Flyers fans won't need a crystal ball to see their team's future this week.
They'll be able to watch it on the ice at Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, New Jersey, starting Thursday and through Monday as the team holds its annual development camp.
Some of the organization's brightest and newest prospects will be in attendance, learning the fine details of how to be a pro with various drills and off-ice training.
Let's get you set for the 2018 edition with five things to know.
1. Something to remember
Have we told you the purpose of development camp? You probably know by now that the Flyers' staff won't be intensely evaluating the prospects.
That's not the point of the five-day session, as Flyers general manager Ron Hextall emphasizes each year. Instead, the gathering of prospects is meant to provide the youngsters with the necessary tools and education to grow as a player, especially when they're away from the Flyers during the season.
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And another benefit is allowing the prospects, from all different parts of the world, to bond together and familiarize themselves with the Flyers' way of doing things.
2. But plenty to watch
While the Flyers' brass won't be writing scouting reports, spectators will be watching closely - with good reason.
Future NHLers are in abundance at camp and each year you find a few players right on the cusp of wearing a Flyers sweater and making an impact for the big club.
Last year, Oskar Lindblom, Travis Sanheim and Nolan Patrick were all in camp, although Patrick didn't participate in the on-ice activities as he recovered from abdominal surgery. Still, those were three players that went on to appear in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs and combined to play 145 games during the regular season.
The previous year, Ivan Provorov and Travis Konecny were in camp, then in the Flyers' opening night lineup three months later.
It would be surprising if any prospect in 2018 development camp makes the Flyers out of the chute this upcoming season, but there are a handful that could at some point during 2018-19.
3. Numbers to eye
There are two sheets of ice at Skate Zone that will oftentimes be used simultaneously throughout camp.
With 33 players listed on the camp roster, which includes newcomers to the organization, here are five players to watch.
No. 60, Joel Farabee - The biggest newcomer of all, many will be excited to get a glimpse of Farabee, the first of the Flyers' two opening-round picks last Friday. The No. 14 overall selection brings speed and a scorer's mentality on the wing (see story).
No. 68, Morgan Frost - The 112-point man comes to his second camp fresh off a superb junior season in which he blew up for 42 goals, 70 assists and a plus-70 rating over 67 regular-season games. The 19-year-old center is a treat to watch in the skill department.
No. 79, Carter Hart - The goalie everyone is clamoring for, Hart will be a main attraction at development camp. He'll also be a pretty big one in September when training camp begins. Hart, who turns 20 years old in August, is gearing up for his first pro season following a historic junior career. When will he join the Flyers? That might be the juiciest storyline come fall (see story).
No. 61, Philippe Myers - The 6-foot-5, 209-pound defenseman was a dark horse to make the Flyers out of training camp last season. Now with his first AHL campaign under his belt, a strong summer and training camp could put the 21-year-old in position to crack the Flyers during 2018-19. Also, how was this guy undrafted?
No. 63, German Rubtsov - Once the Flyers landed the No. 2 overall pick in 2017 and drafted Patrick, Rubtsov became somewhat of a forgotten man. He was the club's first-round pick the year prior at No. 22 overall and nobody should forget him. He turned 20 years old Wednesday and is a strong skater with NHL hands.
Below is the full camp roster. A couple of things to note: Noah Cates is a winger and more than likely listed as a defenseman by mistake, while it looks like Mitchell Balmas, a junior teammate of Rubtsov, will be in attendance as a camp invite.
4. The schedule
The development camp is free and open to the public.
Fans can watch along the boards from certain areas or in the stands.
The drills and competition tend to spice up as the camp goes on, while Monday's 3-on-3 tournament is a fan-favorite event as two games go on at once, each on a half sheet of ice, side by side.
Here is the full camp schedule with times.
5. The staff
The Flyers' player development coaches run camp, while Hextall and head coach Dave Hakstol typically speak to the media over the first two days.
