May 28, 2015
The Flyers have signed 2014 sixth-round draft pick (18th overall) Radel Fazleev to an entry-level contract, the team announced Wednesday.
A native of Kazan, Russia, Fazleev spent last season with the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League, recording 18 goals and 33 assists for a total of 51 points in 71 games. In 17 postseason games, which culminated in a trip to the 2015 WHL Eastern Conference Finals, he added another 14 points (4 G, 21 A).
In two seasons with the Hitmen, the 6'1", 188-pound forward has tallied 76 points (23 G, 53 A) in 109 regular season games and 21 points (7 G, 14 A) in 23 postseason games. The 19-year-old was teammates both seasons with defenseman Travis Sanheim, who was the Flyers' first-round pick in 2014.
According to HockeysFuture.com, Fazleev "is highly-skilled and has some impressive playmaking ability" despite being a late-round pick.
And here's what Frank Seravalli of The Daily News wrote in March about Fazleev and his development in the WHL:
It's hard not to notice Fazleev on the ice for the Hitmen. He plays in just about every situation - second-unit power play and penalty kill - he has a strong nose for the net and he digs relentlessly for pucks on the boards. With the Hitmen tied in the final minute of regulation in an important game against Red Deer last week for playoff seeding, Fazleev was on the ice.
He finished the game on the ice, too, assisting on the overtime winner. Fazleev finished with 51 points (18 goals) in 71 regular-season games - more than doubling his total from last season. Hitmen coach Mark French has Fazleev averaging 18 or 19 minutes per game.
Fazleev just reminds you of a player who will do whatever it takes to make it to the NHL, a prototypical third-line player. Out of the 20 to 25 players who grew to the top of his Ak Bars Kazan youth system in Russia, Fazleev is one of only four to make the jump to North America. [philly.com]
And here's video of Fazleev scoring for the Hitmen -- with an assist from Sanheim. I have no idea why they're throwing stuffed animals or where they all came from, but check out the moonwalk celebration from the Flyers prospect:
[NOTE: After some further research, I've discovered that this was the 20th annual "Teddy Bear Toss," which is my new favorite minor league hockey tradition. In the above video, there are over 25,000 (!!!) stuffed animals being tossed onto the ice.]
And here's another goal from Fazleev, this one coming during the Hitmen's 2015 playoff run:
Good try, goalie.
