, including being the general manager during the Flyers last great heyday in the 2010s before things headed south during the Chuck Fletcher era.
5) James van Riemsdyk
Steady. If there was one word to describe James van Riemsdyk, that term would often come to mind. He was never going to score 30 goals as a Flyer (although he did it twice in Toronto) nor was he going to use his size to bowl over the opposition. Instead, van Riemsdyk (who played two years at the University of New Hampshire) scored 47 goals and had 99 points in his first stint with Philadelphia before being traded for Luke Schenn. His second stint saw some of his better seasons offensively, scoring 27 goals and getting 48 points in 2018-19. Above all, you could count on him for getting between 20 to 25 goals, and generally being a decent two-way forward.
4) Dave Poulin
Poulin wore the “C” for the Flyers during the Flyers 1987 Cup run to the Finals. He’ll always be remembered for appearing in the seventh game of the quarter finals at the Spectrum against the New York Islanders. Playing with a flak jacket to try to minimize the pain from broken ribs, Poulin and the Flyers defeated the Islanders and then Montreal before losing in seven to Edmonton. Poulin, who played four seasons for Notre Dame, was signed by the Flyers in 1983 but provided the leadership instantly, scoring 76 points in his first full year with Philadelphia. He following that up with 30 goals and 74 points the following season. A hard-working forward who could play all facets (especially the penalty kill), Poulin was traded to the Bruins during the 1989-90 season. He finished his career with Washington.
3) Rod Brind’Amour
Another “C” material Flyer, Brind’Amour spent 1988-89 at Michigan State University, putting up impressive numbers with 27 goals and 32 assists in 42 games. Drafted ninth overall by the Blues in 1988, Brind’Amour was dealt to Philadelphia in 1991 and spent most of his tenure with the Flyers bridging a gap between the great teams of the ’80s and the Lindros and “Legion of Doom” era that was to come in the mid-90s.
The forward’s best year was 97 points in 1993-94 but he had six seasons of 70 or more points in Philadelphia. Brind’Amour was later dealt to Carolina for another future Captain of the team in Keith Primeau. While his talent didn’t lead to many deep playoff runs on his back alone, he was one of the few bright spots for a team trying to find its way back to respectability.
2) Shayne Gostisbehere
It might be a case of recency bias, or the fact he was just that damn dynamic when he first arrived. Either way Shayne Gostisbehere — the pride of Union College for three years — was a breath of fresh air. Whether it was playing almost as a fourth forward and joining the rush for odd-man opportunities, or simply being able to skate like the wind, “Ghost” was a fan favorite, providing a much needed kick in the pants to a team that looked a bit lost beforehand. Gostisbehere’s booming shot has been missed greatly on the point since he was traded away to Arizona, especially on the woeful power play. Others had more points and had far longer tenures in Philadelphia, but it’s hard to argue Gostisbehere being this high up on the list. In short, he was never mistaken for Hal Gill. And he’s been missed.
1) John LeClair
Probably not a surprise, but John LeClair made the biggest impact of any Flyer who has come through the NCAA pipeline. Four years at the University of Vermont concluded with a 25-goal season in his final year. After putting a few decent seasons in Montreal, the Canadiens traded him and Eric Desjardins for Mark Recchi. Many at the time believed the Habs fleeced the Flyers. Oh boy were they mistaken! LeClair proceeded to have three consecutive 50-goal seasons and five consecutive 40-goal season as Philadelphia’s “Legion of Doom” with LeClair, Mikael Renberg and Eric Lindros ran roughshod over everything and everyone. Oh and Desjardins was an under-the-radar star on the blueline in Philadelphia.
LeClair’s dominance bloomed alongside Lindros, but he was easily one of the best power forwards the Flyers have ever seen. And by far the best of the NCAA bunch. We can only hope the current crop of NCAA-heading Flyers such as Porter Martone, Alex Bump and others can end up on this list in the years to come. And draw comparisons to LeClair.
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