Philadelphia Flyers sign prospect Wyatte Wylie to entry-level contract

Just hours before the Philadelphia Flyers’ very important 69th game of the season — a home tilt with the Boston Bruins that could earn them the top spot in the Metropolitan Division — the team made a somewhat notable signing.

Wyatte Wylie has officially signed his three-year entry-level contract!

Wylie, drafted in the fifth round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, has been putting together an impressive season in the Western Hockey League. In his final season at the junior level, the 20-year-old defenseman is averaging over a point per game with the Everett Silvertips. Through 62 contests, Wylie’s 64 points (14 goals and 50 assists) ranks second out of all WHL defensemen. Lethbridge Hurricanes defenseman Alex Cotton, an 18-year-old prospect eligible for this year’s draft, is the only WHL blueliner with more points on the season than Wylie.

Barring anything unforeseen, Wylie will head to Lehigh Valley to play for the Phantoms in the American Hockey League next season. With fellow WHL defenseman Egor Zamula also expected to head to the AHL next season, the Phantoms should get a pretty nice boost of young talent on the back end.

Wylie likely won’t be ready for a role in the NHL for a few years, but it’s encouraging to see the Flyers’ pool of defensive prospects remaining an area of strength following the graduations of Travis Sanheim, Phil Myers and Robert Hagg. Along with Wylie and Zamula, defensemen Cam York and Mason Millman — both drafted in 2019 — are having solid campaigns with their respective clubs as well.

The Flyers are keeping the cupboards stocked, folks.