Today was the deadline for the Flyers to sign 2013 draft choice Terrance Amorosa to an entry level contract. That did not happen and the Clarkson University defenseman’s NHL rights will be lost by the team.
Amorosa is a smooth skating defenseman with decent size (6’1” 185 lbs) who was a solid collegiate player, the Flyers drafted him out of the Holderness School in the fifth round. Given the depth of the Flyers system, as well as the fact that they currently have 48 contract slots filled, it’s no real surprise that Amorosa wasn’t signed. He is the second former draft pick the Flyers didn’t sign this summer. In June, the team allowed the rights to 2016 sixth round forward Anthony Salinitri of the Sarnia Sting to expire, making him an unrestricted free agent, as well.
The left handed shooting Amorosa is coming off a very productive senior season with Clarkson, where he tallied 7 goals and 20 assists in 40 games for the Golden Knights — no, not THOSE Golden Knights — after tallying just 16 points (3 goals 13 assists) as a junior. He may draw some interest from other NHL teams, although it’s possible he will end up having to settle for an AHL deal somewhere, as fellow 2013 Flyers draftee David Drake did earlier this summer (the seventh round defenseman signed with the Phantoms).
The 2013 draft was the final class under Paul Holmgren and it’s yielded pretty pedestrian results. The Flyers selected six players, with only second rounder Robert Hagg making any real impact at the NHL level. Hagg played 70 games for the Flyers last season, and showed promise as a physical, defensive defenseman. First round defenseman Samuel Morin was seen as a long term project and has had terrible injury luck this past season, he’s expected to be out until February of 2019. Third round pick Tyrell Goulbourne was a surprise call up and played nine NHL games. The other selection was sixth round pick Merrick Madsen, who was traded to the Arizona Coyotes last summer.
