The Philadelphia Flyers officially announced the signing of top NCAA free agent Karsen Dorwart on Saturday night, and, interestingly, he will start his pro career in the NHL.
Dorwart, 22, agreed to a two-year, entry-level contract with the Flyers worth $1.95 million (975k AAV), according to PuckPedia, and the Flyers announced that the former Michigan State forward will report to them, not the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL.
For those curious, Dorwart, by signing a contract beginning this season, will become a free agent next summer and burn one of the two years off his ELC by playing this year.
So, with Dorwart officially set to join the Flyers in the coming days with a potential NHL debut on the horizon, where does he fit in the lineup? And who should he play with?
Flyers lineup with rookie signing Karsen Dorwart
Based on the Flyers' recent line combinations and Dorwart's skillset, here's where the 22-year-old could draw into the lineup in his abbreviated debut season:
Travis Konecny - Sean Couturier - Matvei Michkov
Jakob Pelletier - Karsen Dorwart - Owen Tippett
Tyson Foerster - Noah Cates - Bobby Brink
Nick Deslauriers - Ryan Poehling - Garnet Hathaway (upper-body) OR Olle Lycksell
Scratched or re-assigned to Lehigh Valley: Rodrigo Abols
Thought process behind this Flyers lineup
If Dorwart is going to burn a year off his ELC immediately and the Flyers see him as a genuine potential piece for the future, he might as well play and get some valuable NHL experience, right?
Interim head coach Brad Shaw is coaching for a potential job next year, so it would be unwise for him to break up the Flyers' two most effective lines: the Michkov line and the Cates line.
Center Ryan Poehling has the speed and skillset to move up and down the lineup as needed, especially depending on his linemates.
Poehling has played well alongside Jakob Pelletier and Owen Tippett, but he's also experienced success controlling the run of play when lining up with Nick Deslauriers and the injured Garnet Hathaway.
Deslauriers and Rodrigo Abols have been out-scored 10-3 when playing together at 5-on-5, according to Natural Stat Trick, so that is a duo the Flyers could stand to split up with or without the addition of Dorwart.
That said, Abols could finish the season as the 13th forward, depending on Hathaway's health, or join the Phantoms for their playoff push and subsequent Calder Cup playoff run.
As for Dorwart, in particular, Pelletier and Tippett offer him adequate support in areas of weakness.
The Sherwood, Ore., native is not the fastest skater out there, and it remains to be seen how his offensive prowess translates to the highest ...
